Emily Waters Foundation
Emily Waters Foundation is a private foundation based in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Its 2022 filing shows grants to organizations including a documentary film organization, a university, a church, schools, and community organizations. The most recent filing on record is for 2022, with no filings since; the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Emily Waters Foundation at a glance
In short: Emily Waters Foundation gave $58K across 25 grants in 2022 (avg $2K), mostly in Ohio. 52% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $57,955
- +272.7% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 25
- +4.2% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $2,318
- +257.8% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $188,403
- -6.1% vs 2021
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (13 of 25, 2022)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (92% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Emily Waters Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2022 filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and an earlier profile describes it as accepting unsolicited requests. The filing listed Don P Brown as the contact, required no specific form, and stated that there were no restrictions on awards. These are instructions from the 2022 filing and should not be treated as current application guidance.
- Review Cycle
- The 2022 filing stated that there were no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2022 filing stated that there were no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Don P Brown
Mailing address: 10 Center Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Phone: (440) 247-9100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Emily Waters Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Chagrin Falls Documentary Film ($23K). Together the top 10 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio, 3% to Pennsylvania, 2% to Vermont, 2% to Colorado, and 1% to Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Emily Waters Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 13 of 25 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 40% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out 261% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $16K (2021) to $58K (2022). In 2022 it made 25 grants totaling $58K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chagrin Falls Documentary Film Chagrin Falls, OH | Operating | $22,540 |
| Bournmouth Univ United Kingdom, OH | Operating | $17,715 |
| Federated Church Chagrin Falls, OH | Operating | $2,000 |
| Carlee Houghtelin Foundation Beaver, PA | Operating | $1,750 |
| Shaker Schools Found Shaker HTS, OH | Operating | $1,300 |
| Case Western Reserve Univ Cleveland, OH | Operating | $1,300 |
| Chagrinfalls Subur Bank Vol Chagrin Falls, OH | Operating | $1,000 |
| Chagrin Falls Historical Soc Chagrin Falls, OH | Operating | $1,000 |
| The Turn North Olmsted, OH | Operating | $1,000 |
| Boulder Cty Wild Fire Fund Boulder, CO | Operating | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Emily Waters 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $188,403 | $9,849 | $104,015 | $57,955 | 25 | $59,015 | $40,269 | $22,622 |
| 2021 | $200,711 | $12,172 | $16,969 | $15,550 | 24 | $16,969 | $10,786 | $25,888 |
| 2020 | $208,032 | $12,375 | $55,253 | $35,848 | 21 | — | $31,090 | $23,389 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Emily Waters Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2022 grants include support for organizations working in a range of areas. The Turn describes its work as improving the health and wellness of people with physical disabilities through functional fitness and adaptive recreation. Chagrin Valley Jaycees says it conducts charitable civic service and community projects, while Chagrin Falls Meals on Wheels says it prepares and delivers meals to people unable to shop or cook for themselves. New Directions describes providing treatment to chemically dependent adolescents and their families.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $57,955. Grants ranged from $200 to $22,540, with a median grant of $750. The largest awards included $22,540 to Chagrin Falls Documentary Film and $17,715 to Bournmouth Univ. Other notable grants were $2,000 to Federated Church, $1,750 to Carlee Houghtelin Foundation, and $1,300 each to Shaker Schools Found and Case Western Reserve Univ. The Turn received $1,000; Chagrin Valley Jaycees received $600; Chagrin Falls Meals on Wheels Inc received $400; and New Directions Inc received $300.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing listed Don P Brown as executive.
Emily Waters Foundation's only listed officer is Don P. Brown, Executive on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2022 filing
Don P. Brown
Executive
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $45K (2022)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $45K, to Don P Brown (Exec).
Frequently asked questions about Emily Waters Foundation
How much does Emily Waters Foundation give each year?
Emily Waters Foundation gave $58K across 25 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $16K across 24 grants.
What is Emily Waters Foundation's typical grant size?
Emily Waters Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $750, and its average grant was $2,318, across 25 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Emily Waters Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Emily Waters Foundation give grants?
Emily Waters Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chagrin Falls, OH (8 grants), Cleveland, OH (3 grants) and Glover, VT (2 grants).
Does Emily Waters Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Emily Waters Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Emily Waters Foundation's largest grantees?
Emily Waters Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Chagrin Falls Documentary Film ($22,540), Bournmouth Univ ($17,715) and Federated Church ($2,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is Emily Waters Foundation?
Emily Waters Foundation reported $188K in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $23K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Emily Waters Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2022 grants include support for organizations working in a range of areas. The Turn describes its work as improving the health and wellness of people with physical disabilities through functional fitness and adaptive recreation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Emily Waters Foundation?
The 2022 filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations, and an earlier profile describes it as accepting unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Emily Waters Foundation's EIN?
Emily Waters Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1475809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Emily Waters Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Ohio
The Lozick Family Foundation
Pepper Pike, OH
The Lozick Family Foundation funds charitable organizations in areas including health care, education, housing, and community support, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Ohio and Florida. Its 334 grants ranged from $100 to $3,532,500, with a median of $5,250. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$278.7M
Grants
334
Total Given
$15.0M
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation
Sioux Falls, SD
The foundation funds community needs, supply-chain and logistics initiatives, and environmental sustainability, with a Twin Cities program focused on hunger, shelter, K–12 education, and workforce development. Its 2024 grants ranged from $750 to $2.69 million, with a median of $5,000; its Twin Cities program focuses on Minneapolis–St. Paul, while grants also went to organizations elsewhere. The Strategic Industry program is invitation-only, while the Twin Cities program has an application process.
Assets
$18.2M
Grants
87
Total Given
$4.0M
Columbus Foundation
Columbus, OH
The Columbus Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofit work, including arts, education, health, basic needs, neighborhoods, and capacity building, primarily in central Ohio. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,471, though amounts varied widely. Most grants are directed by donors and aren’t made through an application process, but some specific programs accept applications.
Assets
$2.8B
Grants
1,747
Total Given
$242.7M
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Cincinnati, OH
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds nonprofits working on education, housing, community and cultural vibrancy, and related regional needs, with responsive grants focused on its eight-county Greater Cincinnati service area. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though amounts vary widely; specific opportunities include awards of up to $35,000 for Resilient Communities and up to $450,000 through the Neighborhood Development Fund. It lists RFP and letter-of-intent opportunities but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,408
Total Given
$184.4M
The Cleveland Foundation
Cleveland, OH
The Cleveland Foundation funds education, human services, neighborhoods and housing, health, arts and culture, the environment, economic development, and other community priorities, primarily through grants to nonprofits in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from about $5,000 to $17.5 million, with a median of about $30,700. It accepts applications year-round through its standard grant process, with deadlines determining which cycle an application enters.
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
1,016
Total Given
$184.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Ohio
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Emily Waters 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.
Emily Waters Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?