John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation
The John F. and Mary A. Geisse Foundation is a private foundation established in 1969 by John F. and Mary A. Geisse. Based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, the foundation is funded exclusively by contributions from its founders and operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation supports organizations working to help the extremely poor of the developing world through strategic grantmaking focused on sustainable development and measurable impact.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.4M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.0M
+45.2% YoY
Grant Count
33
+37.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
+5.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The John F. and Mary A. Geisse Foundation supports organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty.
Primary Funding Sectors: Most grantees work in the following areas:
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
- Education
- Agriculture
- Justice
The foundation emphasizes sustainable development rather than aid-based approaches, believing that charity cannot cure systemic poverty. The foundation operates as an "accelerator funder," allowing investments to be applied to areas that deliver the greatest impact rather than restricting funds to specific programs.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation focuses on extreme poverty in the developing world, specifically funding US-based organizations working internationally within developing countries. The foundation avoids investing in foreign organizations or countries with political instability or oppressive governments.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,422,858
- Total Revenues: $1,066,473
- Total Expenses: $1,156,938
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,422,858 | $4,467,296 | $4,651,953 |
| Revenue | $1,066,473 | $676,529 | $656,719 |
| Expenses | $1,156,938 | $840,944 | $1,111,414 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,093,635 | $773,107 | $1,042,149 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,008,243 | $617,174 | $591,086 |
| Distributable Amount | $362,325 | $360,444 | $416,267 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Stifel Charitable Fund ($509,290), Ide ($75,000), Association for a More Just Society ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ADVOCATES INTERNATIONAL FAIRFAX, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR A MORE JUST SOCIETY GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $65,000 |
| BUILDING HOPE IN THE CITY CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $11,000 |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR SADDLE BROOK, NJ | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100 |
| CONGO LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE ORCHARD PARK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| COVA AGUA ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| DARTHMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUTE RENO, NV | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS HAGERSTOWN, MD | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Timothy F. Geisse – Executive Director
Alison Hadden – Program Officer
- Contact: alison@geissefoundation.org
- Location: Denver, Colorado
Alison Hadden is the granddaughter of John and Mary Geisse.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIMOTHY F GEISSE | EXEC DIR/TTEE | 10 | — |
| LAWRENCE J GEISSE MD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with 27 grants distributed in 2024. The foundation has established long-term partnerships with organizations focused on sustainable development, including a relationship with iDE Global since 2012 to transform lives through entrepreneurship-based poverty alleviation across the globe.
Jasper County Fair awarded a $700K grant from the Geisler-Penquite FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The John F. and Mary A. Geisse Foundation supports organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty. **Primary Funding Sectors:** Most grantees work in the following areas: • Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) • Education • Agriculture • Justice The foundation emphasizes sustainable development rather than aid-based approaches, believing that charity cannot cure systemic poverty. The foundation operates as an "accelerator funder," allowin…
How do I apply for a grant from John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024):** • Total grants made: 27 grants • Notable recent grants include: • Association For A More Just Society: $65,000 • Healing Waters International: $50,000 • Strategies for International Development: $50,000 **Grant Approach:** The foundation prioritizes accountability, trust, and flexibility in its partnerships. The foundation focuses on organizations demonstrating sustainable approaches to poverty alleviation and measurable outcomes.
Where does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation make grants?
The foundation focuses on extreme poverty in the developing world, specifically funding US-based organizations working internationally within developing countries. The foundation avoids investing in foreign organizations or countries with political instability or oppressive governments.
What size grants does John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation award?
In 2024, John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John F and Mary a Geisse Foundation reported a distributable amount of $362K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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