Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
The Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Florida. Established in 1959 by Jeannette Genius McKean in memory of her mother, it supports charitable, educational, religious, scientific, literary, and fine-arts purposes, with grants intended to benefit Central Florida.
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation at a glance
In short: Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation gave $4.5M across 64 grants in 2025 (avg $70K), mostly in Florida. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,495,849
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 64
- -8.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $70,248
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $146,678,483
- +7.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (15 of 62, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website lists a cover letter stating the purpose and requested amount, a project or program description, an IRS exemption determination letter, recent financial statements, a board list with affiliations, and a project budget and expenditure descriptions among proposal materials. Eligible organizations must qualify under 501(c)(3) or 509(a)(1), and the exemption letter must be no more than 10 years old. The website says a letter of intent is not required.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists March 15 and September 15 as proposal receipt deadlines, for trustee meetings usually held in early May and early November, respectively. Both dates have passed in 2026; the next cycle’s dates are not specified here.
- Deadline
- The website lists March 15 and September 15 as proposal receipt deadlines, for trustee meetings usually held in early…
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 40, Winter Park, FL 32790-0040
Phone: (407) 644-0555
Website: https://geniusfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
Who Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
338 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 282 grants of 338 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grant policy requires grant purposes to benefit Central Florida. In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to Florida recipients, 4% to Vermont, and 1% to Oklahoma; Massachusetts and New Jersey each accounted for 0% when rounded. The 2025 grants included recipients in an individual recipient and Orlando, Florida, as well as St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and Owasso, Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 64 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 62 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.4M (2020) to $5.4M (2022). In 2025 it made 64 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation Winter Park, FL | Operating Support | $2,775,000 |
| St Johnsbury Academy St Johnsbury, VT | Support of Student Life and Athletics Building | $200,000 |
| Adventhealth Foundation Inc Orlando, FL | Purchase Medical Equipment | $100,000 |
| Heart of Florida United Way Orlando, FL | General Support | $100,000 |
| United Arts of Central Florida Inc Orlando, FL | General Support | $100,000 |
| Bach Festival Society of Winter Park Winter Park, FL | General Support | $82,500 |
| Rollins College Men's Soccer Team Winter Park, FL | Support for Sports Team | $70,000 |
| A Gift for Teaching Inc Orlando, FL | Learning Kits and Arts Program | $55,000 |
| Gardens at Depugh Nursing Center Winter Park, FL | Support for Patient Care | $54,000 |
| Folds of Honor Foundation Owasso, OK | Scholarship Fund | $51,000 |
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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 | $146,678,483 | $11,998,359 | $8,868,964 | $4,495,849 | 64 | $6,383,186 | $10,672,485 | $7,164,924 |
| 2024 | $136,937,198 | $9,023,944 | $9,044,301 | $4,627,949 | 70 | $6,644,985 | $7,751,080 | $6,842,229 |
| 2023 | $130,879,590 | $7,823,076 | $9,229,910 | $4,473,458 | 71 | $6,500,034 | $5,548,652 | $6,444,126 |
| 2022 | $121,859,720 | $5,830,688 | $9,506,069 | $5,394,727 | 69 | $7,295,670 | $2,814,230 | $6,609,041 |
| 2021 | $145,557,522 | $11,233,005 | $8,647,792 | $4,682,825 | 64 | $6,381,598 | $9,767,152 | $7,009,506 |
| 2020 | $136,812,764 | $4,678,796 | $8,057,553 | $4,445,496 | 66 | — | $3,283,037 | $6,097,082 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.2M for 2025 — 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 foundation states that its mission is to promote the welfare of mankind. Its grant policy says funding should support religious, charitable, scientific, public-safety testing, literary, educational, or fine-arts purposes, and that the grant purpose must benefit Central Florida.
The 2025 grants show support for arts and cultural organizations, education, health care, community services, and other charitable purposes. For example, United Arts of Central Florida describes its mission as strengthening arts, science, history, and culture through collaboration and investment; A Gift for Teaching says it provides educational resources to empower teachers; and Heart of Florida United Way says it works to improve health, education, and financial stability in Central Florida. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 64 grants totaling $4,495,849. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,775,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
The largest reported 2025 awards included $2,775,000 to the Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation for operating support; $200,000 to St Johnsbury Academy for its student life and athletics building; and $100,000 each to AdventHealth Foundation for medical equipment, Heart of Florida United Way for general support, and United Arts of Central Florida for general support. Other reported awards included $82,500 to the Bach Festival Society of an individual recipient, $70,000 to the Rollins College men’s soccer team, and $55,000 to A Gift for Teaching for learning kits and an arts program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Harold Ward III as chairman; Randolph Rush as president; Douglas Woodman as executive vice president and treasurer; Richard O Baldwin Jr as vice president; Bonnie Hubbard as secretary; Nancy Stephens as assistant treasurer; and Mary Christian and R Michael Strickland as trustees.
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation is led by Randolph Rush, President on every filing since 2020; 3 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Randolph Rush
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Harold Ward III
Chairman
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Christian
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
R. Michael Strickland
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bonnie Hubbard
Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $138K (2025)
Douglas Woodman
Executive Vice President & Treasurer
Secretary → Executive Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$120K (2023) → $224K (2025)
Nancy Stephens
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2024
20 hrs/week
$76K (2024) → $119K (2025)
Richard O. Baldwin Jr.
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Richard Strauss (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Stavros (2020–2024) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Richard Strauss - See Stmt (2023) — Executive Vice President & Treasurer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $224K, to Douglas Woodman (Executive Vice President & Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation
How much does Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation give each year?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation gave $4.5M across 64 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4.6M across 70 grants.
What is Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's typical grant size?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $70,248, across 64 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation give grants?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Orlando, FL (25 grants), Winter Park, FL (17 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 39% of Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 64) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Fund" (6 grants) and "Program Support" (3 grants).
Who are Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's largest grantees?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Charles Hosmer Morse Foundation ($2,775,000), St Johnsbury Academy ($200,000) and Adventhealth Foundation Inc ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($50,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation reported $146.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.2M (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 Genius Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to promote the welfare of mankind. Its grant policy says funding should support religious, charitable, scientific, public-safety testing, literary, educational, or fine-arts purposes, and that the grant purpose must benefit Central Florida. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's EIN?
Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6115217. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation 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 October 2026.
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 July 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-morse-genius-foundation-morg_f337bc606a2e403d8d246e4ce33482cb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136115217_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elizabeth-morse-genius-foundation-morg_f337bc606a2e403d8d246e4ce33482cb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Genius Foundation'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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