William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation
The William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and based in Lake Forest, Illinois. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+110.9% YoY
Grant Count
8
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$261K
+110.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Religious and charitable causes
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept applications.
Grant Range
$93,000 (2024)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $27.6 million
- Total revenue: $17 million
- Total expenses: $2.24 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Giving Rate: Approximately 3.0% of assets distributed annually
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since June 1996
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Extension ($550,000), St John Vianney ($550,000), University of St Mary of the Lake ($410,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALHEIZMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $5,000 |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $250,000 |
| CATHOLIC EXTENSION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $550,000 |
| DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER ROCHESTER, MN | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $250,000 |
| ST JOHN VIANNEY ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $550,000 |
| ST NORBERT COLLEGE DE PERE, WI | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $50,000 |
| ST PATRICK CHURCH LAKE FOREST, IL | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST MARY OF THE LAKE MUNDELEIN, IL | GENERAL USE OF CHARITY | $410,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is associated with William H. McEssy and Lois J. McEssy. William McEssy is a former attorney who became a successful McDonald's franchisee, building a significant franchise operation across Illinois and Wisconsin. The couple are longtime residents of Lake Forest, Illinois.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM H MCESSY | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| DAVID BLOWERS | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
| DAVID A LULLO | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | $7,000 |
| MONSIGNOR JOHN F CANARY | DIRECTOR | 0.2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported educational and religious institutions, with notable grants to seminaries and theological centers. William and Lois McEssy have been involved in establishing an endowed chair in Church History at the University of St. Mary of the Lake (Mundelein Seminary).
William H. and Lois J. McEssy Endowed Chair in Church History - USMLSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Religious and charitable causes
How do I apply for a grant from William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $991,000 across 8 grants • Total giving in 2023: $1.6 million across 23 grants • Median grant size: $93,000 (2024) • Grant range: $500 to $400,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Catholic Extension: $400,000 • St. John Vianney: $200,000 • St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology: $200,000 • University of St. Mary of the Lake: $150,000 • Institute for Priestly Formation: $35,000 • Alzheimer's Association: $5,000 **Application Policy:** The foundatio…
Where does William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
What size grants does William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation award?
In 2024, William H & Lois J Mcessy Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $261K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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