John Ess Foundation Inc
John Ess Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Plano, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $35K. Net investment income was $184K.
John Ess Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: John Ess Foundation Inc gave $35K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,005
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,751
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,476,098
- +46.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (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 John Ess Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Operation Kindness ($10K). Together the top 4 received $35K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How John Ess Foundation Inc gives
- In 2025 it paid out 75% 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2023) to $35K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Operation Kindness Carrollton, TX | Charitable Works | $10,000 |
| Childrens Medical Center Foundation Dallas, TX | Charitable Works | $10,000 |
| Scottish Rite For Children Dallas, TX | Charitable Works | $10,000 |
| Genesis Women's Shelter Dallas, TX | Charitable Works | $5,005 |
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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 | $1,476,098 | $513,213 | $45,373 | $35,005 | 4 | $35,453 | $183,521 | $47,204 |
| 2024 | $1,008,258 | $392,738 | $174,011 | $20,000 | 2 | $21,000 | $65,732 | $37,162 |
| 2023 | $834,531 | $471,593 | $1,700 | $1,700 | 1 | $1,700 | — | $18,650 |
| 2022 | $500,100 | $319,638 | — | — | — | — | — | $1,619 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Ess Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
John Ess Foundation Inc is led by K John Esskandanian, President on every filing since 2022; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
K John Esskandanian
President
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$142K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Olga Esskandanian
Secretary
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Talia Esskandanian
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $142K, to K John Esskandanian (President).
Frequently asked questions about John Ess Foundation Inc
How much does John Ess Foundation Inc give each year?
John Ess Foundation Inc gave $35K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 2 grants.
What is John Ess Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
John Ess Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,751, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does John Ess Foundation Inc give grants?
John Ess Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (3 grants).
Does John Ess Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on John Ess Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Works" (4 grants).
How large is John Ess Foundation Inc?
John Ess Foundation Inc reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $35K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $47K (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 John Ess Foundation Inc's EIN?
John Ess Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-1092141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 18, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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