Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation
The Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing describes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, with listed grants supporting organizations in areas including the arts, health, education, and human services.
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation at a glance
In short: Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation gave $114K across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 12% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $114,018
- +13.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,327
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,644,241
- -1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (6 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (78% 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 Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 237 South 18Th Street Apt 8-B, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 732-8486
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Multiple Sclerosis Society ($11K). Together the top 10 received $76K.
Grant Size Distribution
254 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 254 grants of 254 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania recipients received 78% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 15%, Washington, DC at 3%, Massachusetts at 2%, and Illinois at 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 49 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $642; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $750 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2021) to $114K (2025). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $114K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society New York, NY | Annual Drives | $10,500 |
| Ballet X Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $10,000 |
| Curtis Institute of Music Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $10,000 |
| Phialdelphia Orchestra Association Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $10,000 |
| Phila Chamber Music Society Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $10,000 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $5,100 |
| Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $5,000 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Philadelphia, PA | Annual Drives | $5,000 |
| The Parkinson Council Bala Cynwyd, PA | Annual Drives | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation?
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 | $2,644,241 | $100,055 | $134,326 | $114,018 | 49 | $131,340 | $97,069 | $139,522 |
| 2024 | $2,688,372 | $444,737 | $125,669 | $100,285 | 48 | $122,621 | $441,689 | $130,967 |
| 2023 | $2,373,752 | $304,365 | $124,843 | $98,651 | 49 | $119,592 | $299,114 | $122,368 |
| 2022 | $2,196,230 | $162,775 | $133,502 | $109,075 | 55 | $130,528 | $159,801 | $124,031 |
| 2021 | $2,172,574 | $319,392 | $110,115 | $85,461 | 53 | $107,692 | $316,969 | $128,795 |
| 2020 | $1,963,297 | $55,579 | $116,413 | $92,981 | 61 | — | $51,143 | $106,132 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $140K 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 include support for arts organizations such as Ballet X, Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as health, education, and human-service organizations.
Grantee descriptions illustrate this range: the National Multiple Sclerosis Society says it works to cure MS and empower people affected by the disease; Curtis Institute of Music describes its work training gifted young musicians; and Project HOME says it works to help people break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $114,018. Grants ranged from $75 to $10,500, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest grants included $10,500 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; $10,000 each to Ballet X, Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society; and $5,100 to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. The listed purposes for these grants were “annual drives.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Peggy B. Wachs is listed as an officer on the 2025 filing.
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's only listed officer is Peggy B. Wachs, Officer on every filing since 2020 (uncompensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peggy B. Wachs
Officer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation
How much does Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation give each year?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation gave $114K across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $100K across 48 grants.
What is Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's typical grant size?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,327, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation that year got $642 on average.
Where does Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation give grants?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (34 grants), New York, NY (6 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 49 grants with a stated purpose on Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Annual Drives" (49 grants).
Who are Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's largest grantees?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Multiple Sclerosis Society ($10,500), Ballet X ($10,000) and Curtis Institute of Music ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $131K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $140K (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 Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for arts organizations such as Ballet X, Curtis Institute of Music, the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as well as health, education, and human-service organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's EIN?
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6802696. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Peggy & Ellis Wachs 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/peggy-and-ellis-wachs-foundation-morg_f28b08000ffc4d75be65096b971291e5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236802696_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Peggy \& Ellis Wachs Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/peggy-and-ellis-wachs-foundation-morg_f28b08000ffc4d75be65096b971291e5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation'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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