The John M Gessell Charitable Trust | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like The John M Gessell Charitable Trust. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 27-6906568

Foundation Overview

Based in Sewanee, TN, The John M Gessell Charitable Trust has awarded 20 grants totaling $334,300 to organizations in Tennessee. Individual grants range from $2,500 to $75,300, with a median award of $12,500.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$334,300
Total Assets
$429,935
Median Grant (all grants)
$12,500

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
4
Median Grant
$7,250
% No Significant Change
-3% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Balanced Approach: 50%

2 of 4 recipients (50%) were new grantees. Foundation maintains loyal partnerships while remaining open to qualified new applicants with strong proposals.

Geographic Focus
Tennessee

100% of all grants are concentrated in Tennessee, demonstrating highly focused geographic giving. This foundation prioritizes deep community impact in its primary service area. Within Tennessee, funding concentrates in Sewanee (35%), Chattanooga (25%), Estill Springs (15%).

Funding Trajectory
-52%

Declining funding trend with 52% decrease over 7 years may indicate reduced grant opportunities or shifting foundation priorities. This trajectory suggests more competitive application environment.

Program Areas
Community Projects + 2 others

Diversified giving across multiple program areas with primary emphasis on community projects (36%). This broad approach suggests openness to various causes and innovative cross-sector solutions.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into The John M Gessell Charitable Trust's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Whitwell Heritage Center $2,500 Whitwell, TN, US Educate Children And The Community On The Rich Heritage Of Whitwell 2023
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $12,000 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2023
Whitwell Heritage Center $2,500 Whitwell, TN, US Educate Children And The Community On The Rich Heritage Of Whitwell 2023
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $12,000 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2023
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $12,500 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2022
Early Literacy Ambassadors $2,500 Estill Springs, TN, US To Provide Access To Reading Interventions So At-risk Children Will Be Prepared For College And Careers. 2022
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $12,500 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2022
Early Literacy Ambassadors $2,500 Estill Springs, TN, US To Provide Access To Reading Interventions So At-risk Children Will Be Prepared For College And Careers. 2022
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $12,500 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2022
Early Literacy Ambassadors $2,500 Estill Springs, TN, US To Provide Access To Reading Interventions So At-risk Children Will Be Prepared For College And Careers. 2022
Cumberland Center For Justice And Peace $15,000 Sewanee, TN, US Seeking Justice And Peace In Our Place And Time 2021
Isaiah 117 House Resource Center $15,000 Elizabethton, TN, US To Provide Physical And Emotional Support In A Safe And Loving Home For Children Awaiting Foster Care Parents 2021
The University Of The South $10,000 Sewanee, TN, US To Promote Liberal Arts And Episcopal Church 2021
Tennessee Preservation Trust $20,000 Nashville, TN, US To Promote The Preservation Of Tennessee's Diverse Historic Resources Through Education, Advocacy, And Collaborative Partnerships 2021
Children's Advocacy Center $10,000 Chattanooga, TN, US To Provide A Path To Healing For Children Who Have Experienced Child Sexual Abuse Or Severe Physical Abuse 2021
Betterfi $20,000 Coalmont, TN, US To Provide Affordable Loans And Financial Coaching As An Alternative To Predatory Lending 2021
Community Foundation Of Greater Chattanooga $50,000 Chattanooga, TN, US To Improve Lives In The Chattanooga Area 2020
The Community Foundation Of Greater Chattanooga $75,300 Chattanooga, TN, US To Improve Lives In The Chattanooga Area 2018
The Community Foundation Of Greater Chattanooga $15,000 Chattanooga, TN, US To Improve Lives In The Chattanooga Area 2017
The Community Foundation Of Greater Chattanooga $30,000 Chattanooga, TN, US To Improve Lives In The Chattanooga Area 2016

Foundations Similar to The John M Gessell Charitable Trust

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($410,036-$454,471), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in TN that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 62-6132485 | 16 grants awarded
$428,308
(≈ Similar)
$9,218
median grant
Chattanooga, TN
Same state
100%
Excellent match

EIN: 58-1488121 | 16 grants awarded
$437,437
(≈ Similar)
$8,000
median grant
Nashville, TN
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 20-6862913 | 13 grants awarded
$449,360
(≈ Similar)
$10,629
median grant
Carthage, TN
Same state
98%
Excellent match

EIN: 63-0983566 | 116 grants awarded
$410,036
(≈ Similar)
$10,000
median grant
Nashville, TN
Same state
98%
Excellent match

EIN: 31-6620372 | 14 grants awarded
$454,471
(≈ Similar)
$8,000
median grant
Nashville, TN
Same state
97%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for The John M Gessell Charitable Trust as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 27-6906568
Website N/A
Address PO BOX 3147 Sewanee, TN 37375-3147

Key People (3)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee The John M Gessell Charitable Trust's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Trustee Anne C Deutsch
Trustee Henry Hamman
Trustee Spike Hosch

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for The John M Gessell Charitable Trust is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.