Joseph Elias Charitable Trust
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It made 19 grants totaling $71,479 in filing year 2025, supporting organizations that include Pittsburgh-area religious, community, and social-service organizations.
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Joseph Elias Charitable Trust gave $71K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $71,479
- +3.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 19
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,762
- -7.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $218
- Total assets
- $117,903
- +36.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (3 of 19, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% 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 Joseph Elias Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists a general request with no specific format, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards. It states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that there is no deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing states that there is no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Sylvia Elias Co Trust
Mailing address: PO Box 2812, Pittsburgh, PA 15230
Phone: (412) 963-1306
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph Elias Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Federation of Greater PGH ($52K). Together the top 10 received $71K.
Grant Size Distribution
78 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 78 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients, with less than 1% to Illinois and less than 1% to the District of Columbia. However, the itemized grants also list a $200 grant to Israel Cancer Research Fund in Northfield, Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joseph Elias Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 19 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $28; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $30 first-time, $375 repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $69K (2020) to $77K (2019). In 2025 it made 19 grants totaling $71K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Greater PGH Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $52,000 |
| Congregation Beth Shalom Pittsburgh, PA | Funding general working capital operations, educational programs and religious activities | $10,916 |
| Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry Pittsburgh, PA | Funding Purchase of Food for the Needy | $3,000 |
| Jewish National Fund Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $1,800 |
| Jewish Association on Aging Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $1,000 |
| Children's Institute Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $500 |
| Congregation Gemilas Chesed White Oak, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations and Religious Activities | $500 |
| Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $500 |
| Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Funding Educational Programs | $250 |
| Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle Pittsburgh, PA | Funding General Working Capital Operations | $218 |
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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 | $117,903 | $103,958 | $72,317 | $71,479 | 19 | $71,775 | $2,674 | $2,444 |
| 2024 | $86,262 | $4,644 | $70,068 | $69,149 | 17 | $69,149 | $3,812 | $5,139 |
| 2023 | $161,830 | $7,535 | $72,425 | $71,180 | 13 | $71,180 | $6,290 | $8,524 |
| 2022 | $226,720 | $-982 | $72,259 | $69,795 | 12 | $69,795 | — | $11,570 |
| 2021 | $299,961 | $59,485 | $69,211 | $69,130 | 17 | $69,130 | $59,485 | $14,108 |
| 2020 | $309,687 | $5,829 | $69,193 | $69,102 | 16 | — | $5,829 | $18,677 |
| 2019 | $373,051 | $7,250 | $76,993 | $76,869 | 20 | — | $7,250 | $19,027 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph Elias Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a Jewish federation, congregations, a community food pantry, senior services, and an animal shelter.
The Jewish Association on Aging, which received $1,000, describes its mission as helping Pittsburgh-area seniors through residential lifestyles, health services, and home care, while honoring and enhancing older adults’ lives through care consistent with Jewish values and tradition. Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, which received $25, describes itself as a no-kill nonprofit animal shelter in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust made 19 grants totaling $71,479. Grant amounts ranged from $25 to $52,000, with a median of $218.
The largest grants included $52,000 to Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for general working capital operations; $10,916 to Congregation Beth Shalom for general working capital operations, educational programs, and religious activities; and $3,000 to Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry to purchase food for people in need. Other grants included $1,800 to Jewish National Fund, $1,000 to Jewish Association on Aging, and $500 each to Children’s Institute, Congregation Gemilas Chesed, and Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Norman L. Elias, Sylvia M. Elias, Richard S. Elias, and Andrea R. Elias as trustees.
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Norman L. Elias
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia M. Elias
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrea R. Elias
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard S. Elias
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Joseph Elias Charitable Trust
How much does Joseph Elias Charitable Trust give each year?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust gave $71K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $69K across 17 grants.
What is Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $218, and its average grant was $3,762, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph Elias Charitable Trust that year got $28 on average.
Where does Joseph Elias Charitable Trust give grants?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (15 grants).
Does Joseph Elias Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish Federation of Greater PGH ($52,000), Congregation Beth Shalom ($10,916) and Squirrel Hill Community Food Pantry ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph Elias Charitable Trust?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust reported $118K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joseph Elias Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a Jewish federation, congregations, a community food pantry, senior services, and an animal shelter. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph Elias Charitable Trust?
The 2024 filing lists a general request with no specific format, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's EIN?
Joseph Elias Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6284538. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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 June 22, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph Elias Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-elias-charitable-trust-morg_993a5e21985a43a3865035497a5aa1fe
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256284538_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph Elias Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-elias-charitable-trust-morg_993a5e21985a43a3865035497a5aa1fe},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Joseph Elias 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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