El Faro Ephraim Foundation
El Faro Ephraim Foundation is a private foundation focused on religion, based in Evanston, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $647K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $208K. Net investment income was $6K.
El Faro Ephraim Foundation at a glance
In short: El Faro Ephraim Foundation gave $208K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $69K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $208,000
- +72.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $69,333
- +72.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $99,000
- Total assets
- $646,546
- +4.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who El Faro Ephraim Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cityline Bible Church ($105K). Together the top 3 received $208K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 5 grants of 13 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How El Faro Ephraim Foundation gives
- Giving fell 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 630% of 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2023) to $538K (2020). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $208K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cityline Bible Church Niles, IL | Church Offering | $105,000 |
| Mission Impact Madison, WI | Mission Work in Guatemala | $99,000 |
| Mission El Faro | El Faro Fundraiser | $4,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $646,546 | $250,299 | $221,333 | $208,000 | 3 | $213,650 | $5,604 | $33,930 |
| 2023 | $620,105 | $191,214 | $128,441 | $120,460 | 3 | $121,526 | $16,902 | $29,298 |
| 2022 | $557,332 | $286,679 | $283,839 | $272,380 | 2 | $275,880 | $9,155 | $28,767 |
| 2021 | $554,492 | $274,575 | $460,239 | $453,780 | 3 | $453,780 | $33,116 | $31,908 |
| 2020 | $740,156 | $511,598 | $552,552 | $538,444 | 2 | — | $7,886 | $29,972 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, El Faro Ephraim Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
El Faro Ephraim Foundation is led by Philip Ephraim, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Philip Ephraim
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James McCall
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meagan Ephraim
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Ephraim
V.p. & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Faro Ephraim Foundation
How much does El Faro Ephraim Foundation give each year?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation gave $208K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $120K across 3 grants.
What is El Faro Ephraim Foundation's typical grant size?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $99,000, and its average grant was $69,333, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does El Faro Ephraim Foundation give grants?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wisconsin (48%).
Does El Faro Ephraim Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on El Faro Ephraim Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is El Faro Ephraim Foundation?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation reported $647K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $214K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is El Faro Ephraim Foundation?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation is a private foundation focused on religion, based in Evanston, IL. It holds $647K in total assets as of 2024.
What is El Faro Ephraim Foundation's EIN?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0872813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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