Esther H Ludwig Scholarships
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships is a private foundation, based in Saint Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $24.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.5M. Net investment income was $1.4M.
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships at a glance
In short: Esther H Ludwig Scholarships gave $1.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.5M), mostly in South Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,503,400
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $1,503,400
- Median grant
- $1,503,400
- Total assets
- $24,849,606
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Esther H Ludwig Scholarships funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Esther H Ludwig Scholarships gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2025) to $1.7M (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached - Center for Scholarship Taylors, SC | Scholarship | $1,503,400 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $24,849,606 | $1,576,984 | $1,887,808 | $1,503,400 | 1 | $1,692,875 | $1,403,821 | $1,881,924 |
| 2023 | $26,538,682 | $1,254,708 | $2,051,069 | $1,710,200 | 1 | $1,879,458 | $673,016 | $1,647,826 |
| 2022 | $27,220,908 | $1,601,352 | $1,938,327 | $1,589,700 | 1 | $1,755,569 | $1,422,749 | $1,802,135 |
| 2021 | $27,419,539 | $980,302 | $1,895,603 | $1,572,400 | 1 | — | $815,329 | $1,651,245 |
| 2020 | $28,261,730 | $1,456,867 | $1,907,038 | $1,584,000 | 1 | — | $1,297,901 | $1,632,643 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther H Ludwig Scholarships reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships's only listed officer is Wells Fargo Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wells Fargo Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$181K (2020) → $194K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: A. Joseph Antanavage (2022–2023) — Committee
- Former: James W. Seifert (2022–2023) — Committee
- Former: Michelle Wyles-Herbert (2022–2023) — Committee
- Former: Richard J. Mextorf (2022–2023) — Committee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $194K, to Wells Fargo Bank N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Esther H Ludwig Scholarships
How much does Esther H Ludwig Scholarships give each year?
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships gave $1.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Esther H Ludwig Scholarships?
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships reported $24.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (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.
Where does Esther H Ludwig Scholarships operate?
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships has awarded grants in South Carolina.
What is Esther H Ludwig Scholarships's EIN?
Esther H Ludwig Scholarships's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6884372. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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