Ellison Foundation is a private foundation based in Bellevue, Washington. Established in 2002 and tax-exempt since March 2003, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that create sustainable benefits for the people they serve.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$45.9M
+7.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-2.0% YoY
Grant Count
103
+13.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-13.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellison Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily in Washington State. Their funding priorities include:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Rental assistance
- Human services
- Children's needs
- Artistic programs
- Homelessness prevention
Grantmaking
The foundation made 64 grants totaling $2,191,104 in 2023. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in Washington State, with some activity in Idaho and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $42,677,087
- Total Revenues: $2,007,697
- Total Expenses: $2,933,067
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,574,604
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $432,021
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $45,927,607 | $42,677,087 | $40,377,478 |
| Revenue | $4,749,184 | $2,007,697 | $1,146,812 |
| Expenses | $2,964,484 | $2,933,067 | $2,981,863 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,790,176 | $2,835,136 | $2,882,504 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,651,639 | $1,925,034 | $1,063,664 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,156,860 | $2,004,184 | $2,043,878 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mary's Place ($252,000), Overlake Medical Center Foundation ($200,000), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART CORPS SEATTLE, WA | ARTS EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BASTYR UNIVERSITY KENMORE, WA | NATURAL HEALTH EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| BATTLE GROUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS BATTLE GROUND, WA | EDUCATION | $6,200 |
| BELLEVUE LIFESPRING BELLEVUE, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $26,500 |
| BLAINE COUNTY CHARITABLE FUND HAILEY, ID | GREATEST NEED | $10,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF KING COUNTY SEATTLE, WA | YOUTH SERVICES | $10,000 |
| BROTHERS FOR LIFE SEATTLE, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $100,000 |
| BUSINESSES ENDING SLAVERY & TRAFFICKING SEATTLE, WA | SJC SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CAMP KOREY MOUNT VERNON, WA | YOUTH SERVICES | $50,000 |
| CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES OF WESTERN WASHINGTON SEATTLE, WA | HUMAN SERVICES | $100 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS ELLISON | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| MAUREEN SUE ELLISON | V. PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| ROBERT HURLBUT | FOUNDATION DIRECTOR | 40 | $152,140 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation administers the Ellison Education Grants program, which provides funding opportunities for educators. Grant applications for this program have been announced for multiple years, including 2024 and 2025.
Ellison Education Grants 2025Contact Information
Address: 400 112th Ave NE, Suite 230 Bellevue, WA 98004-5545
Telephone: 425-450-2300
Website: ellison-foundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ellison Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations primarily in Washington State. Their funding priorities include: • Education • Healthcare • Rental assistance • Human services • Children's needs • Artistic programs • Homelessness prevention
How do I apply for a grant from Ellison Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 64 grants totaling $2,191,104 in 2023. Recent notable grants include: • Cristo Rey Seattle High School: $250,000 (Education) • Seattle Children's Foundation: $200,000 (Homelessness Prevention) • Seattle Art Museum: $200,000 (Artistic Programs) **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $600,000.
Where does Ellison Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds nonprofit organizations in Washington State, with some activity in Idaho and Vermont.
What size grants does Ellison Foundation award?
In 2024, Ellison Foundation awarded 103 grants totaling $2.6M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ellison Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ellison Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ellison Foundation's EIN?
Ellison Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6557865. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ellison 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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