Skip to content
The Essential Foundation (F/K/A Aqua Charitable Trust) at a glance

· Private foundation

The Essential Foundation (F/K/A Aqua Charitable Trust)

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$4.9M
Granted FY2023
55
Grants FY2023
8
States reached
$1.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Philanthropy$24MRecreation & Sports$1.0MHealth$153kFood & Nutrition$130kHuman Services$124kScience & Tech$71kPublic Benefit$67kEducation$56kOther$0
02FY2023 · 55 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 55 grants below total $1,349,355, the rows itemized in this filing. The $4,854,730 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $3,505,375 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k42 grants · $64k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $150k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $136k
  • $250k+1 grant · $1.0M
$1,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$44M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Cobbs Creek Restoration and Community Foundation$1,000,000
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania$70,100
Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division, The$65,500
Franklin Institute, The$25,000
Western PA Diaper Bank$25,000
Franklin Institute, The$25,000
Walnut Street Theatre$15,000
Drexel University$10,000
Philadelphia Dance Theatre$10,000
Encore Series, Inc$10,000
Greater Philadelphia Coalition The$10,000
Chester County Historical Society$10,000
Veterans Multi-Service Center$10,000
Horizons at the Episcopal Academy$5,500
Congreso de Latinos Unidos$5,000
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

2%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$46k · 5 repeat orgs$2.0M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +43% since the first grant, against +34% for those funded once.

5 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2023, 0 since wound down; 46 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

5
41

Total granted

$46k
$775k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+43%
+34%

Still filing today

40%
49%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 1% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’21’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’23
Arts & CultureHealthEnvironmentRecreation & SportsEducationHuman ServicesOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • WC
    WILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES
    2× · 2021–2023 · $26k · revenue -5%
  • EA
    Episcopal Academy
    2× · 2021–2023 · $13k · revenue +43%
  • VF
    Valley Forge Fire Co
    2× · 2021–2023 · $3k

Funded once

  • UW
    United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Delaware Counties
    one grant, 2021 · $250k
  • TB
    THE BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $125k · revenue +14%
  • TP
    THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETYgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $112k · revenue +37%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey

United way's mission is to end intergenerational poverty in our region by harnessing, leveraging and strategically investing the collective power of donors, advocates and volunteers, to help individuals and families break the cycle of…

Philanthropy
2
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

The western pennsylvania conservancy protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. the conservancy…

Environment
3
Point Park University

Provides innovative education in a dynamic urban setting. dedicated to academic excellence and community engagement,we prepare students of diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skill,and experience to lead meaningful lives as informed…

—
4
Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

Visit philadelphia is our name and our mission. as the region's official tourism marketing agency, we build greater philadelphia's image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

Community Improvement
5
Wilson College

Wilson college empowers students to be confident and critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, honorable leaders, and agents of justice.

Education
6
Delaware Valley University

See schedule o.we are inspired by the ideals of our founder who, in 1896, emphasized respect for all people and ideas, who honored knowledge with practice, progress and the common good. our historical commitment to experiential learning…

—
7
Upmc Western Maryland Corporation

The mission of upmc western maryland is to serve our community by providing outstanding patient care and to shape tomorrow's health system through clinical & technological innovation, research and education.

Health
8
Wqed Multimedia

Wqed multimedia (wqed) champions communities across southwest pennsylvania by telling stories and creating experiences that educate, entertain and inspire our neighbors.

Arts & Culture
9
Mastery Charter High School

All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams.

Education
10
Reading Berks Association of Realtors Inc

The reading berks association of realtors promotes a high standard of professionalism, advocates for private property rights, and strives to improve the quality of life in our communities.

—
11
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
12
Philadelphia Works Inc

Philadelphia works, inc. develops and manages smart workforce solutions that respond to business needs and increases economic opportunity for all philadelphia residents.

