David W Ellis Family Foundation
The David W Ellis Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Hilton Head, South Carolina. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving to charitable organizations, including organizations in South Carolina and Indiana.
David W Ellis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: David W Ellis Family Foundation gave $31K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in South Carolina. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,913
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,344
- -18.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $552,699
- -2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (6 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David W Ellis Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 40 Saint Andrews Pl, Hilton Head, SC 29928
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David W Ellis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Notre Dame ($10K). Together the top 10 received $28K.
Grant Size Distribution
114 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 114 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina and 36% to recipients in Indiana. The remaining reported shares were Illinois (6%), New York (4%), and Texas (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is David W Ellis Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 23 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $323; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $170 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2025) to $36K (2023). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $31K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Memory Matters Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $4,600 |
| Deep Well Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Holy Family Catholic Church Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $2,500 |
| University of Chicago Law School Chicago, IL | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Heritage Classic Foundation Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering New York, NY | Charitable | $1,000 |
| St Mary's College Notre Dame, IN | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Meals on Wheels Hilton Head, SC | Charitable | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $552,699 | $18,750 | $34,928 | $30,913 | 23 | $30,913 | $15,319 | $34,950 |
| 2024 | $569,027 | $284,092 | $37,905 | $34,773 | 21 | $34,773 | $10,077 | $32,288 |
| 2023 | $323,116 | $13,543 | $38,271 | $35,601 | 22 | $35,601 | $10,873 | $32,499 |
| 2022 | $347,844 | $12,469 | $38,867 | $33,800 | 25 | $33,800 | $7,402 | $35,373 |
| 2021 | $374,242 | $11,787 | $36,330 | $33,400 | 23 | $33,400 | $8,857 | $33,900 |
| 2020 | $398,785 | $11,816 | $33,550 | $32,600 | 22 | — | $10,866 | $33,707 |
| 2019 | $420,751 | $107,580 | $33,931 | $31,000 | 20 | — | $11,596 | $32,144 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David W Ellis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $35K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose missions, as described by those organizations, include dementia and brain health programs for individuals with memory loss and caregivers (Memory Matters); meal delivery for seniors and disabled neighbors (Meals on Wheels); and cultural enrichment and access to cultural activities (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina). Other grantees include organizations focused on heritage, health, education, and community services.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $30,913. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $500. The largest awards included $10,000 to the University of Notre Dame, $4,600 to Memory Matters, $2,500 each to Deep Well and Holy Family Catholic Church, and $2,000 each to the University of Chicago Law School and Volunteers in Medicine.
Other 2025 grants included $1,000 to the Heritage Classic Foundation, $1,000 to Meals on Wheels, $500 to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and $250 to Coastal Discovery Museum. The Heritage Classic Foundation describes its purpose as distributing net profits from a PGA Tour event to local and statewide charities. Coastal Discovery Museum describes its mission as communicating the cultural and environmental heritage of the Lowcountry and providing educational programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David W Ellis as president; Barbara G Ellis, Margaret Ellis, and Cheryl E Ellis as vice presidents; Carole Ellis Reynders as treasurer; and Kathleen M Ellis as assistant treasurer.
David W Ellis Family Foundation is led by David W. Ellis, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David W. Ellis
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Barbara G. Ellis
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Carole Ellis Reynders
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Cheryl E. Ellis
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kathleen M. Ellis
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Margaret Ellis
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about David W Ellis Family Foundation
How much does David W Ellis Family Foundation give each year?
David W Ellis Family Foundation gave $31K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 21 grants.
What is David W Ellis Family Foundation's typical grant size?
David W Ellis Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,344, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David W Ellis Family Foundation that year got $323 on average.
Where does David W Ellis Family Foundation give grants?
David W Ellis Family Foundation gives mostly in South Carolina: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (36%) and Illinois (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hilton Head, SC (10 grants), Notre Dame, IN (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does David W Ellis Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on David W Ellis Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (23 grants).
Who are David W Ellis Family Foundation's largest grantees?
David W Ellis Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Notre Dame ($10,000), Memory Matters ($4,600) and Deep Well ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is David W Ellis Family Foundation?
David W Ellis Family Foundation reported $553K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $35K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does David W Ellis Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David W Ellis Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David W Ellis Family Foundation's EIN?
David W Ellis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 64-0838134. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does David W Ellis Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from David W Ellis Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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