The Gerstner Family Foundation
The Gerstner Family Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 1989 by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., former chairman and CEO of IBM Corporation. Based in Armonk, New York, the foundation operates as part of Gerstner Philanthropies, which includes multiple philanthropic vehicles of the Gerstner family. The foundation focuses on disciplined, long-term philanthropy across four primary program areas: biomedical research, education, environmental sustainability, and emergency assistance.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$157.9M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.5M
+109.9% YoY
Grant Count
38
+137.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$328K
-11.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to help hard-working individuals who are trying to help themselves and their communities but temporarily lack the resources to accomplish their goals.
Program Areas:
Biomedical Research — Supporting basic and translational biomedical research, with emphasis on genomic research that could lead to breakthroughs in clinical practice. The foundation also enables talented young scientists to pursue careers in research through programs such as the Gerstner Family Career Development Awards at Mayo Clinic and Columbia University.
Education — Supporting access to excellent education for young people in grades K-12, with particular focus on students who have talent and determination but whose opportunity to excel is limited by economic circumstances.
Environment — Funding research on reducing methane emissions to address climate change and developing solutions to tackle plastic pollution.
Helping Hands — Providing one-time cash grants to people experiencing unforeseen emergencies to help restore their equilibrium.
Grantmaking
The foundation has made 35+ grants totaling over $10.6 million in recent activity, with additional grants distributed across its program areas.
Grant Range
** $1,000 to $6,360,000
Invitation Only
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. All grants are made by invitation only.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates most grants in three primary geographic areas:
- New York City
- Boston
- Palm Beach County
The foundation occasionally supports initiatives in other locations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $157.9 million (2024)
Annual Revenue: $16.7 million (2024)
Annual Expenses: $17.2 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $99,100 (2023)
Total Giving Since Inception: Over $300 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $157,914,050 | $158,479,453 | $157,377,016 |
| Revenue | $16,734,851 | $12,193,112 | $6,418,815 |
| Expenses | $17,201,146 | $11,109,243 | $11,013,240 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,047,507 | $7,240,549 | $7,755,547 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,745,820 | $5,084,722 | $3,220,856 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,735,338 | $9,272,875 | $9,865,201 |
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
185 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner — Chair of Gerstner Philanthropies (assumed role following her father's passing in December 2025). She serves as Vice Chair/Trustee and Vice President of Programs. Dr. Gerstner is a neuro-oncologist whose medical background is critical to the foundation's biomedical research grantmaking. She spearheaded the foundation's environment program and plays an important role across all program areas.
Lorie Stewart — Chief Financial Officer
Kara Klein — Executive Director
The foundation employs 6 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOUIS V GERSTNER JR | TRUSTEE, CHAIRPERSON | 8 | — |
| DR ELIZABETH R GERSTNER | TRUSTEE, VICE CHAIRPERSON, VP PROGRAMS | 8 | $100,000 |
| BESSEMER TRUST COMPANY OF FLORIDA | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KARA V KLEIN | TRUSTEE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 25 | $420,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Pew-Gerstner Fellowship in Ocean Plastic Research** — Dr. Win Cowger, executive director of the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, was selected as the first recipient of the 2026 Pew-Gerstner Fellowship in Ocean Plastic Research (March 2026).
Gerstner family donates $10 million to Mayo Clinic for five research, education**Mayo Clinic AI Translation Program** — The Gerstner family donated $25 million to establish the Gerstner Scholars Program in AI Translation at Mayo Clinic.
The Gerstner Family Foundation Awards $1.68 Million to the Three High Schools**Mayo Clinic Research Support** — The Gerstner family donated $10 million to Mayo Clinic for five research and education initiatives.
The Gerstner Family Foundation Awards $1.68 Million to the Three High Schools**CCNY Helping Hands Support** — Gerstner Philanthropies increased support for the Helping Hands program at City College of New York with a $600,000 grant, and previously donated $166,667 for the Helping Hands Student Emergency Fund at CCNY.
Gerstner Philanthropies increases support for Helping Hands at CCNY with\**Diocese of Palm Beach High Schools** — The Gerstner Family Foundation awarded $1.68 million to the three high schools of the Diocese of Palm Beach.
The Gerstner Family Foundation Awards $1.68 Million to the Three High SchoolsContact Information
Address: 20 Old Post Road, Armonk, NY 10504
Phone: 914-499-4900
Email: info@gerstner.org
Website: https://gerstner.org/
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private independent foundation
EIN: 20-8559135
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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