The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Buffalo, NY EIN: 16-1406643

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation is a private foundation, based in Buffalo, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $787K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $41K. Net investment income was $20K.

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation at a glance

In short: The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation gave $41K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$41,000
+2.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
6
+50.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$6,833
-31.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$787,320
-2.6% vs 2023
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

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

Who The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2024

Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charit: $10KOur Lady of Victory Homes ofCharit$10KFeedMore WNY Foundation: $10KFeedMore WNY Foundation$10KCatholic Charities: $10KCatholic Charities$10KBuffalo City Mission: $5KBuffalo City Mission$5KSisters of St Mary of Namur: $5KSisters of St Mary of Namur$5KKevin Guest House: $1KKevin Guest House$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charit ($10K). Together the top 6 received $41K.

Grant Size Distribution

17 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 17 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

States

Cities

BuffaloLackawannaWest Seneca

How The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 720% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

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

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K1 grant2020 1 grant2021 5 grants2022 4 grants2023 6 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2020) to $41K (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $41K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charit Lackawanna, NYCharitable$10,000
FeedMore WNY Foundation Buffalo, NYTo advance the mission of feeding people in Western New York$10,000
Catholic Charities Buffalo, NYCharity$10,000
Buffalo City Mission Buffalo, NYCharitable$5,000
Sisters of St Mary of Namur Buffalo, NYCharitable$5,000
Kevin Guest House Buffalo, NYCharitable$1,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$787,320$24,415$45,715$41,0006$41,000$19,700$42,517
2023$808,620$16,216$44,302$40,0004$40,000$16,602$39,984
2022$836,706$5,582$40,495$36,0005$36,000$6,157$40,808
2021$871,619$171,365$6,276$5,0001$5,000$305$41,028
2020$706,530$703,911$2,225$2,0001——$1,675

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $43K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation is led by Mary C Smith, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mary C Smith

    President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • William C Hilbert

    Treasurer & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • William J Koessler

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 W & Mary M Koessler Foundation

How much does The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation give each year?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation gave $41K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $40K across 4 grants.

What is The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's typical grant size?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $6,833, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation give grants?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (5 grants).

Does The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (4 grants).

Who are The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's largest grantees?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Our Lady of Victory Homes of Charit ($10,000), FeedMore WNY Foundation ($10,000) and Catholic Charities ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation reported $787K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $43K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's EIN?

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1406643. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York

Ferguson Electric Foundation

Buffalo, NY

The foundation supports healthcare, education, community services, and arts organizations, with recent grants ranging from $500 to $15,000 and a median of $2,000. Its giving is focused mainly in New York, especially the Buffalo area. It accepts written grant requests; no deadline is listed.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$901K

Grants

29

Total Given

$82K

The Richard W Rupp Foundation

Buffalo, NY

The foundation supports organizations working in areas such as agriculture, arts, journalism, emergency food, reproductive health, and environmental protection, with most 2024 funding going to New York recipients. Its 46 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,750. It gives only to preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Assets

$11.8M

Grants

46

Total Given

$470K

Dreamcatcher Foundation Inc

Islamorada, FL

Dreamcatcher Foundation supports higher education, food-related education, fisheries conservation, and community programs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $1,200, and primarily went to organizations in New York and Florida. It accepts formal letter requests at any time from bona fide charitable organizations.

Assets

$2.9M

Grants

71

Total Given

$175K

Bernard & Estelle Siegel Foundation Inc

Williamsville, NY

The Bernard & Estelle Siegel Foundation supports education, food assistance, social services, workforce training, and veterans’ services, primarily in New York. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $150,000, with a median of $22,500. It funds preselected organizations only and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.7M

Grants

20

Total Given

$820K

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc

Princeton, NJ

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.

Assets

$83.3M

Grants

144

Total Given

$67.7M

Buffalo Bills Foundation Inc

Orchard Park, NY

The Buffalo Bills Foundation funds child hunger relief, nutritious food access, healthy eating, and related youth, health, and education programs, with a focus on Western New York; 90% of its 2024 grant dollars went to New York recipients. In 2024, it made 156 grants ranging from $227 to $295,634, with a median award of $3,000. It accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) public charities and lists application deadlines.

Assets

$4.0M

Grants

156

Total Given

$1.9M

More similar funders

More Funders in New York

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

The John W & Mary M Koessler Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?