Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation
The Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Its board approved winding up the foundation’s affairs and dissolving it in a September 2023 resolution; the foundation’s filing narrative says it made multiple distributions from sources other than current income during fiscal year 2024 as part of that process.
Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation at a glance
- Total assets
- $13,381,245
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $1,067,111
- -35.9% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $59,372
- -99.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $112,727
- -98.9% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its board approved a plan to wind up and dissolve the foundation, so this policy should not be taken as an indication that applications are currently being considered.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1910 Fairview Avenue East 200, Seattle, WA 98102
Phone: (206) 257-3587
Website: https://www.gileswmeadfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 52 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Seattle. Its listed 2024 grantees are based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis, Missouri; the available information does not establish a broader geographic funding focus.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation gives
- Giving grew 856% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 10% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $755K (2020) to $10.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $10.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | DAF Contribution for General Support | $5,000,000 |
| 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 |
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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 | $13,381,245 | $1,067,111 | $112,727 | — | — | $59,372 | $1,035,796 | $611,612 |
| 2024 | $12,586,958 | $1,665,507 | $10,145,074 | $10,000,000 | 3 | $10,064,389 | $1,608,314 | $717,081 |
| 2023 | $19,884,681 | $1,255,552 | $1,050,074 | $1,028,288 | 16 | $1,107,235 | $1,200,146 | $1,021,927 |
| 2022 | $19,849,866 | $1,548,329 | $1,268,045 | $1,022,550 | 15 | $1,101,331 | $1,474,380 | $1,080,905 |
| 2021 | $24,500,639 | $1,499,943 | $931,772 | $1,045,500 | 18 | — | $1,432,350 | $1,158,391 |
| 2020 | $19,898,157 | $810,773 | $956,764 | $754,745 | 13 | — | $725,034 | $966,200 |
| 2019 | $20,561,595 | $1,528,614 | $1,183,136 | $1,004,960 | 31 | — | $1,460,534 | $987,676 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation reported a distributable amount of $612K for 2025 — 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 foundation mission statement or specific funding focus areas are provided. Among the 2024 grantees, National Philanthropic Trust describes its mission as increasing philanthropy by providing expertise to donors, foundations, and financial institutions. Stifel Charitable Inc. describes its mission as encouraging charitable giving across the United States and making grants to public charities and educational institutions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported three grants totaling $10,000,000. National Philanthropic Trust received $5,000,000, and Stifel Charitable Inc. received $2,500,000. The recipient and amount for the third grant are not identified in the available information. In 2023, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $1,028,288.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Giles W Mead as president; Parry Mead Murray and Richard N Mackay as vice presidents; Calder M Mackay as CFO/treasurer; and Katherine Cone Keck as director.
Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation is led by Giles W. Mead, President since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Giles W. Mead
President
Secretary → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Cone Keck
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Calder M. Mackay
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Parry Mead Murray
Vice President
President → Vice President, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard N. Mackay
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jane W. Mead (2019) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation
How large is Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation?
Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation reported $13.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $612K (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 Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement or specific funding focus areas are provided. Among the 2024 grantees, National Philanthropic Trust describes its mission as increasing philanthropy by providing expertise to donors, foundations, and financial institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation?
The foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Giles W & Elise G Mead Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Seattle. Its listed 2024 grantees are based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis, Missouri; the available information does not establish a broader geographic funding focus.
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 2019–2025.
Does Giles W & Elise G Mead 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 19, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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