The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99

Private foundation · Grantmaker Sewanee, TN EIN: 27-6906568

The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 is a private foundation, based in Sewanee, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $471K. Net investment income was $86K.

Key facts about The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99

In short: The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 gave $471K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $236K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
27-6906568
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$471,423
Grants made (2024)
2
Average grant
$235,712
Median grant
$235,712
Primary geography
Tennessee (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$471K

+3151.2% YoY

Grant Count

2

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$236K

+3151.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 gives

  • Giving grew 424% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

Cities

SewaneeChattanoogaChicagoCoalmontElizabethtonEstill SpringsNashvilleWhitwell

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K0 grants2019 1 grant2020 6 grants2021 2 grants2022 2 grants2023 2 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2023) to $471K (2024). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $471K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga: $469KCommunity Foundation ofGreater Chattanooga$469KEpiscopal Peace Fellowship: $2KEpiscopal Peace Fellowship$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga ($469K). Together the top 2 received $471K.

Grant Size Distribution

13 grants across all recorded years

11<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 13 (85%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Chattanooga, TNGeneral Operating Account$469,000
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Account$2,423

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$200K$400K$600K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets—$390,517$398,445
Revenue$92,196$12,741$6,917
Expenses$482,713$20,669$21,351
Qualifying Distributions$475,136$15,537$15,750
Net Investment Income$85,817$7,609$1,316
Distributable Amount$18,438$20,187$19,681

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Anne C. Deutsch

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Henry Hamman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Spike Hosch

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Marjorie P. Burnett (2019–2020) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99

How much does The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 give each year?

The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 gave $471K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $15K across 2 grants.

Where does The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 operate?

The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 has awarded grants in Illinois, Tennessee.

How much is The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99 reported a distributable amount of $18K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99's EIN?

The John M Gessell Charitable Trust Dtd 8-20-99's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6906568. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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