Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust
The Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust is a private independent foundation designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, established in Buffalo, New York. The Trust was created by Helen Ellis following the death of her husband Paul to provide funding for causes important to them. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization serving the Western New York region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.0M
-4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$375K
+16.5% YoY
Grant Count
32
+52.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-23.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust invests in organizations that provide services to individuals in Niagara and Erie Counties, New York, with particular interest in the Black Rock/Riverside area. The foundation especially seeks to improve the lives of children and senior adults experiencing challenges.
Funding Priorities:
- Education programs
- Food insecurity initiatives
- Respite care services
- Beautification of public green space (in honor of founder Helen Ellis)
Legacy Organizations: The Trust identified three organizations for ongoing support: Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Kenmore Mercy Hospital, and Hospice Buffalo.
Grantmaking
Applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry through the Trust's online form. Grant inquiries directed to trustee email addresses will not be considered.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust focuses on Niagara and Erie Counties in New York State, with particular emphasis on the Black Rock/Riverside neighborhood in north Buffalo.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3.99 million
- Total Liabilities: $12
- Revenue: $269,000
- Expenses: $446,000
Historical Assets: The Trust reported assets of $6 million in earlier documentation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,991,052 | $4,171,868 | $4,365,596 |
| Revenue | $269,121 | $203,486 | $306,715 |
| Expenses | $446,352 | $386,093 | $465,426 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $375,000 | $322,000 | $400,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $117,439 | $116,030 | $91,155 |
| Distributable Amount | $317,511 | $275,524 | $282,116 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Mary Ann Aures
- John Bartlo
- William Pictor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN BARTLO | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5,873 |
| WILLIAM R PICTOR | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5,873 |
| MARY ANN AURES | TRUSTEE | 1 | $5,873 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Paul & Helen Ellis Charitable Trust on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities