Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation
The Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation is a private foundation based in Evergreen, Colorado. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including health and medical research, education, scholarships, child advocacy, conservation, and community services.
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation at a glance
In short: Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation gave $875K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), mostly in Colorado. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $875,000
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $48,611
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $12,050,026
- +15.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (4 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Julia Esser
Mailing address: 1740 Copper Lane, Evergreen, CO 80439-9406
Phone: (303) 674-3472
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cancer Research Institute ($100K). Together the top 10 received $735K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 85 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (57%), California (12%), New York (11%), Minnesota (11%), and Florida (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 18 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $33K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $53K repeat.
- 78% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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 (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $855K (2019) to $960K (2020). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $875K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cancer Research Institute New York, NY | Young Investigatorsthrough Clinicalaccel. Program | $100,000 |
| Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation Aurora, CO | Suicide Preventionand Endowmentfund | $100,000 |
| Colorado Academy Denver, CO | Supports Josephboice Esser Endowscholarship Fund | $100,000 |
| National Marrow Donor Program Mineapolis, MN | Support for Thenational Marrowdonor Program | $100,000 |
| Astronaut Scholarship Fund Orlando, FL | Scholarships | $70,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association - Colorado Chapter Denver, CO | Co Alzeimers Projects | $65,000 |
| High Fives Foundation Truckee, CA | Sport Injuryprevention Andawareness | $65,000 |
| Mountain Area Land Trust Evergreen, CO | General Support | $55,000 |
| Mount Evans Home and Health Care Inc Evergreen, CO | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Bootstraps Evergreen, CO | Support Forinterest Freeschool Loans | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation?
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 | $12,050,026 | $2,788,135 | $1,172,235 | $875,000 | 18 | $946,360 | $2,564,907 | $1,042,928 |
| 2024 | $10,434,126 | $2,087,620 | $1,171,155 | $865,000 | 17 | $948,086 | $1,893,751 | $1,009,590 |
| 2023 | $9,517,661 | $932,476 | $1,135,498 | $870,000 | 17 | $941,207 | $748,175 | $929,857 |
| 2022 | $9,820,825 | $1,056,528 | $1,238,873 | $925,000 | 17 | $986,312 | $826,867 | $891,255 |
| 2021 | $10,000,170 | $1,504,146 | $1,203,745 | $920,000 | 16 | $950,386 | $1,265,787 | $977,517 |
| 2020 | $9,720,604 | $1,649,783 | $1,134,520 | $960,000 | 16 | — | $1,499,021 | $778,638 |
| 2019 | $9,205,282 | $1,086,897 | $1,080,048 | $855,000 | 13 | — | $901,450 | $749,565 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported 2025 grants include support for cancer research, suicide prevention, Alzheimer’s projects, marrow donor services, scholarships, sports injury prevention, land conservation, and general operating expenses.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Cancer Research Institute describes its work as advancing cancer immunotherapy through scientific discovery and global collaboration. Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation says it raises and stewards funds to support the hospital’s care, education, research, and advocacy for children and families. Mountain Area Land Trust describes a mission to protect natural areas, wildlife habitat, waterways, working ranches, and historic lands. CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties says it provides trained volunteers to advocate in court for children’s safety and well-being.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $875,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $100,000 each to the Cancer Research Institute for its Young Investigators through Clinical Acceleration Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation for suicide prevention and an endowment fund, Colorado Academy for a scholarship fund, and the National Marrow Donor Program. Other reported awards included $70,000 to Astronaut Scholarship Fund, $65,000 each to Alzheimer’s Association – Colorado Chapter and High Fives Foundation, and $55,000 to Mountain Area Land Trust.
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications may be submitted at any time. The filing requests a letter application, documentation of Treasury Department qualification as an IRC section 501(c)(3) public charity, the purpose of the grant, and the amount requested. It lists Julia Esser as the application contact and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard B. Esser, Julia K. Esser, Megan Keough Esser, and Henry Esser as trustees.
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Julia K. Esser
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $24K (2025)
Richard B. Esser
Trustee
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Megan Keough Esser
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$10K (2022) → $24K (2025)
Henry Esser
Trustee
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
$12K (2024) → $24K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $24K, to Julia K Esser (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation
How much does Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation give each year?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation gave $875K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $865K across 17 grants.
What is Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's typical grant size?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $48,611, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation that year got $33K on average.
Where does Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation give grants?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (12%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Denver, CO (5 grants) and Evergreen, CO (4 grants).
Does Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's largest grantees?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cancer Research Institute ($100,000), Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation ($100,000) and Colorado Academy ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $946K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (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 Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported 2025 grants include support for cancer research, suicide prevention, Alzheimer’s projects, marrow donor services, scholarships, sports injury prevention, land conservation, and general operating expenses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's EIN?
Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3339941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/marion-esser-kaufmann-foundation-morg_a76df5dbb002480899e17ce8f83a8fa5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133339941_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/marion-esser-kaufmann-foundation-morg_a76df5dbb002480899e17ce8f83a8fa5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Marion Esser Kaufmann Foundation'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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