Ess Family Foundation
Ess Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Loretto, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $248K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $8K. Net investment income was $54K.
Ess Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ess Family Foundation gave $8K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,100
- -68.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- -69.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,025
- +2.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $248,444
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Ess Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Joseph Catholic Church and School ($5K). Together the top 4 received $8K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ess Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 79% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 70% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2024) to $39K (2021). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $8K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph Catholic Church and School Waconia, MN | Operating | $5,000 |
| Our Lady of the Lake Church Mound, MN | Operating | $1,500 |
| Our Lady of Light Fort Myers, FL | Operating | $1,500 |
| American Cornerstone Institute Washington, DC | Operating | $100 |
Ready to take the next step with Ess Family Foundation?
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 | $248,444 | $67,053 | $12,695 | $8,100 | 4 | $8,100 | $54,461 | $11,566 |
| 2023 | $194,139 | $11,398 | $29,590 | $25,600 | 13 | $25,600 | $3,697 | $10,577 |
| 2022 | $212,289 | $73,740 | $18,204 | $14,850 | 5 | $14,850 | $37,301 | $9,849 |
| 2021 | $156,813 | $20,147 | $42,352 | $39,100 | 14 | $39,100 | $555 | $10,633 |
| 2020 | $179,006 | $39,602 | $28,267 | $27,000 | 4 | — | $1,938 | $9,197 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ess Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ess Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Judith A. Ess
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kimberly Wright
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tiffany A. Imker
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Trent Ess
Co-Chair
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Troy Ess
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ess Family Foundation
How much does Ess Family Foundation give each year?
Ess Family Foundation gave $8K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $26K across 13 grants.
What is Ess Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ess Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,025, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ess Family Foundation give grants?
Ess Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (19%).
Does Ess Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ess Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Ess Family Foundation?
Ess Family Foundation reported $248K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12K (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.
What is Ess Family Foundation's EIN?
Ess Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1975420. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 May 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Minnesota
Minnesota Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ess Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Krzyzanowski Foundation
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Assets
$255K
Grants
26
Total Given
$77K
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Jacobs Family Foundation Inc
Delmont, PA
The Jacobs Family Foundation supports a range of charitable causes, including health, disaster and humanitarian aid, animal welfare, and religious services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $300 to $10,000, with a median of $2,000, and went to organizations in several states, especially the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
58
Total Given
$149K
SBJ Resch Family Foundation Inc
Tampa, FL
SBJ Resch Family Foundation supports nonprofits working in areas such as children and families, health, education, community programs, and religion, primarily in Florida. Its 2025 grants ranged from $795 to $400,000, with a median of $3,000. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, but the profile does not explicitly say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.5M
Grants
83
Total Given
$1.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Ess Family 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.
Ess Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?