Media Empathy Foundation
Media Empathy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $24K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $12K.
Media Empathy Foundation at a glance
In short: Media Empathy Foundation gave $12K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $11,800
- +111.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,933
- +40.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,200
- Total assets
- $23,969
- -50.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Media Empathy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The New Group ($6K). Together the top 3 received $12K.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Media Empathy Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2024) to $12K (2025). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The New Group New York, NY | General Support | $5,500 |
| Arthur Miller Foundation New York, NY | General Support | $5,200 |
| Fire Island Pines Historical Association Bellport, NY | General Support | $1,100 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $23,969 | $3,029 | $25,412 | $11,800 | 3 | $25,412 | $1,483 |
| 2024 | $48,352 | $6,370 | $67,672 | $5,590 | 2 | $67,672 | $3,144 |
| 2023 | $109,654 | $385,000 | $372,685 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $97,339 | $331,112 | $241,226 | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Media Empathy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Media Empathy Foundation is led by Helene Ellison, President & Director on every filing since 2022; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helene Ellison
President & Director
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Paseornek
Chair of the Board & Director
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Ricci
Director
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Sloan
Director
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Magsamen
Chief Knowledge Officer & Director
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Mahshie
Director
On filings since 2023
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Orlando Reece
Director
On filings since 2023
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Barrett
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Max Monahan- Ellison
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Russell H. Ellison
Chief Scientific Officer
Chief Scientific Officer & Director → Chief Scientific Officer, 2023
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Media Empathy Foundation
How much does Media Empathy Foundation give each year?
Media Empathy Foundation gave $12K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6K across 2 grants.
What is Media Empathy Foundation's typical grant size?
Media Empathy Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,200, and its average grant was $3,933, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Media Empathy Foundation give grants?
Media Empathy Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Media Empathy Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Media Empathy Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Media Empathy Foundation?
Media Empathy Foundation reported $24K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $25K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Media Empathy Foundation?
Media Empathy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, based in New York, NY. It holds $24K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Media Empathy Foundation's EIN?
Media Empathy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3207447. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
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