EL Craig Foundation
The EL Craig Foundation is a private foundation based in Joplin, Missouri. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations including policy, legal, educational, and research organizations.
EL Craig Foundation at a glance
In short: EL Craig Foundation gave $3.1M across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $347K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,125,000
- +0.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $347,222
- -21.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $300,000
- Total assets
- $4,275,130
- -38.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to EL Craig Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1090, Joplin, MO 64802
Phone: (417) 616-3565
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who EL Craig Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CATO Institute ($1.0M). Together the top 9 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 12 grants of 37 (32%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (43%), Virginia (32%), and Michigan (16%). Recipients in California received 6% and those in Delaware received 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How EL Craig Foundation gives
- Giving grew 45% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $525K (2023) to $3.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CATO Institute Washington, DC | Host Committee-Co-Chair | $1,000,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | General Administration | $500,000 |
| Acton Institute Grand Rapids, MI | General Administration | $500,000 |
| Donors Trust Alexandria, VA | General Administration | $500,000 |
| Becket Fund Washington, DC | General Administration | $300,000 |
| The Reason Foundation Los Angeles, CA | General Administration | $100,000 |
| Intercollegiate Studies Institute Wilmington, DE | General Administration | $100,000 |
| Independent Institute Oakland, CA | David J Theroux Chair | $75,000 |
| The Fund for American Studies Washington, DC | General Administration | $50,000 |
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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 | $4,275,130 | $538,881 | $3,161,861 | $3,125,000 | 9 | $3,128,420 | $535,402 | $302,871 |
| 2024 | $6,898,110 | $3,453,577 | $3,121,743 | $3,100,500 | 7 | $3,103,817 | $1,437,451 | $346,562 |
| 2023 | $6,566,276 | $77,885 | $566,200 | $525,000 | 3 | $525,073 | $81,855 | $374,748 |
| 2022 | $7,054,591 | $-154,121 | $2,216,649 | $2,160,082 | 8 | $2,167,474 | $59,964 | $465,450 |
| 2021 | $9,425,361 | $10,116,716 | $2,571,767 | $2,545,000 | 10 | $2,549,358 | $94,307 | $448,753 |
| 2020 | $1,880,458 | $993,983 | $1,663,235 | $1,655,000 | 12 | — | $8,537 | $152,231 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, EL Craig Foundation reported a distributable amount of $303K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose work includes advancing liberty and free markets, litigation for individual liberties, college student education, and public-policy research.
The Cato Institute describes its mission as advancing individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. The Institute for Justice says it uses litigation, training, communication, activism, and research to advance individual liberties, including economic liberty, educational choice, private property rights, and freedom of speech. Donors Trust describes its mission as supporting charitable work through education, research, and private initiatives, and encouraging private philanthropy. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute says it inspires college students to advance principles it associates with a good, free, and prosperous America. The Reason Foundation says it advances a free society through journalism and public-policy research promoting individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 9 grants totaling $3,125,000 in 2025. Awards ranged from $50,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $300,000. It reported 7 grants totaling $3,100,500 in 2024 and 3 grants totaling $525,000 in 2023.
Notable 2025 grants included $1,000,000 to the Cato Institute; $500,000 each to the Institute for Justice, Acton Institute, and Donors Trust; and $300,000 to the Becket Fund. Other reported grants were $100,000 to the Reason Foundation, $100,000 to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, $75,000 to the Independent Institute, and $50,000 to The Fund for American Studies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David C. Humphreys as president, treasurer, and secretary; Sarah Humphreys Atkins as vice president; and Debra G. Humphreys and Paul S. Atkins as directors.
EL Craig Foundation is led by David C. Humphreys, President, Treasurer & Secretary since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David C. Humphreys
President, Treasurer & Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → President, Treasurer & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra G. Humphreys
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul S. Atkins
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Humphreys Atkins
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Ethelmae C. Humphreys (2020–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 EL Craig Foundation
How much does EL Craig Foundation give each year?
EL Craig Foundation gave $3.1M across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.1M across 7 grants.
What is EL Craig Foundation's typical grant size?
EL Craig Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $300,000, and its average grant was $347,222, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does EL Craig Foundation give grants?
EL Craig Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (32%) and Michigan (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does EL Craig Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of EL Craig Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are EL Craig Foundation's largest grantees?
EL Craig Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include CATO Institute ($1,000,000), Institute for Justice ($500,000) and Acton Institute ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is EL Craig Foundation?
EL Craig Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $303K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does EL Craig Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations whose work includes advancing liberty and free markets, litigation for individual liberties, college student education, and public-policy research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from EL Craig Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 EL Craig Foundation's EIN?
EL Craig Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 44-6015127. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does EL Craig Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 27, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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