Employment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania; the most unlike its peers is Camp Shaw-waw-nas-see. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

45 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 45 of the 93 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
42/45
Grantees still filing
32/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE COBBS CREEK RESTORATION AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · Recreation & SportsTHE COBBS CREEK RESTORATION AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION+3 more: $28,500 · Recreation & SportsUnited Way of Greater Philadelphia and Delaware Counties: $250,000 · OtherUnited Way of Greater Philadelph…Franklin Institute Science Museum: $70,000 · OtherFranklin Institute Science Museu…Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division, The: $65,500 · OtherSalvation Army Western Pennsylva…Western PA Diaper Bank: $25,000 · OtherWILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES: $25,500 · Other+63 more: $175,731 · Other+63 moreTHE BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $125,000 · HealthCOMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE: $22,500 · Health+3 more: $5,315 · HealthTHE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $112,000 · EnvironmentFRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST INC: $5,000 · EnvironmentSCHUYLKILL RIVER GREENWAY ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · Environment+2 more: $5,000 · EnvironmentTHE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE: $50,000 · Arts & CultureWALNUT STREET THEATRE CORPORATION: $15,000 · Arts & CultureChester County Historical Society: $10,000 · Arts & CulturePhiladelphia Dance Theatre: $10,000 · Arts & CultureRADNOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $5,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $2,635 · Arts & CultureAMERICA250ORG INC: $67,000 · Public BenefitVeterans Multi-Service Center Inc: $10,000 · Public BenefitTHE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $70,100 · Philanthropy+1 more: $1,000 · Philanthropy
Recreation & Sports$1,028,500Other$611,731Health$152,815Environment$127,000Arts & Culture$92,635Public Benefit$77,000Philanthropy$71,100

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE COBBS CREEK RESTORATION AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 1y, 10% of budgetTHE BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $125,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTHE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $112,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $70,100 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAMERICA250ORG INC: $67,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTHE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWILLIAMSON COLLEGE OF THE TRADES: $25,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetED SNIDER YOUTH HOCKEY & EDUCATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCOMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE: $22,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWALNUT STREET THEATRE CORPORATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEpiscopal Academy: $13,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetChester County Historical Society: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetVeterans Multi-Service Center Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPhiladelphia Dance Theatre: $10,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetDREXEL UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLUDINGTON LIBRARY: $5,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetFRENCH AND PICKERING CREEKS CONSERVATION TRUST INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD BANK INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAUREL HOUSE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSCHUYLKILL RIVER GREENWAY ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCONGRESO DE LATINOS UNIDOS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBastrop County Emergency Food Pantry: $5,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetGLENSIDE YOUTH ATHLETIC CLUB: $3,500 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetKENNETT AREA COMMUNITY SERVICE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPHILADELPHIA YOUTH BASKETBALL INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCARLISLE REGIONAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: $2,500 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetBRANDYWINE RED CLAY ALLIANCE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNatural Lands Trust Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSISTERS IN SHELTER: $2,500 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetROCKY RUN FIRE COMPANY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetYOUTH MENTORING PARTNERSHIP: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetKing of Prussia Volunteer Fire Company: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCENTRAL SUSQUEHANNA OPPORTUNITIES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCamp Shaw-waw-nas-see: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED WAY OF CENTRAL JERSEY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRICHLAND TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ARC ALLIANCE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FUND FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS WAKE COUNTY INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMAKING STRIDES FOUNDATION CORPORATION: $215 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCARNEGIE INSTITUTE: $135 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The William Penn Foun…The Philadelphia Foun…Connelly FoundationChester County Commun…Wsfs Cares FoundationTd Charitable Foundat…The Pfizer Foundation…The Barra Foundation …United Way of Greater…Quaker City FoundationHamilton Family Found…Chubb Charitable Foun…
The William Penn FoundationPA26.6× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The William Penn Foundation · The Philadelphia Foundation · Connelly Foundation · Chester County Community Foundation · Wsfs Cares Foundation · Td Charitable Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · The Barra Foundation Inc · United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey · Quaker City Foundation · Hamilton Family Foundation · Chubb Charitable Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 93 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $6.0M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2023, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Essential Foundation (F/K/A Aqua Charitable Trust)’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home