The Massachusetts State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 04-3539095

The Gess Foundation

A private foundation in Wellesley, MA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 26 grants and $182,630 paid in grants.

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2024

    $182,630

    Grants listed
    26
    Assets, end of year
    $3,046,912
  • Tax year 2023

    $126,861

    Grants listed
    25
    Assets, end of year
    $3,026,458
  • Tax year 2022

    $86,565

    Grants listed
    25
    Assets, end of year
    $2,836,144
  • Tax year 2021

    $142,935

    Grants listed
    36
    Assets, end of year
    $2,838,800
  • Tax year 2020

    $173,270

    Grants listed
    35
    Assets, end of year
    $2,582,834
  • Tax year 2019

    $150,480

    Grants listed
    34
    Assets, end of year
    $2,475,681
  • Tax year 2018

    $107,692

    Grants listed
    48
    Assets, end of year
    $2,249,297

Grants paid in 2024

26 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. From the TopBoston, MA

    General support

    $60,500
  2. 30 Mile River Watershed AssociationMount Vernon, ME

    General support

    $25,000
  3. La Jolla Music SocietyLa Jolla, CA

    General support

    $13,000
  4. Jewish Grandparents NetworkStevenson, MD

    General support

    $10,000
  5. North Coast Repertory TheaterSolana Beach, CA

    General support

    $10,000
  6. Vanguard CultureSan Diego, CA

    General support

    $10,000
  7. West Newton Cinema FoundationWest Newton, MA

    General support

    $10,000
  8. Temple Beth ElohimWellesley, MA

    General support

    $8,600
  9. Illustration InstitutePortland, ME

    General support

    $7,500
  10. Anti-Defamation LeagueNew York, NY

    General support

    $5,000
  11. Maine Defamation LeagueBoston, MA

    General support

    $3,500
  12. The Old GlobeSan Diego, CA

    General support

    $3,000
  13. Hebrew Senior LifeBoston, MA

    General support

    $2,500
  14. House on the MoonNew York, NY

    General support

    $2,500
  15. WburBoston, MA

    General support

    $2,000
  16. Mt Vernon Fire DepartmentMount Vernon, ME

    General support

    $1,550
  17. WQXRNew York, NY

    General support

    $1,500
  18. Friends of Wellesley LibraryWellesley, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  19. KPBSSan Diego, CA

    General support

    $1,000
  20. Neighbors Driving NeighborsMount Vernon, ME

    General support

    $1,000
  21. Portland Chamber Music FestivalPortland, ME

    General support

    $1,000
  22. WGBHBoston, MA

    General support

    $1,000
  23. Challenged Athlete FoundationSan Diego, CA

    General support

    $750
  24. National Center for Jewish FilmWaltham, MA

    General support

    $500
  25. Francis Parker SchoolDevens, MA

    General support

    $200
  26. Parker Pond AssociationVienna, ME

    General support

    $30

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture8 grants $105,50071% of the total
  2. Environment2 grants $25,03017% of the total
  3. Religion1 grant $10,0007% of the total
  4. Civil rights1 grant $5,0003% of the total
  5. Philanthropy and grantmaking1 grant $2,5002% of the total
  6. Human services1 grant $1,000<1% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Massachusetts10 grants $89,800
  2. California6 grants $37,750
  3. Maine6 grants $36,080
  4. Maryland1 grant $10,000
  5. New York3 grants $9,000

Officers, directors and trustees

2 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Gerald SlavetTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Susan F SlavetTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (arts and culture), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Rowan T O'Riley Family FoundationWellesley, MA 25 grants Preselected only $291,700 giving
  2. Linda S Waintrup FoundationWellesley, MA 4 grants Preselected only $75,000 giving
  3. Evelyn & Louis Grossman Fund IncWellesley, MA 26 grants Preselected only $69,176 giving
  4. Crozier Family Charitable FoundationWellesley, MA 29 grants Preselected only $57,580 giving
  5. The Sandman Family FoundationWellesley, MA 5 grants Preselected only $55,000 giving