Elster Forbes Foundation
The Elster Forbes Foundation is a private foundation based in Ballwin, Missouri. Its family says it supports charitable, educational, and scientific endeavors, with a particular emphasis on mental illness and making a measurable difference in people’s lives.
Elster Forbes Foundation at a glance
In short: Elster Forbes Foundation gave $342K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $29K), top state Massachusetts. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $342,000
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,500
- -18.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $17,500
- Total assets
- $7,075,635
- +2.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (29% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elster Forbes Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 320 Meadowbrook Country Club Est, Ballwin, MO 63011
Phone: (336) 416-0817
Website: https://www.elsterforbesfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elster Forbes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Michael J Fox Foundation ($82K). Together the top 10 received $332K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 51 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Massachusetts (29%), New York (24%), Washington, DC (15%), Virginia (15%), and North Carolina (9%). The listed recipients also include organizations in California, South Carolina, Texas, and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Elster Forbes Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $288K (2023) to $390K (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $342K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michael J Fox Foundation New York, NY | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $82,000 |
| Cure Alzheimer Fund Wellesley Hills, MA | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $50,000 |
| Recovery Institute of MGH Boston, MA | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $50,000 |
| Feeding America Washington, DC | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $50,000 |
| Mental Health America Alexandria, VA | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $50,000 |
| Babies Need Bottoms Asheville, NC | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $25,000 |
| Not One More Vet San Jose, CA | To advance organizations charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| SCVets Care Foundation Columbia, SC | to promote animal welfare and the human-animal-veterinary bond in South Carolina. | $5,000 |
| Asheville Buncombe Com Christ Minis Arden, NC | To further medical mission | $5,000 |
| NAMI Central Texas Austin, TX | To support mental health initiatives | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Elster Forbes Foundation?
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 | $7,075,635 | $570,084 | $386,401 | $342,000 | 12 | $342,000 | $525,683 | $385,511 |
| 2024 | $6,891,952 | $504,285 | $385,918 | $350,500 | 10 | $350,500 | $468,867 | $345,373 |
| 2023 | $6,773,585 | $178,221 | $295,001 | $287,500 | 8 | $287,671 | $45,124 | $348,297 |
| 2022 | $7,474,708 | $98,300 | $419,309 | $377,500 | 12 | $377,500 | $149,747 | $346,075 |
| 2021 | $7,138,707 | $735,104 | $359,487 | $322,500 | 9 | $322,500 | $685,203 | $373,930 |
| 2020 | $6,763,090 | $67,533 | $423,082 | $390,000 | 7 | — | $106,230 | $366,743 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elster Forbes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $386K for 2025 — 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 website describes its goal as improving the lives of others, especially people affected by mental illness. It highlights mental health initiatives, brain research, and advocacy related to education and the civil and legal rights of people with mental illness. It also says it supports organizations working on disaster aid, homelessness, hunger, children’s welfare, and animal welfare, including local organizations with a proven record of community service.
Examples of grantees’ work include Mental Health America’s efforts to advance mental health through public education, research, advocacy, and services; Babies Need Bottoms’ diaper distribution and community partnerships in Western North Carolina; and NAMI Central Texas’s support, education, and advocacy for people affected by serious mental illness. Other 2025 grantees include organizations supporting veterinary professionals’ mental wellness and people with Parkinson’s disease.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $342,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $82,000, with a median of $17,500. Its largest reported grants were $82,000 to the Michael J Fox Foundation and $50,000 each to Cure Alzheimer Fund, Recovery Institute of MGH, Feeding America, and Mental Health America. Other reported awards included $25,000 to Babies Need Bottoms and $10,000 to Not One More Vet.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jeanine J Elster as Director, Patricia Forbes as Vice Chair, and Allen D Elster as Secretary Treasurer.
Elster Forbes Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeanine J Elster
Director
Director Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allen D Elster
Secretary Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Forbes
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Elster Forbes Foundation
How much does Elster Forbes Foundation give each year?
Elster Forbes Foundation gave $342K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $351K across 10 grants.
What is Elster Forbes Foundation's typical grant size?
Elster Forbes Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $28,500, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elster Forbes Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Elster Forbes Foundation give grants?
Elster Forbes Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (24%) and District of Columbia (15%).
Who are Elster Forbes Foundation's largest grantees?
Elster Forbes Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Michael J Fox Foundation ($82,000), Cure Alzheimer Fund ($50,000) and Recovery Institute of MGH ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elster Forbes Foundation?
Elster Forbes Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $342K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $386K (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 Elster Forbes Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its goal as improving the lives of others, especially people affected by mental illness. It highlights mental health initiatives, brain research, and advocacy related to education and the civil and legal rights of people with mental illness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elster Forbes Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 ↑
What is Elster Forbes Foundation's EIN?
Elster Forbes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0566645. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Elster Forbes Foundation 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elster Forbes Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Missouri
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Greater Horizons
Kansas City, MO
Greater Horizons distributes donor-advised fund grants to eligible U.S. charities and institutions across a wide range of causes; international organizations may also be supported after additional due diligence. In 2024, its grants had a median of $15,000, though amounts varied widely. Grants are requested by fund holders, and no general application process for organizations seeking funding is described.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
3,282
Total Given
$212.2M
St Louis Community Foundation Inc
St. Louis, MO
The foundation supports nonprofits through its own community priorities and funds it administers for private and family foundations, including economic mobility, youth connections, and a range of other donor-directed causes. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,050 to $4 million, with a median of $20,000; community-impact funding focuses mainly on high-need ZIP codes in Missouri and Illinois, though grants also go elsewhere. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests; applicants should check each funder’s criteria and deadlines.
Assets
$494.4M
Grants
839
Total Given
$63.9M
Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Kansas City, MO
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations and community projects, with 2024 grants typically small (median $1,500) but ranging from $200 to $60,500. Most funding went to Missouri, followed by Kansas and Illinois, with smaller amounts elsewhere; it says applicants should contact the program director and provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$35.0M
Grants
645
Total Given
$2.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Missouri
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elster Forbes Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elster-forbes-foundation-morg_e5e7fb972ddc4fd7ae10f546bd75ad8a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320566645_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elster Forbes Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elster-forbes-foundation-morg_e5e7fb972ddc4fd7ae10f546bd75ad8a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Elster Forbes Foundation'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.
Elster Forbes Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?