Despirt Foundation Inc
Despirt Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. Its 2025 filing reports $7,270 in grants to 19 organizations; the filing describes its policy as making contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Despirt Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Despirt Foundation Inc gave $7K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $382.632), mostly in New York. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,270
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $383
- +17.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $135
- Total assets
- $29,122
- -12.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Despirt Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 104 Lexington Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 892-5294
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Despirt Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Canisius University ($3K). Together the top 10 received $6K.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 2% to recipients in Indiana. Listed New York recipients include organizations in Buffalo and other Western New York communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Despirt Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 19 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $201. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $135 repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $7K (2025). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $7K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Canisius University Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $3,250 |
| Canisius High School Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $600 |
| D' Youville University Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $600 |
| Little Portion Friary Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $395 |
| Gerard Place Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $270 |
| Roswell Park Alliance Foundation Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $270 |
| Cantalician Center for Learning Depew, NY | Qualifying Charity | $210 |
| Sisters Hospital Foundation Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $185 |
| The Bison Scholarship Fund Buffalo, NY | Qualifying Charity | $185 |
| Artpark & Company Inc Lewiston, NY | Qualifying Charity | $135 |
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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 | $29,122 | $9,068 | $13,088 | $7,270 | 19 | $7,270 | $7,003 | $6,843 |
| 2024 | $33,142 | $6,699 | $9,640 | $6,200 | 19 | $6,200 | $4,669 | $6,663 |
| 2023 | $36,083 | $6,226 | $8,815 | $6,020 | 20 | $6,020 | $4,300 | $6,029 |
| 2022 | $38,672 | $4,258 | $6,882 | $5,860 | 20 | $5,860 | $2,064 | $6,153 |
| 2021 | $41,296 | $3,756 | $9,351 | $5,200 | 19 | — | $2,908 | $5,615 |
| 2020 | $45,291 | $-2,110 | $5,935 | $5,250 | 20 | — | $721 | $4,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Despirt Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including universities and schools, healthcare and cancer-related organizations, a scholarship fund, an arts organization, and charitable and religious organizations. For example, Canisius University describes itself as an independent Roman Catholic university, while Roswell Park Alliance Foundation says it supports cancer research, treatment, prevention, and patients and families. Artpark & Company describes its work as fostering artistic engagement and creativity, and St. Mary’s School for the Deaf says it provides educational programs for deaf students.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $7,270 through 19 grants. Grants ranged from $120 to $3,250, with a median grant of $135. The largest grants included $3,250 to Canisius University, $600 each to Canisius High School and D’Youville University, and $395 to Little Portion Friary. Other reported grants included $270 each to Gerard Place and Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, and $210 to Cantalician Center for Learning.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michele O Heffernan, William Busgaglia, and Peter M Heffernan as directors.
Despirt Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michele O. Heffernan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter M. Heffernan
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Busgaglia
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Despirt Foundation Inc
How much does Despirt Foundation Inc give each year?
Despirt Foundation Inc gave $7K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6K across 19 grants.
What is Despirt Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Despirt Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $135, and its average grant was $383, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Despirt Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does Despirt Foundation Inc give grants?
Despirt Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (12 grants).
Does Despirt Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Despirt Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Qualifying Charity" (19 grants).
Who are Despirt Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Despirt Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Canisius University ($3,250), Canisius High School ($600) and D' Youville University ($600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Despirt Foundation Inc?
Despirt Foundation Inc reported $29K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Despirt Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including universities and schools, healthcare and cancer-related organizations, a scholarship fund, an arts organization, and charitable and religious organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Despirt Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Despirt Foundation Inc's EIN?
Despirt Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6034186. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Despirt Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
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