Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc
The Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc is an independent private foundation established in 1991 in Ohio. Based in Fairlawn, Ohio, the foundation supports charitable and educational activities benefiting residents of Akron and Canton, Ohio.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$175K
+94.4% YoY
Grant Count
14
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-2.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $192K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to aid and assist in charitable and educational activities for the cultural, educational, and general well-being of residents in both Akron and Canton, Ohio. The foundation also makes grants to advance learning and eliminate poverty in these communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made by invitation only.
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation restricts its grantmaking to Ohio, specifically serving the residents of Akron and Canton.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $1.9 million (2024)
- Giving rate: 4.8% of assets
- EIN: 34-1662189
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,880,857 | $1,889,649 | $1,730,340 |
| Revenue | $282,133 | $349,732 | $89,651 |
| Expenses | $290,925 | $190,423 | $252,275 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $175,000 | $90,000 | $165,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $237,892 | $308,351 | $41,477 |
| Distributable Amount | $191,543 | $179,616 | $165,949 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Haven of Rest Ministries ($35,000), Akron Canton Regional Food Bank ($25,000), Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Medina Co ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AKRON CANTON REGIONAL FOOD BANK AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| AKRON FOSSILS & SCIENCE CENTER COPLEY, OH | SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHILD GUIDANCE & FAMILY SOLUTIONS AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EMPOWERING EPILEPSY SOLON, OH | SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SUMMIT AND MEDINA CO AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| HAVEN OF REST MINISTRIES AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| HOPE AND HEALING SURVIVOR RESOURCE CENTER AKRON, OH | SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Naomi Ganoe is listed as a contact for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELE R WAYMAN | TRUSTEE | 2 | $15,960 |
| NICOLET MILLER | TRUSTEE | 2 | $15,960 |
| NAOMI GANOE | TRUSTEE | 2 | $15,960 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Samuel Reese Willis Foundation is listed as a sponsor of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, supporting the organization's mission to build homes in Summit County.
KET Recipient of Steele-Reese Foundation Grant > KETFrequently Asked Questions
What does Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's purpose is to aid and assist in charitable and educational activities for the cultural, educational, and general well-being of residents in both Akron and Canton, Ohio. The foundation also makes grants to advance learning and eliminate poverty in these communities.
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $90,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 7 grants (2024) • Median grant size: $10,000 • Grant range: $5,000 - $25,000 **Historical Giving Trends:** • 2024: $90,000 in total giving across 7 grants • 2023: $165,000 in total giving across 11 grants • 2022: $169,000 in total giving across 10 grants **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made by invitation only.
Where does Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation restricts its grantmaking to Ohio, specifically serving the residents of Akron and Canton.
What size grants does Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc awarded 14 grants totaling $175K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $192K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc's EIN?
Samuel Reese Willis Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1662189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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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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