Ellis L Phillips Foundation
Ellis L Phillips Foundation is a private foundation, based in Waltham, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $252K. Net investment income was $333K.
Ellis L Phillips Foundation at a glance
In short: Ellis L Phillips Foundation gave $252K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $251,800
- +7.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $27,978
- +30.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,600
- Total assets
- $4,642,674
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (42% 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 L Phillips Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Co-Counsel Sijs ($50K). Together the top 9 received $252K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 24 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ellis L Phillips Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 168% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2023) to $252K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $252K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Counsel Sijs New York, NY | Human Services | $50,000 |
| Art Yard Brooklyn Waltham, MA | ART | $45,200 |
| Ulster County SPCA Kingston, NY | Human Services | $35,000 |
| Urban Growers Collective Chicago, IL | Environmental Education | $25,000 |
| Ulster Immigrant Defense Network Kingston, NY | Human Services | $21,600 |
| Hildebrand Family Self-Help Center Cambridge, MA | Human Services | $20,000 |
| Little Schoolhouse Childcare Brunswick, ME | Education | $20,000 |
| Making Music Matters West Roxbury, MA | MUSIC | $20,000 |
| Bunker Hill Monument Association Charlestown, MA | MUSIC | $15,000 |
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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 | $4,642,674 | $878,220 | $466,795 | $251,800 | 9 | $369,442 | $332,666 | $220,428 |
| 2024 | $4,312,114 | $315,282 | $435,603 | $235,250 | 11 | $346,493 | $221,172 | $214,678 |
| 2023 | $4,222,191 | $205,937 | $315,788 | $125,025 | 1 | $228,772 | $118,921 | $241,568 |
| 2022 | $4,030,423 | $344,646 | $416,158 | $215,702 | 1 | $305,837 | $259,325 | $227,522 |
| 2021 | $5,068,340 | $400,526 | $323,771 | $208,000 | 2 | — | $284,840 | $240,129 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellis L Phillips Foundation reported a distributable amount of $220K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ellis L Phillips Foundation is led by Hardy G. Watts, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Hardy G. Watts
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$29K (2021) → $36K (2025)
Andrew P. Parsegian
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Zimmermann
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula Edgar
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Prosser
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Blasdale
Director
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martin Zimmermann
Director
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Phillips
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Noel Phillips
Vice President
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kristina Hess (2021–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $36K, to Hardy G Watts (President).
Frequently asked questions about Ellis L Phillips Foundation
How much does Ellis L Phillips Foundation give each year?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation gave $252K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $235K across 11 grants.
What is Ellis L Phillips Foundation's typical grant size?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $21,600, and its average grant was $27,978, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ellis L Phillips Foundation give grants?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation's top state is New York, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (40%) and Illinois (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kingston, NY (2 grants).
Does Ellis L Phillips Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Ellis L Phillips Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services" (4 grants).
Who are Ellis L Phillips Foundation's largest grantees?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Co-Counsel Sijs ($50,000), Art Yard Brooklyn ($45,200) and Ulster County SPCA ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ellis L Phillips Foundation?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $369K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $220K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ellis L Phillips Foundation's EIN?
Ellis L Phillips Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5677691. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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