ESP International Charitable Foundation
ESP International Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers from Engineered Seal Products, Inc., and supports community organizations through financial contributions and volunteering.
ESP International Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: ESP International Charitable Foundation gave $27K across 48 grants in 2025 (avg $569.521), mostly in Iowa. 77% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $27,337
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 48
- +41.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $570
- -24.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $473
- Total assets
- $82,256
- +29.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 77% first-time grantees (36 of 47, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Iowa (60% 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 ESP International Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing lists Sara Gibbs as the contact and says forms are available through the foundation’s website. The stated restrictions are that applicants be registered 501(c)(3) organizations, be nonreligious, and be located in ESP communities. The website also says funding is for organizations in communities with an ESP location and excludes organizations that are not tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), as well as fraternal organizations, merchant associations, and chamber members.
- Contact
Application contact: Sara Gibbs
Mailing address: 5920 Dry Creek Ln Ne, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-4310
Email: espcharity@espint.com
Website: https://www.espcharity.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who ESP International Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Antonio Kearney ($3K). Together the top 10 received $16K.
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 123 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines describe support for organizations in communities with an ESP location. Its website identifies communities including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Arlington, and Kansas City, and also lists company locations in Greensboro and Tulsa.
In 2025, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Iowa, 25% to Texas, 9% to Missouri, and 6% to North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
Cities
Is ESP International Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
77%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 36 of 47 grantees (77%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $415; repeat grants $881. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 21% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 779% 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 $26K (2024) to $34K (2023). In 2025 it made 48 grants totaling $27K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Antonio Kearney Cedar Rapids, IA | Employee Assistance Program - House Fire | $2,700 |
| Texas Search and Rescue Wimberley, TX | Support Mission of the Organization | $2,500 |
| Project Linus Belton, MO | Fundraiser for non-profit | $2,393 |
| Mercy Medical Center Foundation Cedar Rapids, IA | Support Mission of the Organization | $2,046 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Cedar Rapids, IA | Support Mission of the Organization | $1,500 |
| Cedar Rapids Firefighters Foundation Cedar Rapids, IA | Support Mission of the Organization | $1,000 |
| Hawkeye Area Down Syndrome Association (HADSA) Cedar Rapids, IA | Support Mission of the Organization | $1,000 |
| The ALS Association Fort Worth, TX | Support Mission of the Organization | $1,000 |
| Hope Blooms Cedar Rapids, IA | Support Mission of the Organization | $1,000 |
| Family Service of the Piedmont Greensboro, NC | Support Mission of the Organization | $518 |
Ready to take the next step with ESP International Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $82,256 | $41,676 | $32,912 | $27,337 | 48 | $27,338 | $3,509 |
| 2024 | $63,308 | $37,405 | $31,113 | $25,800 | 34 | $25,800 | $3,042 |
| 2023 | $67,186 | $36,526 | $37,367 | $33,504 | 15 | $33,504 | $3,812 |
| 2022 | $68,002 | $30,626 | $35,451 | $29,949 | 13 | $35,451 | $3,654 |
| 2021 | $56,127 | $36,808 | $33,892 | $29,232 | 13 | $33,892 | $5,418 |
| 2020 | $53,210 | $25,647 | $39,821 | $29,500 | 13 | — | $2,996 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, ESP International Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K 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 stated mission is to strengthen and build vitality in its communities through financial contributions and volunteering. It seeks to support organizations that improve educational and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, and enhance cultural and artistic life in the communities where it works.
Its organization-assistance guidelines include unrestricted general operating support, program support, limited capital support, occasional in-kind equipment or property, and employee community involvement. General operating and program support requests are assessed against criteria that include effectiveness, measurable outcomes, financial stability, leadership, collaboration, and constituent involvement. Capital support is limited to organizations with a pre-existing relationship; the foundation does not make lead gifts, and grants generally do not exceed one percent of a campaign goal.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of community services. Mercy Medical Center Foundation describes its work as serving communities through a compassionate and transforming healing presence. Hagar’s Heart says it supports, educates, and empowers domestic violence survivors. Project Linus describes providing handmade blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 48 grants totaling $27,337. Grants ranged from $100 to $2,700, with a median of $473. Among the largest awards were $2,700 to Antonio Kearney in Cedar Rapids for an employee assistance program after a house fire; $2,500 to Texas Search and Rescue; $2,393 to Project Linus; and $2,046 to Mercy Medical Center Foundation. The stated purposes for the latter three were organizational support or a nonprofit fundraiser.
The foundation says employees vote each year on charities in local communities to sponsor. It also hosts fundraisers, directs a majority of proceeds to those charities, and uses the remaining funds to support other local nonprofits.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald J Grawe as Secretary, Melissa A Jones as Treasurer, and Jeffrey L Hamilton as Director. The foundation’s website describes the organization as run entirely by volunteers from Engineered Seal Products, Inc.
ESP International Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey L. Hamilton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Donald J. Grawe
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Melissa A. Jones
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
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 ESP International Charitable Foundation
How much does ESP International Charitable Foundation give each year?
ESP International Charitable Foundation gave $27K across 48 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $26K across 34 grants.
What is ESP International Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
ESP International Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $473, and its average grant was $570, across 48 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from ESP International Charitable Foundation that year got $415 on average.
Where does ESP International Charitable Foundation give grants?
ESP International Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Iowa: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (25%) and Missouri (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cedar Rapids, IA (18 grants), Fort Worth, TX (7 grants), Marion, IA (4 grants) and Iowa City, IA (2 grants).
Does ESP International Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on ESP International Charitable Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Mission of the Organization" (45 grants).
Who are ESP International Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
ESP International Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Antonio Kearney ($2,700), Texas Search and Rescue ($2,500) and Project Linus ($2,393), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is ESP International Charitable Foundation?
ESP International Charitable Foundation reported $82K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $27K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does ESP International Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen and build vitality in its communities through financial contributions and volunteering. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from ESP International Charitable Foundation?
The 2025 filing lists Sara Gibbs as the contact and says forms are available through the foundation’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is ESP International Charitable Foundation's EIN?
ESP International Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2962077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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