Busch Family Foundation
Busch Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Carmel, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $78K. Net investment income was $100K.
Busch Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Busch Family Foundation gave $78K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $78,100
- -4.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,678
- -15.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,200
- Total assets
- $1,501,449
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (84% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Busch Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Palma School Foundation ($23K). Together the top 9 received $78K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Busch Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2021) to $88K (2023). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $78K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Palma School Foundation Salinas, CA | General Support | $22,500 |
| Olive Crest Hope Refuge Santa Ana, CA | General Support | $12,750 |
| The Defensive Line Coppell, TX | General Support | $12,750 |
| Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Cen Watsonville, CA | General Support | $10,750 |
| Livingston Memorial VNA Hospice Ventura, CA | General Support | $8,200 |
| Museum of Ventura County Ventura, CA | General Support | $3,200 |
| Community Memorial Healthcare Found Ventura, CA | General Support | $3,200 |
| Girls Inc of Central Coast Salinas, CA | General Support | $2,750 |
| Boys Girls Club of the Redwoods Eureka, CA | General Support | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,501,449 | $115,849 | $99,848 | $78,100 | 9 | $82,150 | $100,472 | $85,273 |
| 2024 | $1,485,448 | $97,675 | $102,722 | $82,000 | 8 | $85,790 | $82,134 | $82,852 |
| 2023 | $1,490,178 | $69,901 | $109,942 | $88,000 | 10 | $92,390 | $55,726 | $85,486 |
| 2022 | $1,532,278 | $90,413 | $97,867 | $75,000 | 7 | $80,972 | $73,700 | $92,354 |
| 2021 | $1,540,628 | $117,177 | $94,537 | $72,800 | 7 | — | $103,242 | $86,261 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Busch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $85K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Busch Family Foundation is led by Ellyn D Busch Essig, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellyn D Busch Essig
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank B Busch
Director
Vice President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey D Busch
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter S. Busch
Director
CFO → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory J Busch
CFO
Vice President → CFO, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ralph B Busch III
Vice President
President → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Busch Family Foundation
How much does Busch Family Foundation give each year?
Busch Family Foundation gave $78K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $82K across 8 grants.
What is Busch Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Busch Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,200, and its average grant was $8,678, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Busch Family Foundation give grants?
Busch Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ventura, CA (3 grants) and Salinas, CA (2 grants).
Does Busch Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Busch Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Busch Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Busch Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Palma School Foundation ($22,500), Olive Crest Hope Refuge ($12,750) and The Defensive Line ($12,750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Busch Family Foundation?
Busch Family Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $85K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Busch Family Foundation's EIN?
Busch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0356496. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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