Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation
The Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation is a private foundation established in June 1993 and located in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation operates as an independent 501(c)(3) organization that invests in income-producing instruments to generate funds for distribution to charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.7M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+5.8% YoY
Grant Count
45
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-15.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent activity demonstrating broad charitable interests.
Grant Range
ranges from $50,000 to $100,000+
Average Grant
ranges from $50,000 to $100,000+
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Delaware, with particular concentration in the Wilmington area and southern Delaware.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $25.4 million
- Total Investments: $24.8 million
- Annual Revenue: $977,800
- Total Expenses: $2,125,077
- Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,667,137 | $25,392,040 | $26,440,853 |
| Revenue | $2,617,059 | $977,801 | $1,691,024 |
| Expenses | $2,280,104 | $2,125,077 | $2,257,321 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,901,798 | $1,797,633 | $1,898,759 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,244,807 | $675,558 | $1,360,862 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,947,732 | $1,729,005 | $1,797,176 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Delaware Hospice ($125,000), Delaware Botanical Gardens ($100,000), First State Squash ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amanecer Counseling & Resource Center Wilmington, DE | Financial Assistance | $25,000 |
| Amistad Mission Nashville, TN | Financial Assistance | $25,000 |
| Christ Church Christiana Wilmingotn, DE | Financial Assistance | $5,000 |
| Delaware Botanical Gardens Dagsboro, DE | Financial Assistance | $100,000 |
| Delaware Boys and Girls Club Wilmington, DE | Financial Assistance | $35,000 |
| Delaware Center for Horticulture Wilmington, DE | Financial Assistance | $30,000 |
| Delaware College Scholars WIlmingotn, DE | Financial Assistance | $75,000 |
| Delaware Museum of Natural History WIlmington, DE | Financial Assistance | $54,500 |
| Delaware Theater Company Wilmingotn, DE | Financial Assistance | $75,000 |
| Devereux Pennsylvania Foundation West Chester, PA | Financial Assistance | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gregory Inskip Esq | Pres | 2 | — |
| John T Fay CPA | Sec/Treas. | 2 | — |
| H Murray Sawyer | Vice. Pres. | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has demonstrated ongoing commitment to Delaware institutions and environmental initiatives. Notable recent grants include support for the Delaware Botanic Gardens' Rhyne Garden project, a 1.5-acre native plant garden with environmental filtration functions. The foundation has maintained a multi-year partnership with Tower Hill School, providing consistent annual scholarship support.
Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation Grant to DBG \u2014 Delaware Botanic GardensFrequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent activity demonstrating broad charitable interests. • In 2023, the foundation made 32 grants totaling approximately $1,492,633 • Average grant size ranges from $50,000 to $100,000+ • Recent grantees include: • Delaware Military Academy: $100,000 (2023) • First State Squash: $100,000 (2023) • University of Delaware: $100,000 (2023) • Tower Hill School: $52,500 (2024), $52,500 (2023), $55,000 (2022) • Delaware Botanic Gardens: $250…
Where does Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Delaware, with particular concentration in the Wilmington area and southern Delaware.
What size grants does Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation award?
In 2024, Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation's EIN?
Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0348090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ellice & Rosa McDonald Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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