William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation
The William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. Its 2024 grants went to charitable organizations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, including religious institutions, a college, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation at a glance
In short: William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $261K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,090,000
- +110.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $261,250
- +110.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $27,584,322
- -16.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (59% 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 William H & Lois J McEssy 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: 1025 W Everett Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (847) 234-3427
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Catholic Extension ($550K). Together the top 8 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 90 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 38% to Minnesota, and 2% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation gives
- Giving grew 353% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 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
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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $178K (2020) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Extension Chicago, IL | General Use of Charity | $550,000 |
| St John Vianney St. Paul, MN | General Use of Charity | $550,000 |
| University of St Mary of the Lake Mundelein, IL | General Use of Charity | $410,000 |
| Archdiocese of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Use of Charity | $250,000 |
| Diocese of Winona-Rochester Rochester, MN | General Use of Charity | $250,000 |
| St Norbert College De Pere, WI | General Use of Charity | $50,000 |
| St Patrick Church Lake Forest, IL | General Use of Charity | $25,000 |
| Alheizmer's Association Chicago, IL | General Use of Charity | $5,000 |
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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 | $27,584,322 | $16,988,131 | $2,244,729 | $2,090,000 | 8 | $2,090,000 | $16,857,338 | $2,197,500 |
| 2023 | $33,019,827 | $2,975,860 | $1,092,625 | $991,000 | 8 | $997,250 | $324,557 | $1,818,042 |
| 2022 | $31,136,592 | $10,390,245 | $1,730,061 | $1,610,070 | 24 | $1,621,999 | $387,722 | $1,209,055 |
| 2021 | $22,476,408 | $18,984,623 | $549,256 | $461,000 | 22 | $464,334 | $183,321 | $542,762 |
| 2020 | $4,041,041 | $1,602,644 | $200,248 | $178,080 | 28 | — | $66,789 | $154,593 |
| 2019 | $2,638,645 | $74,273 | $421,537 | $400,500 | 19 | — | $54,529 | $151,969 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M 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 support for Catholic and other religious organizations, St. Norbert College, and the Alzheimer’s Association. St. Norbert College describes its mission as providing a Catholic liberal arts education that fosters intellectual, spiritual, and personal development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $2,090,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $550,000, with a median of $250,000. All listed grant purposes were “general use of charity.” The largest grants were $550,000 each to Catholic Extension in Chicago and St. John Vianney in St. Paul, followed by $410,000 to the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. Other recipients were the Archdiocese of Chicago ($250,000), the Diocese of Winona-Rochester ($250,000), St. Norbert College ($50,000), St. Patrick Church in Lake Forest ($25,000), and the Alzheimer’s Association in Chicago ($5,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William H Mcessy, David Blowers, David A Lullo, and Monsignor John F Canary as directors.
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
David A. Lullo
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$7K (2024)
William H. McEssy
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Blowers
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Monsignor John F. Canary
Director
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lois J. McEssy (2019–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 $7K, to David a Lullo (Director).
Frequently asked questions about William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation
How much does William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation give each year?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation gave $2.1M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $991K across 8 grants.
What is William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's typical grant size?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $261,250, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation give grants?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of William H & Lois J McEssy 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 William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's largest grantees?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Catholic Extension ($550,000), St John Vianney ($550,000) and University of St Mary of the Lake ($410,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation reported $27.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (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 William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for Catholic and other religious organizations, St. Norbert College, and the Alzheimer’s Association. St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from William H & Lois J McEssy 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 William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's EIN?
William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4074862. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Does William H & Lois J McEssy 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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