The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Williamsville, NY EIN: 16-1406642
Arts and culturePerforming artsMusicOrchestral musicEducation

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Williamsville, New York. In its 2024 filing, it reported making 13 grants totaling $301,410, all to recipients in New York State.

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc gave $301K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in New York. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$301,410
+19.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
13
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$23,185
+19.6% vs 2023
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$3,555,126
+6.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2024; small sample)
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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc

How to Apply

The filing says there is no specific form requested, no award restrictions, and no deadline. It lists PJK Foundation Inc c/o Paul G. Sippel as the contact. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.

Review Cycle
None stated.
Deadline
None stated.
Contact

Application contact: Pjk Foundation Inc Co Paul G Sippel
Mailing address: 5500 Main St Suite 208, Buffalo, NY 14221
Phone: (716) 626-1299

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Canisius High School: $113KCanisius High School$113KBuffalo Maritime Center: $40KBuffalo Maritime Center$40KHome of My Own of WNY: $31KHome of My Own of WNY$31KSisters Hospital Foundation: $25KSisters Hospital Foundation$25KBornhava: $25KBornhava$25KBuffalo Olmsted Parks Consrcy: $10KBuffalo Olmsted Parks Consrcy$10KNativity Miguel Buffalo: $10KNativity Miguel Buffalo$10KBuffalo Niagara Waterkeeper: $10KBuffalo Niagara Waterkeeper$10KTrocaire College: $10KTrocaire College$10KSabah Inc: $10KSabah Inc$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Canisius High School ($113K). Together the top 10 received $284K.

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

76<$50K5$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 82 (93%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in New York State. The listed recipients are in Buffalo-area communities, as well as Geneseo.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.

States

Cities

BuffaloAmherstGeneseoClarenceEast AmherstWest FallsEast AuroraElmaLackawanna

Is The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

8%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $23K. How we count

Medians: $31K first-time, $10K repeat.

  • 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 118% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K22 grants2020 19 grants2021 15 grants2022 13 grants2023 13 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $240K (2021) to $306K (2020). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $301K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Canisius High School Buffalo, NYCharitablecapital Campaign$113,410
Buffalo Maritime Center Buffalo, NYUSS Tripperecreation$40,000
Home of My Own of WNY East Amherst, NYCharitable$31,000
Sisters Hospital Foundation Buffalo, NYCharitable$25,000
Bornhava Amherst, NYCharitable$25,000
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Consrcy Buffalo, NYCharitable$10,000
Nativity Miguel Buffalo Buffalo, NYCharitable$10,000
Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Buffalo, NYCharitable$10,000
Trocaire College Buffalo, NYCharitable$10,000
Sabah Inc Buffalo, NYCharitable$10,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc?

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$3,555,126$529,983$321,031$301,41013$321,031$103,430$272,739
2023$3,346,174$235,288$275,100$252,00013$273,600$95,425—
2022$3,385,986$82,730$282,956$269,11615$282,275$76,434$246,874
2021$3,586,285$69,357$260,084$240,00019$240,000$50,713$274,224
2020$3,777,011$649,774$325,718$306,25022—$85,733$230,821

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $273K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for varied organizations. For example, Buffalo Maritime Center describes its mission as connecting people through community boatbuilding, maritime culture, and Western New York waterways. Home of My Own of WNY says it provides below-market housing for people with developmental disabilities, while Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper describes work to protect and restore water and surrounding ecosystems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 13 grants totaling $301,410. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $113,410, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed awards included $113,410 to Canisius High School for a charitable capital campaign, $40,000 to Buffalo Maritime Center for USS Trippe recreation, $31,000 to Home of My Own of WNY, and $25,000 each to Sisters Hospital Foundation and Bornhava. Other listed recipients included Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Nativity Miguel Buffalo, Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper, Trocaire College, Sabah Inc, and Haiti Dental St. George RC Church.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Gretchen White as director, Paul J Koessler Jr as vice president/director, and Eric Koessler as vice president/director.

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Eric Koessler

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Gretchen White

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Paul J. Koessler Jr.

    Vice President & Director

    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 Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc

How much does The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc give each year?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc gave $301K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $252K across 13 grants.

What is The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $23,185, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc that year got $31K on average.

Where does The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc give grants?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc 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 (9 grants).

Does The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (10 grants).

Who are The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Canisius High School ($113,410), Buffalo Maritime Center ($40,000) and Home of My Own of WNY ($31,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $321K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $273K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for varied organizations. For example, Buffalo Maritime Center describes its mission as connecting people through community boatbuilding, maritime culture, and Western New York waterways. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc?

The filing says there is no specific form requested, no award restrictions, and no deadline. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1406642. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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 Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

The Frank G Raichle Foundation

Williamsville, NY

The Frank G Raichle Foundation’s 2025 grants supported New York charities working in areas such as education, health, food and nutrition, arts, broadcasting, and disability services. It awarded $1,000–$10,000 per grant, with a median of $5,000, and gives only to preselected organizations; it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$2.6M

Grants

19

Total Given

$118K

The Western New York Foundation

Buffalo, NY

The Western New York Foundation supports nonprofits strengthening the regional food system, especially through capacity building, collaboration, and equitable solutions for underserved communities in Western New York. Its 2026 median grant was $3,500, though awards ranged widely; it invites eligible organizations to submit Letters of Intent, and its Small Grant Program accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Assets

$25.8M

Grants

127

Total Given

$1.5M

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc

Buffalo, NY

The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo funds racial and ethnic equity, education and economic mobility, environmental stewardship and climate resilience, and regional arts and culture, primarily in Western New York; its donor-directed funds may also support organizations nationally. Its 2026 competitive grants were expected to average $18,000–$20,000, with a maximum of $50,000; the listed application process is closed, and the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Assets

$944.0M

Grants

562

Total Given

$33.4M

Red Top Foundation

Orchard Park, NY

The foundation’s 2024 grants supported education, arts, environmental, health, and housing organizations, mostly in the Buffalo and Western New York area, with some recipients elsewhere. It awarded 72 grants totaling $184,269, or about $2,559 on average, but its 2025 filing reports no grants or assets. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

—

Grants

72

Total Given

$184K

Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc

Kenmore, NY

The foundation funds nonprofits with a proven record of directly improving the lives of at-risk children up to age 21 who live in Erie County, New York. Grants are generally $2,000–$10,000; it accepts applications from eligible organizations and does not restrict them to preselected applicants.

Assets

$3.6M

Grants

73

Total Given

$425K

Kenneth & Katherine Koessler

Buffalo, NY

The foundation supports charitable organizations, with recent grants benefiting education, health, literacy, and charitable services; awards generally go to organizations operating in Western New York. Its 2024 grants ranged from $400 to $36,500, with a median of $1,500. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$3.4M

Grants

31

Total Given

$165K

More similar funders

More Funders in New York

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-paul-j-koessler-foundation-inc-morg_1f24a20810994b5a9b5d153a66fbc3c8

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_161406642_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-paul-j-koessler-foundation-inc-morg_1f24a20810994b5a9b5d153a66fbc3c8},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from The Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc'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 Paul J Koessler Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?