Gerlach Foundation Inc
Gerlach Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Columbus, Ohio. The organization was incorporated in 1953 and received its IRS tax-exempt ruling in January 1956. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.
Key facts about Gerlach Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 31-6023912
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,513,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- Average grant
- $504,500
- Median grant
- $400,000
- Total assets
- $4,325,109
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Gerlach Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Gerlach Foundation Inc's 3 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, OH (3 grants). 67% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How Gerlach Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 41% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Gerlach Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Gerlach Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+89.3% YoY
Grant Count
3
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$505K
+152.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gerlach Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focuses include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio.
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling $1,513,500 in its most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024). Recent grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 3 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending November 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,325,109
- Total Giving: $1,513,500
- Total Revenues: $1,619,321
- Total Expenses: $1,565,896
Revenue Sources: Investment income and dividends comprise the foundation's primary revenue source, totaling $1,619,321 in the most recent fiscal year (a 7.9% decrease from the prior year's $1,758,752).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,325,109 | $4,271,684 | $3,087,943 |
| Revenue | $1,619,321 | $1,758,752 | $1,864,199 |
| Expenses | $1,565,896 | $865,907 | $9,083,655 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,523,980 | $807,944 | $9,015,504 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,576,405 | $1,725,789 | $1,821,048 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,743,166 | $3,773,052 | $3,624,504 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ohio State University ($1,100,000), The Columbus Foundation ($400,000), Balletmet ($13,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Columbus, OH | UNRESTRICTED | $1,100,000 |
| THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION Columbus, OH | GORILLA FUND | $400,000 |
| BALLETMET Columbus, OH | GENERAL FUND | $13,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael Gattas is listed as Principal.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John B Gerlach Jr | Treas | 2 | — |
| David P Gerlach | Vice Pres | 2 | — |
| Susan Douglass | Vice Pres | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1500 Lake Shore Dr Ste 220, Columbus, OH 43204-3800
- Telephone: 614-224-2164
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gerlach Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding focuses include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio.
How do I apply for a grant from Gerlach Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made grants totaling $1,513,500 in its most recent fiscal year (ending November 2024). Recent grants include: • The Columbus Foundation (Gorilla Fund): $400,000 • BalletMet Columbus (General Fund): $13,500 **Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $8,500 to $7,889,963.
Where does Gerlach Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Ohio.
What size grants does Gerlach Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Gerlach Foundation Inc awarded 3 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $505K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gerlach Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gerlach Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gerlach Foundation Inc's EIN?
Gerlach Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6023912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.