The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert
The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in California in 1958 and granted tax-exempt status in February 1960. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the foundation has operated as an independent foundation dedicated to supporting community-based organizations and Catholic schools throughout the region.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$363K
-99.0% YoY
Grant Count
7
-83.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
-93.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to promote exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, with a particular emphasis on supporting community-based organizations and Catholic schools that strengthen the Bay Area and serve those in need.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Religious organizations
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to Catholic education and Jesuit institutions, as well as support for first-generation college students accessing higher education.
Grantmaking
Typical grant awards have ranged from $5,000 to $4,750,000. Recent major grants include:
Grant Range
s and Patterns:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area and its nine surrounding counties. The foundation has historically supported institutions throughout the Greater Bay Area region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2023):
- Total assets: $0
- Total giving: $363,067
- Revenue: −$34.5k
- Expenses: $527k
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained significant assets and annual giving capacity throughout its operational history, with the ability to make grants ranging into the millions of dollars.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $561,574 | $35,615,259 |
| Revenue | $-34,535 | $115,248 | $8,606,084 |
| Expenses | $527,039 | $35,168,755 | $9,971,213 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $455,376 | $34,882,285 | $9,425,463 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $140,204 | $8,273,249 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,753 | $86,602 | $2,233,422 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include St Philip's School ($100,000), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School ($50,000), Saint Cecilia Elementary School ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CYO SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CATHOLIC CHARITIES SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CCCYO CAMP & RETREAT CENTER | $13,067 |
| OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DALY CITY, CA | SUNSET GRANT | $50,000 |
| SAINT CECILIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ST. CECILIA SCHOOL: SCIENCE LAB SPACE IMPLEMENTATION | $50,000 |
| SAINT CHARLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAN CARLOS, CA | SUSTAINABILITY AND IMPROVEMENT FOR THE FUTURE | $50,000 |
| SAINT GABRIEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAN FRANCISO, CA | SUNSET GRANT AWARD - INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE | $50,000 |
| SAINT STEPHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAN FRANCISO, CA | STRONGER TOGETHER"""" IN COUGAR COUNTRY | $50,000 |
| ST PHILIP'S SCHOOL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | ST. PHILIP'S SCHOOL CENTER FOR THE ARTS PROJECT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Jack Fitzpatrick is listed as Principal Officer of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT GRASSILLI | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 6 | $2,500 |
| ANDREW CRESCI | VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD | 6 | — |
| MICHAEL KING | TREASURER | 6 | $2,500 |
| JOHN J FITZPATRICK | SECRETARY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $60,313 |
| CHRISTINE WHELAN | DIRECTOR | 5 | $2,500 |
| KEVIN FLYNN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In February 2023, the foundation announced a major $4.25 million gift to the University of San Francisco. This gift was part of the foundation's decision to sunset its operations, with USF selected to receive a significant share of assets from the foundation's dissolution.
Riordan Receives $2.2M Grant from Gellert Foundation - Archbishop RiordanOver the past 40 years, the foundation provided generous scholarship funding to support first-generation students accessing Jesuit education. Between 2014 and 2023, the foundation and USF awarded scholarships to more than 37 first-generation students, with awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 each.
Riordan Receives $2.2M Grant from Gellert Foundation - Archbishop RiordanThe foundation has maintained a long-standing legacy of support at Archbishop Riordan High School, with over $2 million in total support since 1991, including naming recognition for the Athletic Complex and the Ministry and Technology Center.
Riordan Receives $2.2M Grant from Gellert Foundation - Archbishop RiordanFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert fund?
The foundation's mission is to promote exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes, with a particular emphasis on supporting community-based organizations and Catholic schools that strengthen the Bay Area and serve those in need. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Religious organizations • Science and STEM education • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism The foundation has demonstrated a strong commitment to Catholic education and J…
How do I apply for a grant from The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert?
**Grant Sizes and Patterns:** Typical grant awards have ranged from $5,000 to $4,750,000. Recent major grants include: • $4.25 million to the University of San Francisco (2023) to support Bay Area students and the School of Management's Gellert Family Business Center • $2.225 million to Archbishop Riordan High School for campus renovation and expansion • $1.8 million to St. Anthony Foundation • Multiple grants to Mercy High School and St. Mary's College **Application Process:** The foundation m…
Where does The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the Bay Area and its nine surrounding counties. The foundation has historically supported institutions throughout the Greater Bay Area region.
What size grants does The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert award?
In 2023, The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert awarded 7 grants totaling $363K — an average of about $52K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert's EIN?
The Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6062858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
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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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