Eleanor's Fund
Eleanor's Fund is a private foundation, based in Newell, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $200K. Net investment income was $131K.
Eleanor's Fund at a glance
In short: Eleanor's Fund gave $200K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), mostly in Montana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $200,000
- +17.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $66,667
- -21.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $4,981,628
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Montana (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Eleanor's Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wild Sheep Foundation ($110K). Together the top 3 received $200K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 24 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Eleanor's Fund gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $170K (2024) to $277K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Sheep Foundation Bozeman, MT | General Funding | $110,000 |
| Make-a-Wish South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | General Funding | $70,000 |
| Safari Club Internat Foundation Tucson, AZ | Grizzley Bears Conservation Strategy | $20,000 |
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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 | $4,981,628 | $160,516 | $256,973 | $200,000 | 3 | $204,223 | $131,399 | $262,720 |
| 2024 | $5,078,085 | $1,455,310 | $199,628 | $170,000 | 2 | $175,977 | $1,431,567 | $231,188 |
| 2023 | $4,387,571 | $118,296 | $268,516 | $232,000 | 3 | $232,000 | $81,978 | $213,633 |
| 2022 | $4,163,423 | $-37,896 | $268,413 | $222,000 | 3 | $222,000 | $59,853 | $219,750 |
| 2021 | $4,095,275 | $275,342 | $320,109 | $277,000 | 13 | $277,000 | $232,233 | $234,165 |
| 2020 | $4,146,122 | $3,439 | $272,688 | $242,000 | 11 | — | $106,973 | $234,049 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eleanor's Fund reported a distributable amount of $263K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Eleanor's Fund's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Neal Wanless
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arlen Wanless
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jody Gilson
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/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 Eleanor's Fund
How much does Eleanor's Fund give each year?
Eleanor's Fund gave $200K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $170K across 2 grants.
What is Eleanor's Fund's typical grant size?
Eleanor's Fund's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $66,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Eleanor's Fund give grants?
Eleanor's Fund gives mostly in Montana: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were South Dakota (35%) and Arizona (10%).
Does Eleanor's Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Eleanor's Fund's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Eleanor's Fund?
Eleanor's Fund reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $204K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $263K (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 is Eleanor's Fund's EIN?
Eleanor's Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1020259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 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 May 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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