Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc
The Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc. is a private foundation based in Spencertown, New York. It upholds the philanthropic legacy of artist Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), supporting causes he cared about, including the arts, historic preservation, environmental conservation, and education.
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $41,406,593
- +1.8% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $1,620,920
- -36.0% vs 2023
- Qualifying distributions (2024)
- $22,621
- -99.5% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $277,011
- -94.3% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant awards are Board directed.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 220, Spencertown, NY 12165
Phone: (518) 392-5326
Website: https://ellsworthkelly.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 48 grants of 90 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation supports cultural preservation initiatives involving museums in the U.S. and Europe and the restoration of world heritage sites around the globe. It also supports local community groups working to conserve and protect resources in Columbia County, New York, where Kelly lived and worked for nearly 40 years.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
83%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 29 of 35 grantees (83%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $492K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 3% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 121% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 1% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2020) to $5.2M (2022). In 2023 it made 36 grants totaling $4.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | Gift of Artwork to Enhance Museum's Collection | $2,500,000 |
| Museum of Morden Art New York, NY | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Museum of Contemprary Art New York, NY | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| San Fransico Musum of Modern Art San Francisco, CA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Addison Gallery of American Art Andover, MA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Arkansas Museum of Art Little Rock, AR | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore, MD | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Buffalo AKG Art Museum Buffalo, NY | General Purpose | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,406,593 | $1,620,920 | $277,011 | — | — | $22,621 | $1,411,995 | $2,138,956 |
| 2023 | $40,656,072 | $2,533,614 | $4,878,855 | $4,460,000 | 36 | $4,467,216 | $740,058 | $1,926,218 |
| 2022 | $42,052,669 | $9,343,097 | $5,750,686 | $5,161,025 | 21 | $5,166,189 | $9,191,753 | $2,004,583 |
| 2021 | $36,288,485 | $8,813,960 | $2,526,176 | $2,250,000 | 11 | $2,251,979 | $8,577,680 | $2,342,691 |
| 2020 | $32,706,867 | $1,562,172 | $2,302,802 | $2,020,000 | 22 | — | $1,288,020 | $2,201,348 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to continue Kelly’s philanthropic legacy through support for the arts, historic preservation, environmental conservation, and education. Its cultural preservation work includes supporting the care, conservation, and exhibition of modern and contemporary artworks in museums in the U.S. and Europe, as well as restoration of world heritage sites.
The 2023 grantees listed include art museums and an art and design school. For example, The Phillips Collection describes its work as presenting art and maintaining educational, academic, and public programs. The Rhode Island School of Design says its mission includes educating students and the public in the creation and appreciation of art and design.
Grantmaking
The Foundation’s 2023 filing reports $4,460,000 in grants across 36 grants. Its 2022 filing reports $5,161,025 across 21 grants. The 2024 filing lists no grants. The Foundation does not publish a typical award size in the information available here.
Among the 2023 recipients listed are The Phillips Collection, Milwaukee Art Museum Inc., Seattle Art Museum, Rhode Island School of Design, Dallas Museum of Art, and Baltimore Museum of Art, each of which received $50,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jack Shear as president; Emily Pulitzer and Roberta Bernstein as board members; and Mary Anne Lee as treasurer and secretary.
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc is led by Jack Shear, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jack Shear
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Pulitzer
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roberta Bernstein
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Anne Lee
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasureu & Secretary, 2023
Treasureu & Secretary → Treasurer & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc
How large is Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc?
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc reported $41.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (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 Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s stated purpose is to continue Kelly’s philanthropic legacy through support for the arts, historic preservation, environmental conservation, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc?
The Foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc make grants?
The Foundation supports cultural preservation initiatives involving museums in the U.S. and Europe and the restoration of world heritage sites around the globe. It also supports local community groups working to conserve and protect resources in Columbia County, New York, where Kelly lived and worked for nearly 40 years.
What is Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3132379. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Ellsworth Kelly Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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