Gussel Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Madison, WI EIN: 46-1063817

Gussel Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its stated goal is to provide monetary donations to organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to governmental organizations.

Gussel Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Gussel Foundation Inc gave $289K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$288,500
+48.3% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
51
-1.9% vs 2024
Average grant
$5,657
+51.2% vs 2024
Median grant
$3,000
Total assets
$2,443,262
-4.4% vs 2024
Primary geography
Wisconsin (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Gussel Foundation Inc

Contact

Application contact: Joe Gussel
Mailing address: 2901 W Beltline Hwy, Suite 201, Madison, WI 53713
Phone: (608) 273-3100

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Gussel Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Breakthrough T1D: $30K across 2 grantsBreakthrough T1D$30K · 2 grantsAgrace Foundation Inc: $25KAgrace Foundation Inc$25KBeyond Blessed Pantry: $25KBeyond Blessed Pantry$25KLeukemia Research Foundation: $25KLeukemia Research Foundation$25KGirls on the Run Minnesota: $15KGirls on the Run Minnesota$15KTim Tebow Foundation: $15KTim Tebow Foundation$15KK9S for Warriors: $11KK9S for Warriors$11KMadison Reading Project: $11KMadison Reading Project$11KWisconsin Dells Soccer Booster Club: $8KWisconsin Dells Soccer BoosterClub$8KDells Area United Fund: $7KDells Area United Fund$7K

The largest 2025 recipient was Breakthrough T1D ($30K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $172K.

Grant Size Distribution

194 grants across all recorded years

194<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 194 grants of 194 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 57% of grant dollars went to recipients in Wisconsin, 11% to Illinois, 10% to Maryland, 9% to Florida, and 7% to Minnesota.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.

Cities

Wisconsin DellsMadisonBarabooOxfordPortageBriggsvilleMontelloMenashaVeronaPrairie Du SacChicagoJacksonvilleLake DeltonPonta VerdeRandolphReedsburgAdamsAppletonCharlotteTomah

How Gussel Foundation Inc gives

  • 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 197% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 167% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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

$0$100K$200K$300K3 grants2019 4 grants2020 8 grants2021 30 grants2022 53 grants2023 52 grants2024 51 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $58K (2019) to $289K (2025). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $289K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Agrace Foundation Inc Madison, WIGeneral Operations$25,000
Beyond Blessed Pantry Wisconsin Dells, WIGeneral Operations$25,000
Breakthrough T1D Hagerstown, MDGeneral Operations$25,000
Leukemia Research Foundation Northfield, ILGeneral Operations$25,000
Girls on the Run Minnesota Minneapolis, MNGeneral Operations$15,000
Tim Tebow Foundation Jacksonville, FLGeneral Operations$15,000
K9S for Warriors Ponta Verde, FLGeneral Operations$11,000
Madison Reading Project Fitchburg, WIGeneral Operations$11,000
Wisconsin Dells Soccer Booster Club Wisconsin Dells, WIGeneral Operations$7,500
Dells Area United Fund Wisconsin Dells, WIGeneral Operations$7,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

In 2025, the foundation reported 51 grants; it reported 52 in 2024 and 53 in 2023.

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$2,443,262$217,264$333,065$288,50051$289,889$174,088$173,367
2024$2,556,563$122,975$240,143$194,50052$195,534$78,341$169,620
2023$2,665,731$70,997$217,578$179,00053$179,000$57,300$155,347
2022$2,812,312$13,902$138,232$97,00030$97,000$2,384$162,048
2021$2,936,642$2,104,255$86,380$64,0008$64,000$36,219$96,181
2020$918,767$94,144$79,769$64,0004—$78,375$64,545
2019$904,392$51,807$74,541$58,4023—$7,303$64,424

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gussel Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $173K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation states that its sole goal is to provide monetary donations to organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to governmental organizations.

Its grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of work supported. The Leukemia Research Foundation says it funds innovative research to cure leukemia and supports patients and families. Beyond Blessed Pantry says it addresses food insecurity while treating individuals with dignity and respect. Madison Reading Project says it organizes literacy programs for vulnerable children. K9s for Warriors says it provides trained service dogs to veterans experiencing PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual trauma.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $288,500 through 51 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median grant of $3,000.

Among the largest grants were $25,000 each to Agrace Foundation, Beyond Blessed Pantry, Breakthrough T1D, and Leukemia Research Foundation. Other notable grants included $15,000 to Girls on the Run Minnesota and $15,000 to Tim Tebow Foundation; $11,000 each to K9s for Warriors and Madison Reading Project; and $6,000 each to Dempsey Center and Greater Chicago Food Depository. The filing lists the grants’ purposes as general operations. The grantees describe their work in areas including food access, literacy, leukemia research, youth development, veteran services, and hunger relief.

The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing lists Joe Gussel as the contact; form and materials, deadlines, and restrictions on awards are listed as “N/A.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Joe Gussel as president, Gary Gussel as treasurer, and David Gussel as vice president.

Gussel Foundation Inc is led by Joe Gussel, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Joe Gussel

    President

    Secretary → President, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Gussel

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary Gussel

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Bernard E. Gussel Jr. (2019–2021) — President

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.

Frequently asked questions about Gussel Foundation Inc

How much does Gussel Foundation Inc give each year?

Gussel Foundation Inc gave $289K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $195K across 52 grants.

What is Gussel Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Gussel Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $5,657, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Gussel Foundation Inc give grants?

Gussel Foundation Inc gives mostly in Wisconsin: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (11%) and Maryland (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wisconsin Dells, WI (7 grants), Madison, WI (5 grants), Verona, WI (3 grants) and Oxford, WI (3 grants).

Does Gussel Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Gussel Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (51 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Gussel Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Gussel Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Breakthrough T1D ($30,000 across 2 grants), Agrace Foundation Inc ($25,000) and Beyond Blessed Pantry ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Gussel Foundation Inc?

Gussel Foundation Inc reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $290K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $173K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Gussel Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation states that its sole goal is to provide monetary donations to organizations exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or to governmental organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Gussel Foundation Inc?

Gussel Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Gussel Foundation Inc's EIN?

Gussel Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1063817. 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 22, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 8, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Gussel Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gussel-foundation-inc-morg_8656a7a341d646539f2334e1aebd89fd

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461063817_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Gussel Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/gussel-foundation-inc-morg_8656a7a341d646539f2334e1aebd89fd},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Gussel Foundation Inc'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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