The Gessner Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2013 and based in Columbus, Ohio. The foundation is closely connected to the Gessner family's ownership of MCTV (formerly Massillon Cable TV), a family-owned broadband services company serving over 50,000 customers across ten Ohio counties. The foundation reflects the family's commitment to local philanthropy and supporting communities where their business operates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.9M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
28
-24.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+39.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gessner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Community development
- Economic development
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Historic preservation
- Healthcare
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only makes grants to preselected organizations. Grant-making is trustee-directed without formal application cycles.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $100,000
Average Grant
$36,376
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Ohio (especially Stark County and Columbus area)
- Virginia
- South Carolina
- Colorado
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $26,871,109
- Total giving: $1,420,250
- Revenue: $6.29 million
- Expenses: $1.67 million
- Total liabilities: $19,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,871,109 | $26,001,470 | $25,250,807 |
| Revenue | $2,539,341 | $6,147,093 | $3,706,068 |
| Expenses | $1,696,204 | $1,674,631 | $1,733,088 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,525,314 | $1,454,675 | $1,555,539 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,458,234 | $4,157,988 | $3,124,501 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,505,884 | $1,290,868 | $1,265,022 |
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
162 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Habitat for Humanity ($291,000), Massillon Heritage Foundation ($100,000), Spring Hill Farm ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A PLACE TO BE MIDDLEBURG, VA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| AKRON CANTON REGIONAL FOOD BANK AKRON, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| ARTFUL LIVING AND LEARNING NORTH CANTON, OH | FOR USE IN MASSILLON CITY SCHOOLS | $30,000 |
| BEACON CHARITABLE PHARMACY CANTON, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $35,000 |
| BOYS' & GIRLS' CLUB OF MASSILLON MASSILLON, OH | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND GENERAL OPERATIONS | $60,000 |
| BOYS' & GIRLS' CLUB OF WOOSTER WOOSTER, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF MASSILLON PUBLIC LIBRARY MASSILLON, OH | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $40,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CANTON, OH | EMERGENCY MORTGAGE SUBSIDY PROGRAM IN WESTERN STARK COUNTY & SUPPORT FOR THE MASSILLON OHIO TREMONT CORRIDOR HABITAT RENEWAL PROJECT | $291,000 |
| JUMP START INC CLEVELAND, OH | STARK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN | $38,750 |
| KENNEDY CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN R GESSNER | PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| ROBERT B GESSNER | TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
| ELIZABETH A MCALLISTER | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| RICHARD W GESSNER JR | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| LARRY MCALLISTER | VICE-PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE | 0.1 | — |
| KATHERINE GESSNER | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Gessner family has demonstrated significant philanthropic commitment beyond the foundation's direct activities. Andy and Barbara Gessner made a $20 million gift to the University of Houston College of Nursing, representing a major educational investment outside the foundation's primary geographic focus areas.
Gessner Family Foundation establishes scholarship to benefit Stark StateSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gessner Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on: • Education • Community development • Economic development • Arts and culture • Human services • Historic preservation • Healthcare
How do I apply for a grant from The Gessner Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $100,000 • Average grant size: $36,376 • Typical awards: $2,500–$317,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $1.6 million (2023 distributed $1,634,000 across 48 grants) **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only makes grants to preselected organizations. Grant-making is trustee-directed without formal application cycles. **Recent Grant Examples:** • $100,000 to Massillon Heritage Foundation for histori…
Where does The Gessner Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Ohio (especially Stark County and Columbus area) • Virginia • South Carolina • Colorado • New York
What size grants does The Gessner Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gessner Family Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gessner Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gessner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gessner Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gessner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0609120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gessner Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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