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PHOTO CREDIT: The Partnership for Inner-City Education

Impact & Approach

Our Impact and Approach

Since inception, Gerstner Philanthropies has made over $230 million in grants. Most recently, in 2023, we gave over $29 million across our program areas.

In Biomedical Research, the foundation has invested over $130 million in research programs that have supported innovative work in areas such as blood biopsy, cancer research, and genomic research and has supported nearly 200 young investigators at five premier institutions. Our grants have leveraged tens of millions of dollars of additional government and private philanthropic support.

Our Environment program focuses on supporting research on reducing methane emissions to address climate change and developing solutions to tackle plastic pollution. We directly support and engage with researchers and invest in philanthropic collaborative funds that work on these problems.

Our Education programs have supported over 1,600 students directly through scholarship grants. We have reached thousands of additional students through organizations that help bridge the educational opportunity gap through support for innovative school models, college access and success programs, and emergency cash assistance.

We have helped over 22,000 families and individuals with one-time financial emergencies through our Helping Hands program. The majority of grants are for eviction prevention. Data from our partners show that these one-time grants are extremely successful and cost-effective, keeping families out of the shelter system and preventing a downward spiral in family stability that can have effects that last lifetimes. Our grants are administered by partners who are deeply committed to ending poverty and providing holistic support for their clients.

Our Approach

fund & support

We fund nonprofit organizations with strong vision, operations, and leadership. In the case of grants by these organizations to individuals, those selected must have need, commitment to help themselves, and potential for success.

Monitor progress

We monitor progress, and when possible seek to learn about the longer-term outcomes of the people who benefit from our funding. We also seek to codify “best practices” among our partner organizations.

develop relationships

We value open communication and strong partnerships with our grantee organizations. To support them further, we seek to highlight their work and facilitate the exchange of ideas.

Please note that we do not provide financial assistance to individuals directly, or accept unsolicited requests for support.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to achieve a meaningful and successful life. Our goal is to help remove some of the obstacles that prevent individuals from attaining that end result. In particular, obstacles such as lack of access to a good education or failure of our nation to provide adequate financial support for young biomedical investigators and finally, sudden, unpredictable and often tragic adversity that threaten the stability and future of otherwise hard-working individuals.”
—LOUIS V. GERSTNER, JR.