Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008
The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1992 to honor Elizabeth Morse through values-based grantmaking. It awards grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) public charities that primarily serve residents of Chicago and Cook County and connect their missions, programs, or projects to one or more of the Trust’s stated values.
Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,247,816
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- -7.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $44,956
- +8.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $44,213,648
- +0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (14 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% 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 Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The Trust accepts unsolicited requests through its Letter of Inquiry process. Regular applicants submit an LOI in accordance with the Trust’s guidelines; qualifying returning grantees may use the small-grant process for requests of $10,000 or less.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- 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://www.morsetrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 funds
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%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s website says it makes grants only to qualifying organizations that primarily serve residents of Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, with 1% each going to recipients in the District of Columbia and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 50 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
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.
Grants by year
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 |
Ready to take the next step with Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008?
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 | $44,213,648 | $3,381,970 | $3,215,420 | $2,247,816 | 50 | $2,817,968 | $3,002,074 | $3,101,448 |
| 2023 | $44,015,590 | $2,221,085 | $3,137,849 | $2,234,666 | 54 | $2,760,980 | $1,874,809 | $2,726,916 |
| 2022 | $44,928,608 | $3,445,763 | $3,424,756 | $2,544,383 | 47 | $3,064,804 | $3,115,115 | $2,751,841 |
| 2021 | $44,902,817 | $3,282,688 | $3,040,903 | $2,079,316 | 46 | $2,626,907 | $2,875,147 | $3,076,579 |
| 2020 | $44,668,391 | $5,090,266 | $2,996,730 | $2,186,730 | 47 | — | $4,713,920 | $2,579,191 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s website describes its grantmaking as values-based. Its stated tenets include relief of human suffering through disease research or education, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled youth, support for elderly people, and aid during disasters. Other tenets address individual dignity and self-esteem, athletic activity that promotes physical health or spiritual well-being, and regional solutions intended to protect or improve quality of life in the Chicago area.
The Trust funds qualifying public charities rather than individuals. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own missions span arts and culture, technology and innovation, and community services. For example, Chicago Opera Theater describes its mission as bringing rarely produced and contemporary opera to Chicago, supporting emerging artists, and providing hands-on opera experiences. P33 describes its mission as transforming Chicago into a leading technology and innovation hub and promoting inclusive economic growth. The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance says it promotes Puerto Rican cultural traditions through artistic and educational programs, while the Chinese American Service League describes its work as helping individuals, families, and the community toward an equitable future, including family economic self-sufficiency.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust reported 50 grants totaling $2,247,816. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median award of $27,500. Its largest listed grants included $250,000 to Chicago Opera Theater for an endowment campaign, $150,000 to P33 for talent pathways, and $100,000 each to Chicago Theatre Group, Chinese American Service League, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, and Illinois Justice Project. Other listed awards included $98,000 to Readers Institute for Community Journalism and $83,333 each to Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers and Navy Pier.
The Trust welcomes Letters of Inquiry as the first step in its application process. Applicants submit an LOI, after which the Trust either declines the request or invites a full proposal. The website says full-proposal review is rigorous and comprehensive, generally takes six to nine months, and may take a year or longer; the Trust meets with full-proposal applicants and conducts site visits in most cases. It may request revised materials. The 2024 filing names James L. Alexander, Co-Trustee, as the contact for application information and directs applicants to attached guidelines.
The website says the Trust does not fund individuals, endowments, capital campaigns, political activity, or private foundations. Its small-grant process is for requests of $10,000 or less and is limited to previous recipients in compliance with reporting requirements that meet additional eligibility conditions, including serving Chicago and Cook County residents, having a budget of $2 million or less, and having at least one full-time employee. Small-grant LOIs are accepted on an ongoing basis; the website estimates a response in approximately one to two months. Applicants seeking more than $10,000, and first-time applicants, follow the regular LOI process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists JPMorgan Chase Bank NA and James L. Alexander as trustees.
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.
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 Trust’s website describes its grantmaking as values-based. Its stated tenets include relief of human suffering through disease research or education, assistance to disadvantaged or disabled youth, support for elderly people, and aid during disasters. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008?
The Trust accepts unsolicited requests through its Letter of Inquiry process. 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.
Does Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
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
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-morse-charitable-trust-xxxxx1008-morg_386c183e1c0348a5a997531bd92fa2a9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366999365_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008 funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-morse-charitable-trust-xxxxx1008-morg_386c183e1c0348a5a997531bd92fa2a9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust XXXXX1008'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.
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