John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Savannah, Georgia. Its 2025 filing says it contributes to preselected charitable organizations and that contributions must go to those organizations’ endowment accounts rather than general operations.
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc gave $65K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Georgia. 5% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $65,150
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,551
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $502,285
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (2 of 42, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (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. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. An applicant must be an IRS-approved charitable organization located in the coastal area surrounding Savannah, Georgia, and submit copies of its most recent financial statements and income tax return. Contributions must go to the organization’s endowment account, not general operations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Post Ofc Box 23174, Savannah, GA 31403-3174
Phone: (912) 667-5800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Savannah Community Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $29K.
Grant Size Distribution
222 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 222 grants of 222 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 filing states that eligible organizations must be located in the coastal area surrounding Savannah, Georgia. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 42 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $750; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $55K (2021) to $80K (2022). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $65K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Savannah Community Foundation Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $10,400 |
| Fresh Aire Home Tybee Island, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
| Sons of Confederate Veterans Macon, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| Salvation Army Sav'h Home Town Endw Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,700 |
| Georgia Independent Colleges Assn Atlanta, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,700 |
| Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,700 |
| Crimestoppers Endwmt FD Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,600 |
| Hospice of Savannah Endwmt Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,500 |
| Scottish Rite Child Care Endwmt FD Atlanta, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,500 |
| Coastal Heritage Society Endwmt FD Savannah, GA | For Furtherance of Its Charitable Purpose | $1,400 |
Ready to take the next step with John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc?
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 | $502,285 | $52,520 | $69,627 | $65,150 | 42 | $68,625 | $49,216 | $71,879 |
| 2024 | $519,392 | $56,728 | $71,497 | $67,050 | 42 | $70,495 | $49,329 | $67,769 |
| 2023 | $534,160 | $55,362 | $84,505 | $80,150 | 47 | $83,480 | $50,848 | $63,002 |
| 2022 | $567,555 | $57,502 | $84,822 | $80,350 | 48 | $83,630 | $49,686 | $66,953 |
| 2021 | $601,753 | $106,796 | $59,203 | $55,050 | 43 | $58,130 | $45,121 | $67,119 |
| 2020 | $554,160 | $2,223 | $62,078 | $58,350 | 43 | — | $46,909 | $57,703 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $72K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Masonic Home of Georgia describes its mission as rearing at-risk children, including providing education beyond high school. American Cancer Society Inc says it works to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support. Coastal Pet Rescue Inc describes itself as a volunteer group dedicated to saving homeless, abused, and neglected dogs and cats. Savannah Children’s Theatre Inc says it aims to inspire, educate, and entertain children and families through live theatre.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $65,150. Awards ranged from $500 to $10,400, with a median of $1,250. Among the largest grants were $10,400 to Savannah Community Foundation, $5,000 to Fresh Aire Home, and $2,000 to Sons of Confederate Veterans. Other recipients included Salvation Army Sav’h Home Town Endw ($1,700), Georgia Independent Colleges Assn ($1,700), Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels ($1,700), and Hospice of Savannah Endwmt ($1,500). The stated purpose for the listed grants was “for furtherance of its charitable purpose.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists D Morgan Derst as CEO, Edward J Derst III as CFO, Heather Smith as Secretary, and Catherine D Miller as Treasurer.
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc is led by D. Morgan Derst, CEO on every filing since 2020; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
D. Morgan Derst
CEO
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Heather Smith
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Catherine D. Miller
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Edward J. Derst III
CFO
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $2K, to Heather Smith (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc
How much does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc give each year?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc gave $65K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $67K across 42 grants.
What is John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $1,551, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc that year got $750 on average.
Where does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc give grants?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Savannah, GA (33 grants), Atlanta, GA (3 grants) and Macon, GA (2 grants).
Who are John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Savannah Community Foundation ($10,400), Fresh Aire Home ($5,000) and Sons of Confederate Veterans ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc reported $502K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $69K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $72K (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 does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Masonic Home of Georgia describes its mission as rearing at-risk children, including providing education beyond high school. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's EIN?
John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-6043441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 June 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-emma-derst-foundation-inc-morg_4ce345d55a4b4aed8ea15e58099d978b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_586043441_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-emma-derst-foundation-inc-morg_4ce345d55a4b4aed8ea15e58099d978b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc'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.
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