The Esta Kramer Foundation
The Esta Kramer Foundation is a private foundation based in Damariscotta, Maine. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in Maine and several other states, supporting activities including education, community services, food assistance, arts, and housing.
The Esta Kramer Foundation at a glance
In short: The Esta Kramer Foundation gave $220K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $220,000
- -27.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -31.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,667
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,811,313
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maine (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Esta Kramer Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It accepts requests by letter; contact Jonah Vesery. The filing states a maximum per person per year restriction.
- Contact
Application contact: Jonah Vesery
Mailing address: 71 Lessner Road, Damariscotta, ME 04543
Phone: (207) 350-5714
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Esta Kramer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Friends of Kisimani School ($75K). Together the top 10 received $207K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 61 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing allocates grant dollars by recipient state as follows: Maine, 54%; Maryland, 34%; Vermont, 5%; Massachusetts, 5%; and an unspecified state, 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Esta Kramer Foundation gives
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 631% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2021) to $302K (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $220K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of Kisimani School Bethesda, MD | Teacher Training and Education | $75,000 |
| Capital Area New Mainers Project Augusta, ME | Unrestricted | $35,000 |
| Skidompha Library Damariscotta, ME | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Ecumenical Food Pantry Newcastle, ME | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Lincoln Academy Newcastle, ME | Scholarship for Julia Nelson | $14,000 |
| CDA Collaborative Learning Cambridge, MA | Assistance for Merger | $10,000 |
| Chip Inc Newcastle, ME | Heating Assistance Program | $10,000 |
| Healthy Kids Damariscotta, ME | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Phantom Theater Warren, VT | Matching Grant | $7,500 |
| Quillart Centro Cultural De Arte | Afterschool/Summer Music & Arts | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Esta Kramer 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 | $2,811,313 | $183,763 | $271,327 | $220,000 | 15 | $224,005 | $121,414 | $205,965 |
| 2024 | $2,898,877 | $209,495 | $349,042 | $301,550 | 22 | $304,862 | $164,315 | $195,666 |
| 2023 | $3,038,424 | $148,180 | $92,280 | $50,665 | 10 | $50,665 | $111,303 | $174,271 |
| 2022 | $2,982,524 | $45,931 | $69,672 | $30,079 | 13 | $30,079 | $21,631 | $173,194 |
| 2021 | $3,006,265 | $229,638 | $11,533 | $1,496 | 1 | $1,496 | $219,601 | $43,985 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Esta Kramer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $206K 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 mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Capital Area New Mainers Project says it welcomes immigrants and helps them thrive in central Maine; Lincoln Academy says it challenges students to grow in skills and scholarship, serve others, and lead fulfilling lives; and CHIP Inc says it works to ensure that homes of people and families with limited resources are safe, warm, and dry. Other 2025 recipients include organizations working in youth programming, low-income housing, food assistance, arts, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $220,000 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $75,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $75,000 to Friends of Kisimani School for teacher training and education; $35,000 to Capital Area New Mainers Project; $25,000 to Skidompha Library; and $15,000 to Ecumenical Food Pantry. The filing lists those latter three grants as unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Isaac Vesery and Jonah Vesery as trustees.
The Esta Kramer Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Isaac Vesery
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonah Vesery
Trustee
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Esta Kramer Foundation
How much does The Esta Kramer Foundation give each year?
The Esta Kramer Foundation gave $220K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $302K across 22 grants.
What is The Esta Kramer Foundation's typical grant size?
The Esta Kramer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,667, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Esta Kramer Foundation give grants?
The Esta Kramer Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (34%) and Vermont (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Damariscotta, ME (4 grants) and Newcastle, ME (3 grants).
Does The Esta Kramer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 53% of The Esta Kramer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Esta Kramer Foundation's largest grantees?
The Esta Kramer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Friends of Kisimani School ($75,000), Capital Area New Mainers Project ($35,000) and Skidompha Library ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Esta Kramer Foundation?
The Esta Kramer Foundation reported $2.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $224K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $206K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Esta Kramer Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Esta Kramer Foundation?
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Esta Kramer Foundation's EIN?
The Esta Kramer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-6532039. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Esta Kramer Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Esta Kramer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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The foundation supports charitable, benevolent, and educational organizations, with its active grant program focused on organizations located or operating in Lincoln County, Maine. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
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More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Esta Kramer Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-esta-kramer-foundation-morg_b5874743756146cfa91f6fa7bcc0382f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_866532039_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Esta Kramer Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-esta-kramer-foundation-morg_b5874743756146cfa91f6fa7bcc0382f},
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 The Esta Kramer 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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