Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation
The Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation is a private family foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Incorporated in California in 1961 and granted tax-exempt status in June 1963, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit work across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.6M
-36.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.0M
+872.5% YoY
Grant Count
3
-81.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3.3M
+5086.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation reported a distributable amount of $717K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Mead Foundation supports organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the environment, the advancement of medical science, and other important social needs.
Environmental Focus: Environmental organizations supported by the foundation generally emphasize forestry, fisheries, and the sustainable use of natural resources in western North America.
Medical & Scientific Focus: Scientific and medical organizations supported by the foundation generally emphasize the endocrine system, and in particular diabetes and its complications.
Additional Areas: The foundation also supports youth education, advocacy, arts and culture, cancer research, and housing initiatives.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
& Range:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $5,000,000, with a median grant amount of $50,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in western North America, with particular emphasis on environmental work in this region. Recent grant activity indicates funding in Washington state and other areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $12,586,958 (as of fiscal year ending October 2024)
Annual Revenue: $1,665,507 (fiscal year 2024)
Annual Expenses: $10,145,074 (fiscal year 2024)
Total Giving (2024): $10,064,389
Net Assets: $12,586,958
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,586,958 | $19,884,681 | $19,849,866 |
| Revenue | $1,665,507 | $1,255,552 | $1,548,329 |
| Expenses | $10,145,074 | $1,050,074 | $1,268,045 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $10,064,389 | $1,107,235 | $1,101,331 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,608,314 | $1,200,146 | $1,474,380 |
| Distributable Amount | $717,081 | $1,021,927 | $1,080,905 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Philanthropic Trust ($5,000,000), Stifel Charitable ($2,500,000), Fidelity Charitable ($2,500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STIFEL CHARITABLE ST LOUIS, MO | DAF CONTRIBUTION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500,000 |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE BOSTON, MA | DAF CONTRIBUTION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500,000 |
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST JENKINTOWN, PA | DAF CONTRIBUTION FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Giles W Mead – President (5 hours/week)
- Calder M MacKay – CFO/Treasurer (3 hours/week)
- Parry Mead Murray – Vice President (0.3 hours/week)
- Richard N MacKay – Vice President (0.3 hours/week)
- Katherine Cone Keck – Director (0.3 hours/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILES W MEAD | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| PARRY MEAD MURRAY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.3 | — |
| RICHARD N MACKAY | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.3 | — |
| CALDER M MACKAY | CFO/TREASURER | 3 | — |
| KATHERINE CONE KECK | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1910 Fairview Ave E, Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98102-3698
Phone: 206-257-3587
Website: www.gileswmeadfoundation.org
EIN: 95-6040921
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation fund?
The Mead Foundation supports organizations dedicated to preserving and improving the environment, the advancement of medical science, and other important social needs. **Environmental Focus:** Environmental organizations supported by the foundation generally emphasize forestry, fisheries, and the sustainable use of natural resources in western North America. **Medical & Scientific Focus:** Scientific and medical organizations supported by the foundation generally emphasize the endocrine system,…
How do I apply for a grant from Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation?
**Grant Size & Range:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $5,000,000, with a median grant amount of $50,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation awarded approximately $10,064,389 in grants in 2024, with 51 grants awarded that year. **Giving Rate:** The foundation distributes approximately 62% of its assets annually. **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants have supported diverse initiatives including: • General support contributions averaging $3,333,333 • Youth education and science curriculum…
Where does Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in western North America, with particular emphasis on environmental work in this region. Recent grant activity indicates funding in Washington state and other areas.
What size grants does Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation award?
In 2024, Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation awarded 3 grants totaling $10.0M — an average of about $3.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation reported a distributable amount of $717K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation's EIN?
Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6040921. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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