John and Mary Geisse Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Geisse Foundation supports the alleviation of severe poverty in developing nations. Specific areas of interest include global development, education and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
IP TAKE: This funder gives to U.S.-based organizations that work in developing nations. Much of its work has focused on building and maintaining water infrastructures in areas of high need. Although it ordinarily accepts letters of inquiry, the foundation paused application processing in 2020. This foundation is typically supportive and open-minded despite having paused application processing due to COVID-19.
Grantseekers should check the foundation’s application page for further updates. General inquiries may be made to program officer Alison Gregory via email or contact form. This family foundation also supports smaller, grassroots efforts.
PROFILE: The John F. and Mary Geisse Foundation was established in 1969 by the late John and Mary Geisse. John Geisse was the founder of the Target and Venture department store chains. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The foundation is based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the Geisses’ son, Tim Geisse, is its current executive director. This funder aims to alleviate “extreme poverty in the developing world” and supports “organizations that have demonstrated success in helping people break the cycle of poverty.” Geisse grants generally go to U.S.-based organizations that work in developing countries, as the foundation aims to “avoid investing in foreign organizations or countries with political instability or oppressive governments.” Geisse’s current areas of grantmaking interest address global development, education and sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Grants for Global Development and Global Education
The Geisse Foundation’s recent global development grants have prioritized water, sanitation and hygiene. One past grantee is Water for People, an organization that partners with governments, businesses and individuals to bring water infrastructure to the poorest areas of Central and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and India. Another grantee, Healing Waters International, aims to bring water purification and conservation systems to impoverished areas, and to train leaders in water system maintenance and management. Other past global development grantees include International Development Enterprises, the Congo Leadership Initiative and the Association for a More Just Society.
Education figures significantly in Geisse’s mission to alleviate poverty in developing countries. In this area, the foundation has supported the Cooperative for Education, which strengthens education in Guatemala through community involvement and sustainable resources. Another education grantee, EDUCATE!, is involved in school reform in Africa and aims to help students develop skills to “drive development in their countries.”
Grants for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
Sustainable agriculture and food systems is a newer area of grantmaking for this funder. One recent grant has supported Strategies for International Development, an organization that works with rural farmers in Guatemala, Peru and Bolivia to build successful farming businesses while conserving important natural resources. Another grantee, Village Enterprise, trains rural East Africans to run sustainable small ventures in livestock, farming, beekeeping, small retail stores and restaurants.
Important Grant Details:
The John F. and Mary Geisse Foundation makes approximately $1 million a year in grants. Average grant size in the foundation’s areas of interest is about $100,000, but it is worth noting that this funder also gives many small donations to U.S. organizations with which the Geisse family maintains interest and connection. For additional information about past grantmaking, see the foundation’s current grantees page or its recent tax filings.
The Geisse Foundation typically accepts letters of inquiry for its two annual grant cycles, but paused its application process in 2020 due to the “COVID-19 climate as well as the overwhelming amount of submissions the foundation has received in the last grant cycles.” Grantseekers should check the foundation’s application page for further updates. General inquiries may be made to program officer Alison Gregory via email or contact form.
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