The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on large, local capital and redevelopment projects in Newark, Ohio, with a strong emphasis on supporting the Ohio State University–Newark campus and downtown revitalization. It favors multi‑grant, project‑specific investments—often for building or renovation campaigns—that benefit higher education, historic preservation, performing arts, and community athletic facilities in Licking County.
The Gilbert Reese Family Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its repeated, multi-year commitment to the Louella Hodges Reese building fund at Ohio State University–Newark. It made $2.2 million grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 through the Newark Campus Development Fund, showing a sustained focus on a single campus project rather than scattered annual giving. That campus support sits alongside other large local investments in Newark, including funding for the historic Arcade renovation and the Midland Theatre fund. The foundation’s recent grants also show support for community infrastructure and student-serving projects, such as campus buildings, a blood center building, and athletic facilities. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears to favor project-specific commitments that help advance construction, renovation, or capital campaigns in Newark and nearby communities. Its giving pattern suggests a funder that works through local intermediaries and recipient organizations tied to defined projects, with several awards repeated across multiple years. The mix of higher education, historic preservation, performing arts, athletics, and public-serving facilities gives a clear picture of how the foundation directs its resources.
Higher education is a central theme. The foundation gave $300,000 in 2023 and another $300,000 in 2024 to the Alford Building Fund through Newark Campus Development Fund, and it also supported the William McDonald Scholarship Fund at Ohio State Newark with $25,000 in 2025. Historic preservation is another visible area: Newark Development Partners received $714,684 in 2024 and $641,000 in 2025 for renovation of the historic Arcade. Arts and cultural life appear in the $550,000 grant in 2023 to the Licking County Foundation for the Midland Theatre fund pledge and Northridge Athletic Booster Fund, plus a later $50,000 grant in 2025 for the Midland Theatre fund. The foundation also backed civic programming, including $116,043 in 2025 to Central Ohio Technical College for the Italian immersion program and Independence Day event 2024.
Typical grants cluster around a mid-sized local range, with p25 at $21,250, a median of $75,000, and p75 at $250,000. The recent record shows repeated support to the same recipients across multiple years, especially for campus and redevelopment projects, which points to a recurring commitment model rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a family foundation, and its filings show it funds individuals. It does not make program-related investments. The grant list also suggests a preference for pledged or project-designated support, often routed through local development funds or foundations.
$3.6M
$38.1M
$5.9M
$4M
Most grants fall between $21K and $250K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$21K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$250K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Gilbert Reese Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 37 | $14.3M | 82.2% |
| 2 | Italy |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated, few very large grants (majority to one recipient), repeat funding to the same local organizations, primarily capital/project restricted gifts focused on Newark/Licking County.
Notable grantees: Newark Campus Development Fund, Newark Development Partners, Licking County Foundation
The foundation gives primarily in Ohio, with 93% of grants to recipients in its headquarters state. Newark is the main landing place for awards, and other Ohio recipients include Granville and Columbus. Outside the United States, grants also went to Firenze, Italy, and the recipient-country distribution shows 6 grants in Italy. One repeated international recipient is Parrochia Di San Jacopo in Firenze, which appears multiple times in the recent grants list.
Its recent grants emphasize capital and redevelopment work: campus building funds, historic renovation, theatre support, athletic facilities, and other local infrastructure projects. Examples in the list include building funds for Ohio State University–Newark, renovation of the historic Arcade, and athletic facility support in Newark and Granville.
Yes. The recent grants list shows recurring support to several recipients across multiple years, including Newark Campus Development Fund in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Newark Development Partners in 2024 and 2025; and Licking County Foundation in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $21,250, the median is $75,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent list also includes several larger project commitments above $1 million.
It gives primarily in Ohio, with 93% of grants to recipients in the headquarters state. Newark is the clearest local hub, and additional Ohio grants go to places such as Granville and Columbus.
