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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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