Well Told Grants

Foundations / Georgia

John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc

Preselected recipients only Savannah, Georgia · EIN 586043441

John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc is a private foundation in Savannah, Georgia. In tax year 2025 it gave $65,150 in 42 grants; the typical grant was $1,250 and the largest $10,400. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was down from $67,050 the year before.

5% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, so most of its money goes to organizations it already funds.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2022$80,35048$1.3 million
2023$80,15047$1.2 million
2024$67,05042$1.3 million
2025$65,15042$1.4 million

How to apply

John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc funds

Where it gives

All of its grants went to recipients in Georgia.

StateGrantsAmount
Georgia42$65,150

Grants paid in 2025

The 40 largest of 42 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Savannah Community Foundation
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$10,400
Fresh Aire Home
Tybee Island, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$5,000
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Macon, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$2,000
Salvation Army Sav'h Home Town Endw
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,700
Georgia Independent Colleges Assn
Atlanta, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,700
Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,700
Individual
GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,600
Hospice of Savannah Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,500
Scottish Rite Child Care Endwmt FD
Atlanta, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,500
Coastal Heritage Society Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,400
Benedictine Millitary School Endowm
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,350
St Vincent's Academy Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,350
Ram Bam Day School Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,350
Memorial Day School Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,350
West Broad Street YMCA Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
YMCA Habersham St Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
Victor B Jenkins Boys Club Endmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
Frank Callen Boysgirls Club Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
Humane Society Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
Bethesda Union Society
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,300
Goodwill Inds Coastal Empire Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,250
Calvary Baptist Day School Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,250
American Cancer Society
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Masonic Home of Georgia
Macon, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Rape Crisis Center Endwmt Fund
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Telfair Museum of Art Endwmt FD
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Greenbriar Children's Center Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Two Hundred Club Endowmt FD
Midway, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Senior Citizens Alzheimers Endwmt F
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Georgia Salzburger Society
Rincon, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Savannah Ogeechee Canal Society
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Individual
GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,200
Mighty 8th Af Museum Endwmt
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,150
Georgia Radio Reading Services
Atlanta, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,100
Individual
GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,000
Coastal Pet Rescue
Guyton, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,000
Islands Feral Cat Project
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,000
LIVING VINE Inc
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$1,000
Savannah Children's Theatre
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$800
CHAT-SAV'H AUTHHMLSS tIny Hs Projec
Savannah, GA
For furtherance of its charitable purpose$700

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc give?

$65,150 in tax year 2025, across 42 grants, with a typical grant of $1,250.

Who runs John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc?

Its 2025 filing lists D Morgan Derst (Ceo), Edward J Derst III (Cfo), Heather Smith (Secretary) and Catherine D Miller (Treasurer).

What does John and Emma Derst Foundation Inc fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education, human services and youth programs.

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