ESSA Foundation is a nonprofit infrastructure hub for people and organizations turning ideas into real community impact.
Who we are
ESSA combines fiscal sponsorship, volunteer coordination, project funding, civic service, and professional STEM education into one platform. The goal is simple: people with good ideas should not be stopped by paperwork, missing tools, or a lack of institutional access.
We are a Washington nonprofit corporation and a federally recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Why we exist
Every community has people ready to build a service project, an education program, a volunteer effort, or a local initiative. Many of those ideas never launch because the person behind them does not have a legal entity, a way to accept donations, funding for supplies, or a volunteer network.
Forming a standalone nonprofit takes months of filings, fees, and administrative work before a dollar reaches the community. Existing organizations face another version of the same problem: they need volunteers and operational support but lack the systems to find them.
ESSA handles the infrastructure so builders can focus on building.
What we do
Independent projects can operate under ESSA's nonprofit umbrella instead of forming a standalone organization first. They can accept tax deductible donations, organize funds, and work within a structured administrative framework from day one. ESSA charges a low 4 percent administrative fee and provides practical guidance on budgeting and compliance.
Organizations need help, and students and community members want meaningful service opportunities. The Connector brings them together around real community needs, with a structure for coordinating work and verifying volunteer hours.
ESSA also runs its own programs. That includes professional level education in full stack development and cybersecurity, project grants and stipends, and civic service events such as road cleanups and other community improvement work.
What makes us different
Most nonprofits choose one lane. Some sponsor projects, some coordinate volunteers, some teach, and some fund. In practice, a project leader needs sponsorship, funding, and volunteers at the same time. A volunteer needs opportunities and skills. An organization needs people and infrastructure.
ESSA integrates those functions so an idea can receive support at each stage without being handed from one disconnected system to another.
Where we are
ESSA has been in planning and development since 2023 and became a legal entity in February 2026. Our first programs are in development, our first sponsored projects are being onboarded, and the infrastructure for donation processing and spend management is operating.
We will not publish impact numbers we have not earned. As programs launch, results will be reported honestly and in full. Our initial focus is Washington State, with a long term goal of serving communities worldwide.
Leadership
ESSA Foundation is governed by a board of directors.
Get involved
Whether you have a project that needs a home, time you want to give, or resources you want to put to work, there is a place for you here.
ESSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, EIN 41-4251617. Contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.