Esler Family Foundation
The Esler Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2020, headquartered in Saratoga Springs, New York. The foundation does not engage in direct charitable activities but instead provides financial support to 501(c)(3) organizations aligned with its mission and values.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.4M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+20.6% YoY
Grant Count
15
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
+141.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $600K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to "healing minds and strengthening spirits in partnership with changemakers worldwide working in our focus areas of mental health, youth opportunity, and economic mobility."
Mental Health: The foundation prioritizes mental health services, research, and education to reduce stigma and ensure equitable access for underserved communities. The foundation recognizes mental health as foundational to youth opportunity and economic mobility.
Youth Opportunity: The foundation invests in expanding access to educational and supplemental programs that build equitable and dynamic futures for young people.
Economic Mobility: The foundation supports solutions that help families build sustainable livelihoods and vibrant futures.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants for general charitable support, program support, project support, and capital projects. The foundation emphasizes matching grants as a tool to help partner organizations leverage funds, connect with new donors, and build long-term community support.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**Local Giving (Worcester County):** Nonprofits with potential for impact on Worcester County residents in one of the foundation's funding areas may apply for the Inspiring Generosity Match Fund through the Greater Worcester Community Foundation. This is a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has both local and global giving priorities:
- Local: Worcester County, Massachusetts
- International: Global partnerships with national and international organizations
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $11,406,417
- Total revenues: $2,454,740
- Total expenses: $1,334,835
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $1,665,172
Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,406,417 | $10,529,058 | $10,433,986 |
| Revenue | $2,454,740 | $2,063,094 | $1,701,616 |
| Expenses | $1,334,835 | $1,188,340 | $1,550,461 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,277,200 | $1,058,664 | $1,361,810 |
| Net Investment Income | $741,371 | $218,277 | $418,595 |
| Distributable Amount | $600,473 | $503,954 | $523,405 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Tesseract Research Center ($300,000), Mindful Philanthropy ($250,000), Nativity School of Worcester Inc ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| World Vision FEDERAL WAY, WA | General charitable | $4,200 |
| YWCA Central Mass Worcester, MA | General charitable | $20,000 |
| MA WOMEN OF COLOR COALITION WORCESTER, MA | General charitable | $50,000 |
| Mindful Philanthropy Philadelphia, PA | General Charity | $250,000 |
| Young Life Colorado Springs, CO | General Charitable | $97,000 |
| Patriotic Millionaires Washington, DC | General Charity | $25,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Worcester Worcester, MA | General charitable | $55,000 |
| Nativity School of Worcester Inc Worcester, MA | General charitable | $250,000 |
| United Way of Central Massachusetts Worcester, MA | General charitable | $50,000 |
| C S Lewis Institute Springfield, VA | General charitable | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John Esler — Co-Founder, Director, Treasurer, Clerk
- Jeanne Esler — Co-Founder, President, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Esler | TREASURER, CLERK & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| Jeanne Esler | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**February 2026:** The foundation announced a $1,200,000 three-year grant to EforAll to support expansion of its Business Accelerator programs nationwide.
Mass Nonprofit News Recognizes Esler Family Foundation's Grant of $1,200,000**December 2025:** The Esler Family Foundation Inspiring Generosity Match Fund launched in partnership with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, providing flexible funding with dollar-for-dollar matching incentives to Worcester County nonprofits.
Mass Nonprofit News Recognizes Esler Family Foundation's Grant of $1,200,000**October 2025:** The foundation provided $200,000 in funding leadership for the United Way's United Response Fund.
**May 2023:** The foundation received the Worcester Education Collaborative's inaugural Ogretta V. McNeil Champion of Education Award.
Greater Worcester Community Foundation Awards $500,000 In Matching Grants**May 2022:** John and Jeanne Esler were recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as part of its Power 50 list and honored by United Way of Central Massachusetts.
2022 Power 50: John & Jeanne EslerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Esler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to "healing minds and strengthening spirits in partnership with changemakers worldwide working in our focus areas of mental health, youth opportunity, and economic mobility." **Mental Health:** The foundation prioritizes mental health services, research, and education to reduce stigma and ensure equitable access for underserved communities. The foundation recognizes mental health as foundational to youth opportunity and economic mobility. **Youth Opportunity:** The f…
How do I apply for a grant from Esler Family Foundation?
The foundation makes grants for general charitable support, program support, project support, and capital projects. The foundation emphasizes matching grants as a tool to help partner organizations leverage funds, connect with new donors, and build long-term community support. • **EforAll:** $1,200,000 three-year grant (announced 2026) to support expansion of Business Accelerator programs nationwide, including enhanced alumni programming and services • **Patriotic Millionaires Research Center:*…
Where does Esler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation has both local and global giving priorities: • **Local:** Worcester County, Massachusetts • **International:** Global partnerships with national and international organizations
What size grants does Esler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Esler Family Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $85K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Esler Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Esler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $600K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Esler Family Foundation's EIN?
Esler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3919029. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Esler Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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