The Essel Foundation
Purchase, New York · EIN 136191234 · Private foundation
The Essel Foundation is a private foundation based in Purchase, New York. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $3.2M in grants paid and $96.0M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 44 individual grants from this funder — $53.7M awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for higher education. Below is its full funding profile.
What The Essel Foundation funds
The Essel Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on higher education.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Essel Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Dev-see Attached UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Baltimore, MD | $10.8M | 2024 |
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Development UNSRESTRICTED GRANT | Baltimore, MD | $10.0M | 2022 |
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Development UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Baltimore, MD | $8.5M | 2023 |
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Development UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Baltimore, MD | $4.9M | 2023 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation-see Attached UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $2.9M | 2024 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $2.5M | 2023 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation UNSRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $2.5M | 2022 |
| Brian & Behavior Research Foundation UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $2.4M | 2020 |
| Narsad Research Institute UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Great Neck, NY | $1.5M | 2017 |
| The Lieber Institute for Brain Development UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Baltimore, MD | $1.5M | 2023 |
| Columbia University UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $565K | 2018 |
| Columbia University UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $550K | 2023 |
| Trustees of Columbia University UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NE | $550K | 2022 |
| Brain & Behavior Research Foundation UNRESTRICTED GRANT | New York, NY | $500K | 2023 |
| Williams College UNRESTRICTED GRANT | Williamstown, MA | $400K | 2022 |
The Essel Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Essel Foundation
The Essel Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal.
Is The Essel Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The Essel Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Essel Foundation
- Does The Essel Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Essel Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Essel Foundation fund?
- The Essel Foundation's grants focus on higher education. Recent recipients include The Lieber Institute for Brain Dev-see Attached, The Lieber Institute for Brain Development, The Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Essel Foundation give in grants?
- The Essel Foundation reported $3.2M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $53.7M over 44 grants.
- Where is The Essel Foundation located?
- The Essel Foundation is based in Purchase, New York. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 136191234.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Essel Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Essel Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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