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 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $657K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $234K. Net investment income was $32K.
El Faro Ephraim Foundation at a glance
In short: El Faro Ephraim Foundation gave $234K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $117K), mostly in Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $233,900
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $116,950
- +68.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $116,950
- Total assets
- $656,787
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who El Faro Ephraim Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Mission Impact ($134K). Together the top 2 received $234K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 4 grants of 13 (31%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How El Faro Ephraim Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 660% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2023) to $538K (2020). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $234K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Impact Madison, WI | Mission Work in Guatemala | $133,900 |
| Cityline Bible Church Niles, IL | Church Offering | $100,000 |
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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 | $656,787 | $264,079 | $253,838 | $233,900 | 2 | $247,096 | $32,415 | $37,435 |
| 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 $37K for 2025 — 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 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 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, 2020–2025. "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 Faro Ephraim Foundation
How much does El Faro Ephraim Foundation give each year?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation gave $234K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $208K across 3 grants.
How large is El Faro Ephraim Foundation?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation reported $657K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $247K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (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 $657K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does El Faro Ephraim Foundation operate?
El Faro Ephraim Foundation has awarded grants in Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.
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 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work El Faro Ephraim Foundation funds
Religion Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in El Faro Ephraim Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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