ESB Charitable Foundation
ESB Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
ESB Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: ESB Charitable Foundation gave $20.0M across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $954K), mostly in California. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,025,000
- +36.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- -16.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $953,571
- +62.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $107,145,468
- -8.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to ESB Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 193809, San Francisco, CA 94119-3809
Phone: (415) 284-8610
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who ESB Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Laural Foundation ($4.0M). Together the top 10 received $17.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
383 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 198 grants of 383 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is ESB Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 21 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. How we count
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 2% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11.6M (2021) to $49.0M (2020). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $20.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Laural Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $4,000,000 |
| Ramsay Family Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $4,000,000 |
| Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $4,000,000 |
| Shenandoah Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $4,000,000 |
| ACR Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
| AED Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
| BHB Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
| BSB Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
| CMB Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
| Creekside Foundation San Francisco, CA | Foundation Gift | $250,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $107,145,468 | $10,616,592 | $20,232,777 | $20,025,000 | 21 | $103,612 | $9,292,464 | $5,139,081 |
| 2023 | $116,752,012 | $3,442,920 | $14,814,574 | $14,660,000 | 25 | $3,170,481 | $3,157,343 | $6,073,358 |
| 2022 | $128,146,479 | $34,026,394 | $13,726,543 | $13,600,000 | 23 | $2,070,363 | $3,141,140 | $4,741,395 |
| 2021 | $108,201,675 | $116,085,153 | $11,694,342 | $11,600,000 | 21 | $3,249,538 | $1,142,447 | $4,996,192 |
| 2020 | $6,395,587 | $35,282 | $44,254,341 | $49,028,362 | 293 | — | $863,859 | $1,897,215 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, ESB Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $20,025,000. Grant amounts ranged from $25,000 to $4,000,000, with a median of $250,000. Its largest reported grants were $4,000,000 each to Laural Foundation, Ramsay Family Foundation, Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation, and Shenandoah Foundation. Each grant’s stated purpose was “FOUNDATION GIFT.” Other reported grants included $250,000 each to ACR Foundation, AED Foundation, BHB Foundation, BSB Foundation, CMB Foundation, Creekside Foundation, EBJ Foundation, and ETC Family Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Alan Dachs, Erin Wilms, Lauren Dachs, Margaret Lip, and Riley Bechtel as directors. Erin Wilms is also listed as treasurer, Lauren Dachs as president, and Fabiana Schofield as secretary.
ESB Charitable Foundation is led by Lauren B. Dachs, President & Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lauren B. Dachs
President & Director
President, Vice Chair & Director → President & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
$250K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Alan M. Dachs
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Erin Wilms
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Margaret Lip
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Riley Bechtel
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Fabiana Schofield
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Barbara Cartier (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Controller
- Former: Bob Peck (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Deborah L. Duncan (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth H. Bechtel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John W. Weiser (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jude L. Laspa (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Nonie B. Ramsay (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: S. Alexander Ramsay (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. (2020–2021) — Chairman & Director
- Former: Susan M. Harvey (2020–2021) — Secretary & Program Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $262K, to Susan M Harvey (Secretary/Program Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about ESB Charitable Foundation
How much does ESB Charitable Foundation give each year?
ESB Charitable Foundation gave $20.0M across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.7M across 25 grants.
What is ESB Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
ESB Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $953,571, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does ESB Charitable Foundation give grants?
ESB Charitable Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (20 grants).
Does ESB Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of ESB Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Foundation Gift" (20 grants).
Who are ESB Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
ESB Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Laural Foundation ($4,000,000), Ramsay Family Foundation ($4,000,000) and Riley & Susan Bechtel Foundation ($4,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is ESB Charitable Foundation?
ESB Charitable Foundation reported $107.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $104K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.1M (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.
How do I apply for a grant from ESB Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is ESB Charitable Foundation's EIN?
ESB Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3759208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does ESB Charitable Foundation 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from ESB Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
ESB Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?