Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 is a private foundation located in Chicago, Illinois. Its filing describes values-based grantmaking to qualifying 501(c)(3) public charities that primarily serve Chicago and Cook County residents, with grants tied to one or more of its stated values.
Key facts about Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008
In short: Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 gave $2.2M across 50 grants in 2024 (avg $45K), mostly in Illinois. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6999365
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,247,816
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- Average grant
- $44,956
- Median grant
- $27,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (14 of 50, 2024)
- Total assets
- $44,213,648
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing says to contact co-trustee James L. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$44.2M
+0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+0.6% YoY
Grant Count
50
-7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$45K
+8.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 50 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 40% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The filing describes a purpose of honoring Elizabeth Morse Genius through values-based grantmaking. Its stated values include promoting thrift, humility, industry, self-sacrifice, and self-sufficiency; relieving human suffering; developing self-esteem and dignity in underserved youth; encouraging vigorous athletic activity; and developing regional solutions to Chicago’s regional challenges.
The filing says grants go to qualifying 501(c)(3) public charities that primarily serve Chicago and Cook County residents. Among the 2024 grantees, Chicago Opera Theater says its mission is to expand opera through innovative experiences, while P33 says its mission is to transform Chicago into a leading technology and innovation hub and promote inclusive economic growth. The Chinese American Service League describes its work as helping individuals, families, and the community toward an equitable future, including family economic self-sufficiency. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the funder’s.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 50 grants totaling $2,247,816 in 2024. The grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $27,500. The largest reported awards included $250,000 to Chicago Opera Theater for its endowment campaign and $150,000 to P33 for talent pathways. Other notable awards were $100,000 each to Chicago Theatre Group, Chinese American Service League, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, and Illinois Justice Project.
Review Cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing says the foundation serves organizations that primarily serve Chicago and Cook County residents. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 1% to recipients in the District of Columbia, and 1% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2021) to $2.5M (2022). In 2024 it made 50 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chicago Opera Theater ($250K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
244 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 159 grants of 244 (65%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Opera Theater Chicago, IL | Support Endowment Campaign | $250,000 |
| P33 Chicago, IL | Support Talent Pathways | $150,000 |
| Chicago Theatre Group Inc Chicago, IL | Support to Implement a | $100,000 |
| Chinese American Service League Chicago, IL | Support Change Insight Tech | $100,000 |
| Puerto Rican Arts Alliance Chicago, IL | Support General Operations | $100,000 |
| Illinois Justice Project Chicago, IL | Support Morse Genius | $100,000 |
| Readers Institute for Community Journali Chicago, IL | Support Revenue Growth | $98,000 |
| Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers Chicago, IL | To Support Mental Health | $83,333 |
| Navy Pier Chicago, IL | Support Audience | $83,333 |
| Joffrey Ballet of Chicago Chicago, IL | Support Technological | $75,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,247,816 | 50 |
| 2023 | $2,234,666 | 54 |
| 2022 | $2,544,383 | 47 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $44,213,648 | $44,015,590 | $44,928,608 |
| Revenue | $3,381,970 | $2,221,085 | $3,445,763 |
| Expenses | $3,215,420 | $3,137,849 | $3,424,756 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,817,968 | $2,760,980 | $3,064,804 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,002,074 | $1,874,809 | $3,115,115 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,101,448 | $2,726,916 | $2,751,841 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 5, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James L. Alexander as trustee.
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James L. Alexander
Trustee
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$313K (2020) → $360K (2024)
Jpmorgan Chase Bank NA
Trustee
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$250K (2020) → $298K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $360K, to James L Alexander (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: James L Alexander Co-Trustee
Mailing address: 208 S Lasalle Street Suite 1660, Chicago, IL 60604-1226
Phone: (312) 739-0326
Website: https://emgeniustrust.org
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008
How much does Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 give each year?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 gave $2.2M across 50 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 54 grants.
What is Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's typical grant size?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's median grant in 2024 was $27,500, and its average grant was $44,956, across 50 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 that year got $31K on average.
Where does Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 give grants?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (40 grants).
Does Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 50) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's largest grantees?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's largest 2024 grantees include Chicago Opera Theater ($250,000), P33 ($150,000) and Chicago Theatre Group Inc ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 reported $44.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (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 does Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 fund?
The filing describes a purpose of honoring Elizabeth Morse Genius through values-based grantmaking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008?
The filing says to contact co-trustee James L. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's EIN?
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6999365. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 by hand.
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