The Essel Foundation
The Essel Foundation is a private foundation based in Purchase, New York. In 2024, it made grants to eight charitable organizations, including research organizations, a university, and other nonprofits.
The Essel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Essel Foundation gave $14.8M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $1.8M), mostly in Maryland. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,787,000
- +11.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,848,375
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $183,037
- Total assets
- $270,426,353
- +145.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maryland (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Essel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2500 Westchester Avenue, Purchase, NY 10577
Phone: (813) 784-6834
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Essel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Lieber Institute for Brain Dev-See Attached ($10.8M). Together the top 8 received $14.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 8 grants of 35 (23%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland and 23% to recipients in New York. The remaining reported shares were Florida (1%), Georgia (1%), and California (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Essel Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.2M (2020) to $18.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $14.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Dev-See Attached Baltimore, MD | Unrestricted Grant | $10,813,926 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation-See Attached New York, NY | Unrestricted Grant | $2,934,612 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Unrestricted Grant | $400,000 |
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Development Baltimore, MD | Unrestricted Grant | $186,074 |
| Poynter Institute St Petersburg, FL | Unrestricted Grant | $180,000 |
| The Carter Center Inc Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted Grant | $157,000 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted Grant | $65,388 |
| San Francisco Study Center San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted Grant | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $270,426,353 | $175,731,821 | $18,243,172 | $14,787,000 | 8 | $14,855,220 | $5,417,248 | $12,316,883 |
| 2023 | $109,969,634 | $30,673,863 | $14,255,859 | $13,230,000 | 7 | $13,255,265 | $6,252,507 | $6,158,563 |
| 2022 | $94,117,548 | $6,662,124 | $14,771,280 | $13,450,001 | 6 | $13,483,316 | $2,916,040 | $4,950,486 |
| 2021 | $100,106,056 | $12,292,478 | $19,353,442 | $18,450,000 | 8 | — | $5,247,345 | $5,449,567 |
| 2020 | $96,048,638 | $13,103,464 | $3,909,939 | $3,170,000 | 6 | — | $10,197,409 | $4,960,283 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Essel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.3M for 2024 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included unrestricted support for The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, and Columbia University.
The San Francisco Study Center, which received a $50,000 grant in 2024, describes its own mission as promoting public health through behavioral, tobacco-free, and disease-prevention programs, as well as educational and community-building programs and publications.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported eight grants totaling $14,787,000. Grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $10,813,926, with a median of $183,037. All eight listed grants were identified as unrestricted.
The largest 2024 grants were $10,813,926 to The Lieber Institute for Brain Development in Baltimore; $2,934,612 to Brain & Behavior Research Foundation in New York; and $400,000 to Columbia University. Other recipients included Poynter Institute ($180,000), The Carter Center ($157,000), and San Francisco Study Center ($50,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Geoffrey Simon as president, Janice Lieber as secretary, and Mary E Rubin as treasurer.
The Essel Foundation is led by Geoffrey Simon, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Geoffrey Simon
President
President → Chairman & President, 2021
Chairman & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Janice Lieber
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary E. Rubin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Essel Foundation
How much does The Essel Foundation give each year?
The Essel Foundation gave $14.8M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $13.2M across 7 grants.
What is The Essel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Essel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $183,037, and its average grant was $1,848,375, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Essel Foundation give grants?
The Essel Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants) and Baltimore, MD (2 grants).
Does The Essel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Essel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Essel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Essel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Lieber Institute for Brain Dev-See Attached ($10,813,926), Brain & Behavior Research Foundation-See Attached ($2,934,612) and Columbia University ($400,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Essel Foundation?
The Essel Foundation reported $270.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Essel Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included unrestricted support for The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, and Columbia University. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Essel Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Essel Foundation's EIN?
The Essel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6191234. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Essel Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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