Ella West Freeman Foundation
The Ella West Freeman Foundation is a private foundation based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1941 by A. B. Freeman in honor of his wife, the foundation supports grant seekers from the Greater New Orleans area, with stated priorities in education, the arts, community improvement and governmental oversight, and human services.
Ella West Freeman Foundation at a glance
In short: Ella West Freeman Foundation gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $635K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,270,026
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $635,013
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $635,013
- Total assets
- $20,779,214
- -1.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ella West Freeman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes a two-stage online process requiring a Proposal Summary Sheet signed by a board member and submitted as a PDF with the Stage 1 application. The website says the 2026 Stage 1 cycle is closed; Stage 1 consideration is available in spring 2027. Full proposals are requested from applicants advancing to Stage 2.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists January 20 as the Stage 1 submission deadline. Its application page says the 2026 cycle is closed and identifies spring 2027 as the next opportunity for Stage 1 consideration.
- Deadline
- The website lists January 20 as the Stage 1 submission deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Tina Freeman Chairman
Mailing address: 1100 Poydras Street, Suite 1350, New Orleans, LA 70163
Phone: (504) 207-8555
Website: https://ellawest.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 Ella West Freeman Foundation
Who Ella West Freeman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Various - See Attached Statement ($1.3M). Together the top 2 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 58 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives special consideration to organizations in the Greater New Orleans area. Its website describes its grant-seeker focus as the Greater New Orleans area; the 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Louisiana recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ella West Freeman Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. 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 (2024) to $1.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Various - See Attached Statement New Orleans, LA | See Attached | $1,270,000 |
| From Pass-Throughs New Orleans, LA | Various | $26 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $20,779,214 | $1,107,456 | $1,451,736 | $1,270,026 | 2 | $1,285,901 | $1,023,764 | $1,418,594 |
| 2023 | $21,126,060 | $187,142 | $1,424,338 | $1,285,047 | 2 | $1,285,047 | $231,621 | $1,267,950 |
| 2022 | $22,358,193 | $883,579 | $1,528,016 | $1,351,833 | 2 | $1,359,348 | $730,772 | $1,289,860 |
| 2021 | $23,007,799 | $2,858,863 | $1,542,916 | $1,303,837 | 2 | $1,312,083 | $2,690,771 | $1,370,553 |
| 2020 | $21,692,986 | $-1,152,623 | $1,742,095 | $1,387,711 | 50 | — | $167,116 | $1,301,510 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ella West Freeman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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 foundation’s website gives priority to education, particularly private education; performing and applied arts; community improvement and governmental oversight; and human service organizations, especially established agencies seeking capital support. Its application information also describes support for civic affairs, community development, the arts, education, and human resources. It prioritizes specific projects or programs with defined objectives and timetables and broad public benefits, generally for periods of up to two years.
For capital projects, applicants are asked to show operational stability, a history of community service, a credible fundraising plan, and the capacity to maintain the facilities. The foundation gives sustaining grants lower priority and generally avoids operating support for organizations participating in campaigns such as United Way and the Archbishop’s Community Appeal, while welcoming capital requests from those agencies. It is selective about endowment appeals.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported two grants totaling $1,270,026. The reported awards ranged from $26 to $1,270,000, with a median of $635,013. The largest listed award was $1,270,000 to “VARIOUS - SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT” in New Orleans, with the purpose listed as “SEE ATTACHED.” The other listed award was $26 to “FROM PASS-THROUGHS,” with the purpose “VARIOUS.” The 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to recipients in Louisiana.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing describes a two-stage online application process and asks for organizational and project details, including the amount requested, other support received or sought, project budget and dates, annual organizational budget, intended outcomes, and proposed use of funds. The foundation’s website says the 2026 Stage 1 cycle is closed and that applicants may apply for Stage 1 consideration in spring 2027. The website also says applications are reviewed at trustee meetings and that interviews occur only at the foundation’s initiation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Tina Freeman as chair, Virgnia Rowan as secretary, Philip Woollam and Peter Freeman as trustees, R West Freeman III as vice chair, and Sarah Freeman Carey as trustee.
Ella West Freeman Foundation is led by Tina Freeman, Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Tina Freeman
Chair
Trustee → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peter Freeman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Philip Woollam
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sarah Freeman Carey
Trustee
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
R. West Freeman III
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Virgnia Rowan
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Richard W. Freeman Jr. (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Virgina Rowan (2020) — 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 Ella West Freeman Foundation
How much does Ella West Freeman Foundation give each year?
Ella West Freeman Foundation gave $1.3M across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 2 grants.
How large is Ella West Freeman Foundation?
Ella West Freeman Foundation reported $20.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 Ella West Freeman Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website gives priority to education, particularly private education; performing and applied arts; community improvement and governmental oversight; and human service organizations, especially established agencies seeking capital support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ella West Freeman Foundation?
The filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ella West Freeman Foundation make grants?
The foundation gives special consideration to organizations in the Greater New Orleans area. Its website describes its grant-seeker focus as the Greater New Orleans area; the 2024 filing reports that all grant dollars went to Louisiana recipients.
What is Ella West Freeman Foundation's EIN?
Ella West Freeman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-6018322. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ella West Freeman 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
(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 Ella West Freeman Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ella West Freeman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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