Elia Philanthropies
Elia Philanthropies is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including health care, food security, humanitarian relief, suicide prevention, and dance education.
Elia Philanthropies at a glance
In short: Elia Philanthropies gave $2.6M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $161K), mostly in California. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,579,000
- +102.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -36.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $161,188
- +217.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $53,604,494
- +44.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elia Philanthropies
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11444 W Olympic Blvd 11Th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: (805) 374-8555
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elia Philanthropies funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City of Hope ($2.3M). Together the top 10 received $2.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 84 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in California. Recipients in Washington, DC, Colorado, and New Hampshire received 2%, 1%, and 1% of grant dollars, respectively.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Elia Philanthropies open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 16 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $184K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 86% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.3M (2023) to $2.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $2.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Hope Los Angeles, CA | Health Care | $2,250,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Inc Washington, DC | general operating support | $60,000 |
| Food Forward North Hollywood, CA | Food Security | $60,000 |
| Shelter Box USA Santa Barbara, CA | general operating support | $40,000 |
| Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County Irvine, CA | Food Security | $40,000 |
| Trevor Project West Hollywood, CA | Suicide Prevention | $40,000 |
| Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Aspen, CO | Education | $25,000 |
| Dartmouth Medical School Lebanon, NH | Health Care | $25,000 |
| Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Aspen, CO | Education | $10,000 |
| Coastal Roots Farms Encinitas, CA | general operating support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Elia Philanthropies?
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 | $53,604,494 | $5,525,209 | $17,888,646 | $2,579,000 | 16 | $2,695,604 | $8,699,278 | $2,383,429 |
| 2023 | $37,225,865 | $7,287,828 | $1,749,221 | $1,271,000 | 25 | $1,349,544 | $5,501,243 | $1,959,452 |
| 2022 | $31,638,489 | $15,567,090 | $2,097,538 | $1,624,080 | 17 | $1,674,170 | $10,334,524 | $1,684,525 |
| 2021 | $21,677,655 | $19,737,093 | $1,719,261 | $1,386,250 | 15 | $1,436,507 | $5,384,571 | $1,381,317 |
| 2020 | $16,913,072 | $205,568 | $1,667,961 | $1,384,000 | 11 | — | $89,761 | $1,184,393 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elia Philanthropies reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — 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 2024 grants show support for health care, food security, general operating support, suicide prevention, education, and education and health.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms. City of Hope says its mission is to make hope a reality for people touched by cancer and diabetes. Food Forward says it fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing surplus produce and connecting it with people experiencing food insecurity. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The Trevor Project says it works to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people. Aspen Santa Fe Ballet says it cultivates appreciation of dance, brings dance companies to its two home cities, and offers a dance school for pre-collegiate students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Elia Philanthropies made 16 grants totaling $2,579,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,250,000, with a median grant of $17,500. Its largest grant was $2,250,000 to City of Hope for health care. Other notable grants included $60,000 each to World Central Kitchen for general operating support and Food Forward for food security; $40,000 each to ShelterBox USA for general operating support, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County for food security, and the Trevor Project for suicide prevention; and $25,000 to Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Norman C Payson, Melinda B Payson, and Robin Paule as trustees.
Elia Philanthropies's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Melinda B. Payson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norman C. Payson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Paule
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert L. Carson (2020–2023) — Trustee
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 Elia Philanthropies
How much does Elia Philanthropies give each year?
Elia Philanthropies gave $2.6M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 25 grants.
What is Elia Philanthropies's typical grant size?
Elia Philanthropies's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $161,188, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elia Philanthropies that year got $3K on average.
Where does Elia Philanthropies give grants?
Elia Philanthropies gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Aspen, CO (3 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Irvine, CA (2 grants).
Does Elia Philanthropies give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Elia Philanthropies's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Elia Philanthropies's largest grantees?
Elia Philanthropies's largest 2024 grantees include City of Hope ($2,250,000), World Central Kitchen Inc ($60,000) and Food Forward ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Elia Philanthropies?
Elia Philanthropies reported $53.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Elia Philanthropies fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for health care, food security, general operating support, suicide prevention, education, and education and health. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elia Philanthropies?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elia Philanthropies's EIN?
Elia Philanthropies's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3428609. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Elia Philanthropies accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Elia Philanthropies funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elia Philanthropies's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Edwards Lifesciences Foundation
Irvine, CA
Edwards Lifesciences Foundation funds access to care for underserved structural heart patients, along with health, education, and economic-opportunity programs in communities where Edwards employees live and work; some specific projects outside the U.S. may also be eligible. Its 2024 grants had a median of $7,500, though awards ranged widely; it describes an annual application cycle but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$81.4M
Grants
224
Total Given
$9.0M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Orange County Community Foundation
Irvine, CA
The Orange County Community Foundation supports a wide range of causes, including human services, education, health, arts, the environment, and community development, primarily in Orange County and also beyond. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$743.6M
Grants
975
Total Given
$120.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elia Philanthropies funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elia-philanthropies-morg_21edd05819324f1797b8392b2564934d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043428609_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elia Philanthropies funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elia-philanthropies-morg_21edd05819324f1797b8392b2564934d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Elia Philanthropies's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Elia Philanthropies down — hundreds of funders to go?