Ellis Family Foundation
Ellis Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Centre, AL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $260K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $17K. Net investment income was $36K.
Ellis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ellis Family Foundation gave $17K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Alabama. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,231
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,446
- +30.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $259,858
- +7.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alabama (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ellis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was First Baptist Church of Centre ($9K). Together the top 5 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 38 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ellis Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2020) to $32K (2022). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First Baptist Church of Centre Centre, AL | Support of Programs | $8,731 |
| Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL | Support of Programs | $5,000 |
| Cherokee County Board of Education Centre, AL | Support of Programs | $1,500 |
| Ellisville Volunteer Fire Department Centre, AL | Support of Programs | $1,000 |
| Jacksonville City Board of Education Jacksonville, AL | Support of Programs | $1,000 |
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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 | $259,858 | $36,514 | $17,730 | $17,231 | 5 | $17,231 | $36,452 | $16,787 |
| 2024 | $241,074 | $24,620 | $31,815 | $18,524 | 7 | $18,524 | $24,530 | $15,749 |
| 2023 | $248,269 | $11,310 | $28,876 | $28,775 | 11 | $28,775 | $11,310 | $401 |
| 2022 | $226,354 | $14,668 | $32,034 | $31,694 | 10 | $31,694 | $14,668 | $389 |
| 2021 | $251,034 | $24,545 | $14,783 | $14,783 | 5 | $14,783 | $24,545 | $310 |
| 2020 | $241,272 | $17,159 | $1,500 | $1,500 | 1 | — | $17,159 | $302 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellis Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ellis Family Foundation is led by Watt A. Ellis III, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Watt A. Ellis III
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Freida R. Ellis
Vice President, Director, Secretary, Director, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ellis Family Foundation
How much does Ellis Family Foundation give each year?
Ellis Family Foundation gave $17K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $19K across 7 grants.
What is Ellis Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ellis Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $3,446, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ellis Family Foundation give grants?
Ellis Family Foundation gives mostly in Alabama: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Centre, AL (3 grants) and Jacksonville, AL (2 grants).
Does Ellis Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Ellis Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support of Programs" (5 grants).
Who are Ellis Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ellis Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include First Baptist Church of Centre ($8,731), Jacksonville State University ($5,000) and Cherokee County Board of Education ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ellis Family Foundation?
Ellis Family Foundation reported $260K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ellis Family Foundation's EIN?
Ellis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1376448. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ellis Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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