John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation
The John F. and Mary A. Geisse Foundation is a private foundation based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. It supports organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty, with a focus on work serving extremely poor communities in the developing world.
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation at a glance
In short: John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation gave $581K across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), top state Colorado. 32% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $581,480
- -44.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- -15.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,767
- -33.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,940
- Total assets
- $4,004,939
- -9.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (9 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (26% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
Letters of inquiry are invitation-only. Organizations may send a brief introduction or funding request through the website contact page or by email to ask whether they are a fit. If invited, submit a one-page LOI on organizational letterhead with the organization name, requested amount, referrals if applicable, mission or priority alignment, a brief organizational description, the most recent organizational budget, project population and scope, anticipated outcomes, sustainability, and income already secured or committed. Grant applications follow LOI decisions; new grantees use the Colorado Common Grant Application, while returning or current grantees are invited to submit an abbreviated application. Reporting is required, with type and frequency determined case by case.
- Review Cycle
- None listed on the foundation’s filing. The foundation lists grant-application decision notifications in March and October, subject to change.
- Deadline
- None listed on the foundation’s filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Timothy F Geisse
Mailing address: 48 Ridgecrest Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 557-5346
Email: alison@geissefoundation.org
Website: https://geissefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Building Hope in the City ($63K). Together the top 10 received $503K.
Grant Size Distribution
141 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 141 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on extreme poverty in developing countries and funds US organizations working internationally. It says it avoids funding foreign organizations and countries with political instability or oppressive governments. In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Colorado (26%), Ohio (25%), Michigan (10%), Arkansas (10%), and the District of Columbia (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 28 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 57% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 182% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $581K (2025) to $1.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $581K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building Hope in the City Cleveland, OH | General Purpose | $62,500 |
| Association for a More Just Society Grand Rapids, MI | General Purpose | $60,000 |
| Ide Denver, CO | General Purpose | $60,000 |
| Water for Good Bentonville, AR | General Purpose | $60,000 |
| Cooperative for Education Cincinnati, OH | General Purpose | $55,000 |
| Healing Waters Golden, CO | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Strategies for International Development Washington, DC | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| El Porvenir Denver, CO | General Purpose | $40,000 |
| Congo Leadership Initiative Orchard Park, NY | General Purpose | $35,000 |
| Schwab Charitable Fund Orlando, FL | General Purpose | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,004,939 | $336,274 | $707,267 | $581,480 | 28 | $635,338 | $289,617 | $348,830 |
| 2024 | $4,422,858 | $1,066,473 | $1,156,938 | $1,037,490 | 33 | $1,093,635 | $1,008,243 | $362,325 |
| 2023 | $4,467,296 | $676,529 | $840,944 | $714,763 | 24 | $773,107 | $617,174 | $360,444 |
| 2022 | $4,651,953 | $656,719 | $1,111,414 | $988,141 | 31 | $1,042,149 | $591,086 | $416,267 |
| 2021 | $5,133,307 | $1,215,415 | $1,072,317 | $951,082 | 25 | $993,046 | $1,158,212 | $446,505 |
| 2020 | $5,190,061 | $836,656 | $865,014 | $749,521 | 42 | — | $783,310 | $398,574 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $349K 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’s mission is to support organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty. It prefers established organizations, proven programs, sustainable results, and development work rather than relief. It also favors organizations specialized in their field or funding request.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the kinds of work it supports. Water for Good describes its mission as providing sustainable access to safe water and improving sanitation and hygiene. Cooperative for Education says it provides educational improvement services and works to educate North Americans about Guatemala, its poverty, and educational services. Strategies for International Development describes its work as helping small farmers move from subsistence to successful commercial farming in Guatemala and Peru. Association for a More Just Society says it works for justice in Honduras and seeks to inspire others to pursue justice in their own contexts.
The foundation does not fund individuals or scholarships, research projects, art or culture, endowments, or capital campaigns.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $581,480. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $62,500, with a median of $8,940. The largest grants included $62,500 to Building Hope in the City, $60,000 each to Association for a More Just Society, IDE, and Water for Good, and $55,000 to Cooperative for Education. Other notable grants were $50,000 each to Healing Waters and Strategies for International Development, and $40,000 to El Porvenir.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Timothy F. Geisse as Executive Director/Trustee and Lawrence J. Geisse, MD, as Trustee. The foundation’s website identifies Alison Hadden as Program Officer.
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation is led by Timothy F. Geisse, Executive Director & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Timothy F. Geisse
Executive Director & Trustee
Executive Director & Trustee → Executive Dirttee, 2021
Executive Dirttee → Executive Director & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence J. Geisse MD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation
How much does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation give each year?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation gave $581K across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 33 grants.
What is John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's typical grant size?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,940, and its average grant was $20,767, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation give grants?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's top state is Colorado, with 26% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Ohio (25%) and Michigan (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (6 grants), Denver, CO (2 grants) and Cincinnati, OH (2 grants).
Does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's largest grantees?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Building Hope in the City ($62,500), Association for a More Just Society ($60,000) and Ide ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $635K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $349K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty. It prefers established organizations, proven programs, sustainable results, and development work rather than relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation?
Letters of inquiry are invitation-only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's EIN?
John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7049780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 19, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 21, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-f-and-mary-a-geisse-foundation-morg_4a19bd7b937b46c289e4a7aff134d6f6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237049780_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-f-and-mary-a-geisse-foundation-morg_4a19bd7b937b46c289e4a7aff134d6f6},
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 John F and Mary a Geisse 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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