Essendant Charitable Foundation
Essendant Charitable Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Deerfield, Illinois. Established in 2005, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is affiliated with Essendant, Inc. The foundation is also known as United Stationers Charitable Trust.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
+56.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$223K
+26.5% YoY
Grant Count
126
-1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+28.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Essendant Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $73K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's Day of Giving initiative articulates its core mission: "The Day of Giving enables Essendant to act as one team to support charitable efforts in our local communities across the nation. By focusing our time, talent and treasure on one common goal, we hope to greatly impact the lives of those in need."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Disaster Preparedness and Relief Services
The foundation supports a broad philanthropic focus without specifying particular subject areas, allowing for flexible grant-making across multiple sectors.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports charitable efforts across the nation, with a particular emphasis on local communities where Essendant operates. Funding extends to numerous states including Illinois, Georgia, New York, California, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Hawaii, Indiana, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, and others, as well as Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,529,118
- Total Revenue: $1,157,798
- Total Expenses: $518,771
- Total Giving: $223,056
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,621,495
- Total Revenue: $188,867
- Total Expenses: $541,039
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,529,118 | $1,621,495 | $1,717,155 |
| Revenue | $1,157,798 | $188,867 | $206,848 |
| Expenses | $518,771 | $541,039 | $463,046 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $470,700 | $491,648 | $397,520 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $72,995 | $75,727 | $78,012 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc ($15,000), World Vision International ($14,250), The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YOUTH CORE MINISTRIES INC GREENSBURG, KS | GENERAL FUND | $100 |
| YMCA OF THE CAPITAL DISTRICT WEST COXSACKIE, NY | GENERAL FUND | $1,400 |
| YALE CANCER CENTER NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL FUND | $1,500 |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $900 |
| WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL SEWICKLEY, PA | GENERAL FUND | $14,250 |
| WORLD BASEBALL OUTREACH TULSA, OK | GENERAL FUND | $500 |
| WOBURN COUNCIL OF SOCIAL CONCERN INC WOBURN, MA | GENERAL FUND | $500 |
| WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $300 |
| WELLSPRING LIVING INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL FUND | $600 |
| VIOLET'S KITCHEN CAROL STREAM, IL | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Molly Whatley serves as Program Director and Liaison.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARCELA SZTAINBERG | PRESIDENT | 0.25 | — |
| MOLLY WHATLEY | PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND LIAISON | 0.25 | — |
| STEVEN CHIAPPETTA | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1 Parkway North Blvd, Suite 100, Deerfield, IL 60015-2559
Phone: 847-627-7000
Website: https://www.essendant.com/essendant
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Essendant Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's Day of Giving initiative articulates its core mission: "The Day of Giving enables Essendant to act as one team to support charitable efforts in our local communities across the nation. By focusing our time, talent and treasure on one common goal, we hope to greatly impact the lives of those in need." Primary funding areas include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Disaster Preparedness and Relief Services The foundation supports a broad ph…
How do I apply for a grant from Essendant Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $63,035. **Recent Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 116 grants totaling $223,056. Notable recent grants include: • City of Hope: $63,035 • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT): $15,000 • ISSA Charities: $10,000 The foundation appears open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Where does Essendant Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports charitable efforts across the nation, with a particular emphasis on local communities where Essendant operates. Funding extends to numerous states including Illinois, Georgia, New York, California, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, Hawaii, Indiana, Arizona, Minnesota, Colorado, Tennessee, and others, as well as Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Essendant Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Essendant Charitable Foundation awarded 126 grants totaling $223K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Essendant Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Essendant Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $73K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Essendant Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Essendant Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6547406. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Essendant Charitable 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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