Gouverneur Foundation
The Gouverneur Foundation is a private foundation based in Gouverneur, New York. It provides educational opportunities for students in Gouverneur and surrounding areas, and reports that it has done so for more than 65 years.
Gouverneur Foundation at a glance
In short: Gouverneur Foundation gave $95K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in New York. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $94,500
- -11.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- -47.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,864
- +69.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,200
- Total assets
- $1,965,373
- +1.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gouverneur Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website describes a scholarship application process. Its filing names Lauren French as the contact for applications.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states July 1 for the following fall. The website lists May 19, 2026, as the first day applications are accepted and July 1 at 8 a.m. as the portal closing time.
- Deadline
- The filing states July 1 for the following fall.
- Contact
Application contact: Lauren French
Mailing address: 133 East Barney Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642
Phone: (315) 287-4836
Website: https://gouverneurfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gouverneur Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Clarkson University ($35K across 8 grants). Together the top 10 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
338 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 338 grants of 338 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its scholarship opportunities as serving students in Gouverneur and surrounding areas. Its 2024 filing states a preference for graduates of Gouverneur schools. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 3% to Ohio, and 1% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gouverneur Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $95K (2025) to $146K (2020). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $95K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $6,000 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $6,000 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $5,500 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| SUNY Potsdam Potsdam, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| SUNY Delhi Delhi, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| SUNY Plattsburgh Plattsburgh NY, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $5,000 |
| Clarkson University Potsdam, NY | Education | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gouverneur Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,965,373 | $120,515 | $143,133 | $94,500 | 33 | $94,500 | $52,311 |
| 2024 | $1,938,972 | $260,516 | $152,601 | $106,765 | 63 | $106,765 | $44,240 |
| 2023 | $1,652,208 | $24,951 | $177,719 | $142,544 | 86 | $142,544 | $34,976 |
| 2022 | $1,716,876 | $137,561 | $159,945 | $141,344 | 86 | $141,344 | $65,857 |
| 2021 | $1,928,288 | $82,807 | $146,868 | $127,532 | 70 | — | $47,444 |
| 2020 | $1,741,298 | $83,777 | $162,124 | $145,919 | 86 | — | $53,092 |
| 2019 | $1,898,234 | $100,752 | $127,183 | $110,133 | 64 | — | $67,183 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its direct charitable activity is to provide educational scholarships to college students and pay related administrative expenses. Its website describes scholarship funds supporting undergraduate study and awards for students pursuing engineering or careers in education.
Among the organizations it has supported are colleges. Clarkson University describes its work as instruction and research across fields including engineering, business, science, health, education, and liberal arts. Elmira College describes its mission as providing a liberal arts and sciences education in a collaborative environment. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $94,500. Grants ranged from $700 to $6,000, with a median of $2,200. The largest listed awards included two grants of $6,000 and one of $5,500 to Clarkson University, and grants of $5,000 each to SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Delhi, and SUNY Plattsburgh. Other listed awards included $3,000 to SUNY Canton and $3,000 to Elmira College.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its stated application process is a four-page application form prescribed by the foundation, with transcripts attached. The website also asks high school applicants for a full high school transcript and any financial aid letters received; college applicants are asked for a high school transcript, completed postsecondary transcripts, and any financial aid letters received. The filing states a preference for graduates of Gouverneur schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lauren French as president; Martin Hassett as vice president; Michelle Hassett as secretary; and Melissa Besaw Wheaton as treasurer. It also lists Dr. Donald Schuessler and Ted Totten as directors, and Jeremy Bartholomew, Jayne Carbone, Victoria Day, and Diane Easton as members.
Gouverneur Foundation is led by Lauren French, President on every filing since 2019; 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lauren French
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald Schuessler
Director
Director → Member, 2022
Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ted Totten
Director
Director → Member, 2022
Member → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Hassett
Secretary
Secretary - → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $4K (2025)
Melissa Besaw Wheaton
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
$4K (2024) → $8K (2025)
Diane Easton
Member
Treasurer - → Former Treasurer, 2020
Former Treasurer → Member, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Bartholomew
Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martin Hassett
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Clark Porter
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen Tessmer
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry J. Leader
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jayne Carbone
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kimberly Pistolesi
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brielle Farley Meryer
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Day
Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Gale Ferguson (2019–2023) — Member
- Former: Josh Hayden (2022–2023) — Member
- Former: Melissa Besaw (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jennifer Peck (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Tammy Kimok (2019–2021) — Former Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Melissa Besaw Wheaton (Treasurer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gouverneur Foundation
How much does Gouverneur Foundation give each year?
Gouverneur Foundation gave $95K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $107K across 63 grants.
What is Gouverneur Foundation's typical grant size?
Gouverneur Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,200, and its average grant was $2,864, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gouverneur Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Gouverneur Foundation give grants?
Gouverneur Foundation gives mostly in New York: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Potsdam, NY (11 grants), Canton, NY (4 grants), Rochester, NY (3 grants) and Cortland, NY (3 grants).
Does Gouverneur Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Gouverneur Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (33 grants).
Who are Gouverneur Foundation's largest grantees?
Gouverneur Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Clarkson University ($35,000 across 8 grants), SUNY Potsdam ($12,000 across 3 grants) and SUNY Canton ($8,100 across 4 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gouverneur Foundation?
Gouverneur Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $121K.
What does Gouverneur Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its direct charitable activity is to provide educational scholarships to college students and pay related administrative expenses. Its website describes scholarship funds supporting undergraduate study and awards for students pursuing engineering or careers in education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gouverneur Foundation?
The foundation’s website describes a scholarship application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Gouverneur Foundation's EIN?
Gouverneur Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-6048653. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gouverneur Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gouverneur Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gouverneur-foundation-morg_40473d40acba416b81925c4e30081929
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_146048653_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gouverneur Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gouverneur-foundation-morg_40473d40acba416b81925c4e30081929},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gouverneur Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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