Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including animal rescue, care, and adoption organizations.
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust gave $315K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state South Carolina. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $315,000
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,750
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,500
- Total assets
- $4,178,402
- -7.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (2 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (42% 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 Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1650 Market Street Suite 4000, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 419-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Almost Home Wellness Center ($45K). Together the top 10 received $253K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 102 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in several states. South Carolina received 42% of the total, followed by New York at 17%, Georgia at 16%, California at 13%, and New Jersey at 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 20 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 127% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $272K (2021) to $358K (2022). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $315K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Almost Home Wellness Center Aiken, SC | Medical Expenses | $45,000 |
| The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA Laguna Hills, CA | Unrestricted | $40,000 |
| No Dogs Left Behind Inc New York, NY | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Muva Rufferz Rescue Inc Marion, SC | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Home for Good Dog Rescue Inc Berkeley Heights, NJ | Medical Expenses | $22,000 |
| Paws of War Inc Nesconset, NY | War-Torn Pups and Cats | $20,000 |
| Big Oaks Rescue Farm Hodges, SC | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Friends of Screven County Animals Sylvania, GA | Unrestricted | $18,000 |
| Helping Hands Humane Society Inc Crawfordville, GA | Unrestricted | $17,000 |
| Palmetto Animal Welfare Services Inc Aiken, SC | Unrestricted | $16,000 |
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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 | $4,178,402 | $7,980 | $366,585 | $315,000 | 20 | $341,138 | $78,065 | $269,593 |
| 2024 | $4,536,132 | $56,317 | $336,488 | $283,500 | 18 | $308,689 | $100,786 | $260,737 |
| 2023 | $4,815,729 | $313,423 | $337,445 | $287,000 | 22 | $316,316 | $293,488 | $236,037 |
| 2022 | $4,841,107 | $218,849 | $407,925 | $358,000 | 22 | $379,608 | $197,398 | $248,848 |
| 2021 | $5,031,823 | $351,228 | $319,700 | $271,500 | 20 | $295,117 | $328,644 | $270,529 |
| 2020 | $5,000,995 | $5,016,607 | $15,600 | — | — | — | $16,370 | $20,621 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $270K 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 own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included unrestricted support, medical expenses, and support designated for “WAR-TORN PUPS AND CATS.”
Among its grantees, Almost Home Wellness Center describes its mission as managing a state-of-the-art dog rescue facility in Aiken, South Carolina. No Dogs Left Behind describes its mission as providing animal rescue, care, and re-adoption into loving homes. Home for Good Dog Rescue says it rescues, nurtures, and adopts dogs of all breeds. Paws of War describes work rescuing, training, and placing shelter dogs with veterans and first responders affected by war. Sweet Onion Animal Protection Society describes programs to prevent unnecessary euthanasia, educate the community about spay/neuter, and provide low-cost sterilization.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $315,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $45,000, with a median of $15,500.
Notable 2025 grants included $45,000 to Almost Home Wellness Center for medical expenses; $40,000 to The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA, unrestricted; $30,000 to No Dogs Left Behind, unrestricted; $25,000 to Muva Rufferz Rescue, unrestricted; $22,000 to Home for Good Dog Rescue for medical expenses; and $20,000 to Paws of War for “WAR-TORN PUPS AND CATS.” Big Dog Haven reported receiving $5,000 in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists THE GLENMEDE TRUST CO N A as trustee.
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's only listed officer is The Glenmede Trust CO N A, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
The Glenmede Trust CO N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$41K (2021) → $49K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $49K, to The Glenmede Trust Co N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust
How much does Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust give each year?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust gave $315K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $284K across 18 grants.
What is Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $15,500, and its average grant was $15,750, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust that year got $18K on average.
Where does Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust give grants?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's top state is South Carolina, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Georgia (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Aiken, SC (2 grants).
Does Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Almost Home Wellness Center ($45,000), The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust USA ($40,000) and No Dogs Left Behind Inc ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust reported $4.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $341K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $270K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation’s own mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants included unrestricted support, medical expenses, and support designated for “WAR-TORN PUPS AND CATS.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's EIN?
Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-6377669. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/empty-cages-forever-charitable-trust-morg_14045680f1664796b526e8a7a79cb984
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_856377669_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/empty-cages-forever-charitable-trust-morg_14045680f1664796b526e8a7a79cb984},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Empty Cages Forever Charitable Trust'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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