Esme Foundation

COOKEVILLE, TN EIN: 84-2294558

Esme Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in COOKEVILLE, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $183K. Net investment income was $152K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.7M

+1.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$183K

-18.7% YoY

Grant Count

14

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$13K

-18.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esme Foundation reported a distributable amount of $233K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Esme Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Esme Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in COOKEVILLE, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $183K. Net investment income was $152K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

AmesArlingtonAustinBethdesdaBirminghamCookevilleNashvillePewaukeeSearcySidneyWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$156K$313K$469K$626K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$3,704,516$3,635,684$3,604,873
Revenue$251,852$270,762$568,878
Expenses$183,020$239,951$222,752
Qualifying Distributions$183,000$225,000$221,000
Net Investment Income$151,852$145,762$543,878
Distributable Amount$232,531$217,114$204,687

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$63K$126K$189K$253K12 grants202011 grants202110 grants202214 grants202314 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

HOPE HOUSE OF TENNESSEE$50KSMILES OF HOPE$26K1ST UNITED METHODIST CHU…$25KNASHVILLE SYMPHONY$20KINTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MI…$15KPOPLAR GROVE BAPTIST CHU…$10KCRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER$10KMUSTARD SEED RANCH$10KHOPE CENTER ADOPTION$5KYOUNG LIFE$5K

Grant Size Distribution

61 grants across all recorded years

54<$50K7$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hope House of Tennessee ($50,000), Smiles of Hope ($26,000), 1st United Methodist Church ($25,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
1ST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH COOKEVILLE, TNCHURCH ACTIVITIESCHURCH ACTIVITIESCHURCH ACTIVITIESCHURCH ACTIVITIESRELIGIOUS CHURCH ACTIVITIESDONATION FOR CHURCH ACTIVITIES$25,000
POPLAR GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH COOKEVILLE, TXCHURCH ACTIVITIES$10,000
CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION BETHDESDA, MDCURE FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS$1,000
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER COOKEVILLE, TNSUPPORT PREGNANCY CRISIS$10,000
HOPE HOUSE OF TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TNPROVIDE HOUSING & RESOURCES TO HOMELESS PREGNANT TEENS AND CHILDREN$50,000
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION ARLINGTON, VAPROVIDE PEOPLE IN POVERTY FROM VIOLENCE AND SLAVERY$15,000
HOPE CENTER ADOPTION COOKEVILLE, TNADOPTION SERVICES FOR UNWANTED PREGNACIES$5,000
MUSTARD SEED RANCH COOKEVILLE, TNHOME FOR ABUSED CHILDREN$10,000
NASHVILLE SYMPHONY NASHVILLE, TNPUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND YOUTH TRAINING$20,000
MAGNOLIA FOUNDATION COOKEVILLE, TNCOUNSELING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD LOSS$1,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
LISA L JONESDIRECTOR, PRESIDENT2
SARAH AUVILLEDIRECTOR, SECRETARY0.1
GARY D LEFTWICHDIRECTOR, TREASURER4

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Esme Foundation?

Esme Foundation is a private foundation focused on Human Services, based in COOKEVILLE, TN. It holds $3.7M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Esme Foundation?

As of 2024, Esme Foundation holds $3.7M in total assets with $252K in annual revenue. It awarded 14 grants totaling $183K in 2024.

Where does Esme Foundation operate?

Esme Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Iowa, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.

What size grants does Esme Foundation award?

In 2024, Esme Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $183K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Esme Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Esme Foundation reported a distributable amount of $233K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Esme Foundation's EIN?

Esme Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2294558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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