The John M Gessell Charitable Trust
The John M Gessell Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
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 reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The John M Gessell Charitable Trust
Based on IRS filings
The John M Gessell Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, 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.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga ($469,000), Episcopal Peace Fellowship ($2,423).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EPISCOPAL PEACE FELLOWSHIP CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING ACCOUNT | $2,423 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA CHATTANOOGA, TN | GENERAL OPERATING ACCOUNT | $469,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE C DEUTSCH | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| HENRY HAMMAN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| SPIKE HOSCH | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The John M Gessell Charitable Trust?
The John M Gessell Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SEWANEE, TN. It holds — in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The John M Gessell Charitable Trust operate?
The John M Gessell Charitable Trust has awarded grants in Illinois, Tennessee.
What size grants does The John M Gessell Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The John M Gessell Charitable Trust awarded 2 grants totaling $471K — an average of about $236K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John M Gessell Charitable Trust 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 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's EIN?
The John M Gessell Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6906568. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John M Gessell Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.