Elfers Foundation Inc
Elfers Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1970. The foundation holds tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status and operates as a corporate foundation affiliated with Brown Advisory. The organization maintains a small, volunteer-driven board structure with limited paid staffing.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.4M
+10.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$660K
+15.8% YoY
Grant Count
13
+62.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
-28.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elfers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $730K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable areas including:
- Education (41% of recent giving)
- Arts & Culture (24% of recent giving)
- Health (19% of recent giving)
- Environment
- Religion
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applicants must contact the foundation directly for information about the application process. There are no stated deadlines.
Grant Range
$2,500–$300,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 70% of grants remain in Massachusetts. The foundation also provides significant support to Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $15,400,000
- Total Giving: $677,758
- Total Revenue: $684,552
- Total Expenses: $814,937
- Giving Rate: 4.3%–4.6% of assets
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $159,669
- Investment income and dividends: $203,413
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $276,284
- Miscellaneous revenues: $45,186
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,400,000 | $13,943,691 | $11,485,890 |
| Revenue | $684,552 | $398,407 | $2,971,802 |
| Expenses | $814,937 | $792,392 | $915,918 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $677,758 | $579,625 | $722,148 |
| Net Investment Income | $371,943 | $227,147 | $2,571,166 |
| Distributable Amount | $729,762 | $678,547 | $657,159 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Hotchkiss School ($300,000), The Fessenden School ($190,000), Dana Hall Schools ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 317 Main Street Community Music Center Yarmouth, ME | General Purpose | $13,750 |
| Billings Farm & Museum (aka Woodstock Foundation) Woodstock, VT | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Boston Athenaeum Boston, MA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Dana Hall Schools Wellesley, MA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Mass General Hospital (aka Mass General Brigham) Boston, MA | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Ohio State University Columbus, OH | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Portland Community Squash Portland, ME | General Purpose | $13,750 |
| Sea Change Yoga Portlad, ME | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| The Fessenden School West Newton, MA | General Purpose | $190,000 |
| The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, CT | General Purpose | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Deborah B Elfers – President/Director (5 hours/week)
- Jane Elfers Muther – Treasurer/Vice President/Director (1 hour/week)
- Henry Dormitzer – Secretary/Clerk/Director (1 hour/week)
- Amelia R Elfers – Director (started February 2024, 1 hour/week)
- William Alexander Haughton – Director (1 hour/week)
- Eric Muther – Director (1 hour/week)
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia R Elfers | Director (start 2/2024) | 1 | — |
| Katherine A Elfers | Director (end 2/2024) | 1 | — |
| William Alexander Haughton | Director | 1 | — |
| Eric Muther | Director | 1 | — |
| Deborah B Elfers | President/Director | 5 | — |
| Jane Elfers Muther | Treasurer/Vice President/Director | 1 | — |
| Henry Dormitzer | Secretary/Clerk/Director | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elfers Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of charitable areas including: • **Education** (41% of recent giving) • **Arts & Culture** (24% of recent giving) • **Health** (19% of recent giving) • Environment • Religion • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Elfers Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Typical annual giving: $660,000–$677,758 • Number of grants: 13–17 annually • Grant range: $2,500–$300,000 • Median grant amount: $14,000–$89,380 **Recent Notable Grants:** • Hotchkiss School: $300,000 • Fessenden School: $190,000 • Dana Hall Schools: $50,000 • Walnut Hill Center for the Arts: $20,000 • 317 Main St Community Music Center: $13,750 • Massachusetts General Hospital: $10,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does …
Where does Elfers Foundation Inc make grants?
Approximately 70% of grants remain in Massachusetts. The foundation also provides significant support to Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, and Vermont.
What size grants does Elfers Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Elfers Foundation Inc awarded 13 grants totaling $660K — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Elfers Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Elfers Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $730K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Elfers Foundation Inc's EIN?
Elfers Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7090080. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elfers Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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