The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation
The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1994 and based in Newark, Ohio. The foundation focuses on community development, higher education, hospitals, human services, and local civic initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.1M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.6M
-6.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
+8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$274K
-14.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Community development
- Higher education
- Hospitals
- Human services
- YMCA support
- Education and STEM education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
The foundation primarily directs funding toward Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 12 grants in 2024.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $720 to $2,200,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Newark, Ohio area and surrounding Licking County region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $36,137,766
- Total Giving: $3,561,088
- Total Revenues: $5,190,451
- Total Expenses: $3,793,787
Tax-Exempt Status: The foundation has been tax-exempt since February 1995.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,137,766 | $34,741,102 | $33,938,034 |
| Revenue | $5,190,451 | $4,825,685 | $5,045,677 |
| Expenses | $3,793,787 | $4,022,617 | $3,732,448 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,577,171 | $3,824,644 | $3,491,924 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,064,827 | $2,420,897 | $3,806,613 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,098,505 | $1,848,900 | $1,871,341 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Newark Campus Development Fund ($2,200,000), Newark Development Partners ($641,000), Licking County Foundation ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE NEWARK, OH | ITALIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2024 | $116,043 |
| CITY OF NEWARK NEWARK, OH | DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT | $720 |
| ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA | SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION NEWARK, OH | NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL BAND PRACTICE FIELD IMPROVEMENTS | $250,000 |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND NEWARK, OH | AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - LOUELLA HODGES REESE HALL BUILDING FUND | $2,200,000 |
| NEWARK DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS NEWARK, OH | RENOVATION OF HISTORIC ARCADE | $641,000 |
| PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO | DONATION | $25,000 |
| THE HILL SCHOOL POTTSTOWN, PA | TENNIS CENTER RENOVATIONS | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS NEWARK, OH | NEWARK BLOOD CENTER BUILDING | $100,000 |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION NEWARK, OH | MIDLAND THEATRE FUND | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Gilbert Reese (1925–2018) was a founding figure of the foundation. He was a graduate of Phillips Academy, The Ohio State University (B.A., 1949), and The Ohio State University College of Law (J.D., 1952). He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1952 and was the founding partner of the Newark law firm Reese, Pyle & Meyer, P.L.L. He was married to Louella Catherine Hodges Reese for more than 67 years and had five children and twelve grandchildren.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH R WALLACE | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JOHN H WALLACE | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| LOUELLA REESE | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| SALLY W HECKMAN | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| GILBERT H REESE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JENNIFER ROBERTS | EXEC DIRECTOR | 27 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 4217, 25 E Walnut St, Newark, OH 43058-4217
Telephone: 740-349-8276
EIN: 31-1421173
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Community development • Higher education • Hospitals • Human services • YMCA support • Education and STEM education • Philanthropy and voluntarism The foundation primarily directs funding toward Ohio and Pennsylvania.
How do I apply for a grant from The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $720 to $2,200,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Newark Campus Development Fund: $2,200,000 (Agent for Ohio State University - Louella Hodges Reese Hall Building Fund) • Newark Development Partners: $641,000 (Renovation of Historic Arcade) • Licking County Foundation: $250,000 (Newark High School Band Practice Field Improvements) The foundation made 12 grants in 2024.
Where does The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Newark, Ohio area and surrounding Licking County region.
What size grants does The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $274K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation's EIN?
The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1421173. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Gilbert Reese 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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