Yes. The recipient-country distribution includes Italy with 6 grants. Recent grantees in Firenze include Parrochia Di San Jacopo and Escuola Di Musicale Di Cascia.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 8 |
| $135K |
17.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $2,200,000 | 2026 | AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - LOUELLA HODGES REESE HALL BUILDING FUND |
| NEWARK DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS | NEWARK, OH | $746,768 | 2026 | RESTORATION OF HISTORIC ARCADE |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO | COLUMBUS, OH | $250,000 | 2026 | NEWARK LEARNING CENTER |
| THE HILL SCHOOL | POTTSTOWN, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | TENNIS CENTER RENOVATIONS |
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | NEWARK, OH | $95,000 | 2026 | ITALIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2025 |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEWARK FUND |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $50,000 | 2026 | MIDLAND THEATRE FUND |
| PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO | FIRENZE | $25,000 | 2026 | DONATION |
| CITY OF HEATH | HEATH, OH | $25,000 | 2026 | PICKLEBALL COURT |
| ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA | FIRENZE | $10,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF NEWARK | NEWARK, OH | $756 | 2026 | DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $2,200,000 | 2025 | AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - LOUELLA HODGES REESE HALL BUILDING FUND |
| NEWARK DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS | NEWARK, OH | $641,000 | 2025 | RENOVATION OF HISTORIC ARCADE |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL BAND PRACTICE FIELD IMPROVEMENTS |
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | NEWARK, OH | $116,043 | 2025 | ITALIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2024 |
| THE HILL SCHOOL | POTTSTOWN, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | TENNIS CENTER RENOVATIONS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | NEWARK, OH | $100,000 | 2025 | NEWARK BLOOD CENTER BUILDING |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | MIDLAND THEATRE FUND |
| OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY | NEWARK, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | WILLIAM MCDONALD SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT OHIO STATE NEWARK |
| LICKING COUNTY TRANSIT | NEWARK, OH | $25,000 | 2025 | PILOT PROJECT FOR EXPANDING TRANSIT IN LICKING COUNTY |
| PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO | FIRENZE | $25,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| NEWARK DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS | NEWARK, OH | $18,325 | 2025 | OHM PLANNING STUDY |
| ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA | FIRENZE | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF NEWARK | NEWARK, OH | $720 | 2025 | DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $2,200,000 | 2024 | AS AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERISTY NEWARK - LOUELLA HODGES REESE BUILDING FUND PLEDGE |
| NEWARK DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS | NEWARK, OH | $714,684 | 2024 | RENOVATION OF HISTORIC ARCADE |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $300,000 | 2024 | ALFORD BUILDING FUND |
| GRANVILLE ATHLETIC COMPLEX FUND | GRANVILLE, OH | $250,000 | 2024 | PLEDGE WALTER HODGES STADIUM |
| THE HILL SCHOOL | POTTSTOWN, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | TENNIS CENTER RENOVATIONS |
| NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DEPT | NEWARK, OH | $100,000 | 2024 | GIRLS SOFTBALL TURF |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | COLUMBUS, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $50,000 | 2024 | MIDLAND THEATRE FUND |
| PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO | FIRENZE | $25,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | NEWARK, OH | $20,000 | 2024 | INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2023 |
| ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA | FIRENZE | $10,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF NEWARK | NEWARK, OH | $4,960 | 2024 | DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT AND MURAL REPAIR |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $2,200,000 | 2023 | AS AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERISTY NEWARK - LOUELLA HODGES REESE BUILDING FUND PLEDGE |
| LICKING COUNTY FOUNDATION | NEWARK, OH | $550,000 | 2023 | MIDLAND THEATRE FUND PLEDGE AND NORTHRIDGE ATHLETIC BOOSTER FUND |
| NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND | NEWARK, OH | $300,000 | 2023 | ALFORD BUILDING FUND |
| GRANVILLE ATHLETIC COMPLEX FUND | GRANVILLE, OH | $250,000 | 2023 | PLEDGE WALTER HODGES STADIUM |
| LOOK UP CENTER | NEWARK, OH | $150,000 | 2023 | DONATION - BUILDING FUND |
| PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO | FIRENZE | $25,000 | 2023 | DONATION |
| CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE | NEWARK, OH | $10,000 | 2023 | INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2022 |
| ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA | FIRENZE | $5,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CITY OF NEWARK | NEWARK, OH | $1,924 | 2023 | DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT |
NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND
$2,200,000AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - LOUELLA HODGES REESE HALL BUILDING FUND
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF CENTRAL OHIO
$250,000NEWARK LEARNING CENTER
CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$95,000ITALIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2025
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF NEWARK FUND
PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO
$25,000DONATION
CITY OF HEATH
$25,000PICKLEBALL COURT
ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CITY OF NEWARK
$756DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT
NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND
$2,200,000AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - LOUELLA HODGES REESE HALL BUILDING FUND
CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$116,043ITALIAN IMMERSION PROGRAM AND INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2024
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
$25,000WILLIAM MCDONALD SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT OHIO STATE NEWARK
LICKING COUNTY TRANSIT
$25,000PILOT PROJECT FOR EXPANDING TRANSIT IN LICKING COUNTY
PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO
$25,000DONATION
ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CITY OF NEWARK
$720DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT
NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND
$2,200,000AS AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERISTY NEWARK - LOUELLA HODGES REESE BUILDING FUND PLEDGE
GRANVILLE ATHLETIC COMPLEX FUND
$250,000PLEDGE WALTER HODGES STADIUM
NEWARK HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DEPT
$100,000GIRLS SOFTBALL TURF
PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO
$25,000DONATION
CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$20,000INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2023
ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA
$10,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CITY OF NEWARK
$4,960DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT AND MURAL REPAIR
NEWARK CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT FUND
$2,200,000AS AGENT FOR OHIO STATE UNIVERISTY NEWARK - LOUELLA HODGES REESE BUILDING FUND PLEDGE
MIDLAND THEATRE FUND PLEDGE AND NORTHRIDGE ATHLETIC BOOSTER FUND
GRANVILLE ATHLETIC COMPLEX FUND
$250,000PLEDGE WALTER HODGES STADIUM
LOOK UP CENTER
$150,000DONATION - BUILDING FUND
PARROCHIA DI SAN JACOPO
$25,000DONATION
CENTRAL OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE
$10,000INDEPENDENCE DAY EVENT 2022
ESCUOLA DI MUSICALE DI CASCIA
$5,000SCHOLARSHIPS
CITY OF NEWARK
$1,924DECORATING COMMUNITY MARKET DISTRICT