UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment __)* ESSA Bancorp, Inc. ------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share --------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 29667D104 --------------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2007 ------------------ (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [x] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Page 1 of 5 Pages CUSIP NO. 29667D104 Page 2 of 5 Pages ================================================================================ 1 Names of Reporting Persons ESSA Bank & Trust Foundation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) __________ (b) __________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC Use Only -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Shares 5 Sole Voting Power Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,110,900 With: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Shared Voting Power 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Sole Dispositive Power 1,110,900 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Shared Dispositive Power 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,110,900 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 6.5% of 16,980,900 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2007. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) CO ================================================================================ CUSIP NO. 29667D104 Page 3 of 5 Pages Item 1 (a) Name of Issuer ESSA Bancorp, Inc. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 200 Palmer Street Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360 Item 2 (a) Name of Person Filing ESSA Bank & Trust Foundation (b) Address of Principal Business Office 200 Palmer Street Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18360 (c) Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Delaware (d) Title of Class of Securities Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (e) CUSIP Number 29667D104 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to ss.ss.240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b, or (c), check whether the person filing is a: Items (a) - (j) are not applicable. Item 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,110,900. (b) Percent of class: 6.5%. (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: CUSIP NO. 29667D104 Page 4 of 5 Pages (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,110,900. However, pursuant to the Foundation's Certificate of Incorporation, the shares must be voted in the same ratio as all other shares of common stock on all proposals considered by stockholders. (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0. (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,110,900. (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0. Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class Not applicable Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person Not applicable Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company Not applicable Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Not applicable Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group Not applicable Item 10. Certification By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP NO. 29667D104 Page 5 of 5 Pages SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information se9t forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. February 4, 2008 ----------------------------------------- Date /s/ Suzie T. Farley ----------------------------------------- Signature Suzie T. Farley, Treasurer and Secretary ----------------------------------------- Name and Title