Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller
The Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Established in 1994 to perpetuate the Millers’ philanthropic legacy, it focuses on the Pacific Northwest and primarily supports civic and cultural institutions serving the general public, with an emphasis on gardens, horticulture, and the region’s history.
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller at a glance
In short: Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller gave $849K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in Washington. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $848,579
- +3.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $53,036
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,250
- Total assets
- $17,026,882
- -7.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (4 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (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 Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller
- How to Apply
-
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and meet at least one of these criteria: be located in Washington and have been supported by the Millers during their lifetimes; be specifically mentioned in Mrs. Miller’s will; or seek support for the study, research, and acquisition of books and papers relating to Northwest history. The foundation’s website directs applicants to submit proposals by email and in paper form.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists April 1 and October 1 deadlines for proposals considered at the spring and fall board meetings, typically held in May and November. The next listed deadline, October 1, 2026, is upcoming.
- Deadline
- The website lists April 1 and October 1 deadlines for proposals considered at the spring and fall board meetings,…
- Contact
Application contact: Bill Zook
Mailing address: PO Box 33248, Seattle, WA 98133
Phone: (360) 682-5769
Website: https://millercharitablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller
Who Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Elisabeth Miller Botanical Garden T ($359K). Together the top 10 received $801K.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 94 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it focuses on the Pacific Northwest. All grant dollars reported in its 2025 filing went to recipients in Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 14 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $31K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 $641K (2020) to $849K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $849K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Elisabeth Miller Botanical Garden T Seattle, WA | Basic operations support for elisabeth c miller botanical gardens: the following amounts (totaling $218,967.96) were granted on the following dates $15,676.01 on 01/15/25; $2,571.32 on 01/23/25; $18,247.33 each on 02/14/25, 03/14/25, 04/15/25, 05/15/25, 06/15/25, 07/15/25, 08/15/25, 09/15/25, 10/15/25, 11/14/25, and 12/15/25.great plant picks program: the following amounts (totaling $106,550.03) were granted on the following dates for support of the great plant picks program: $8,879.16 on 01/15/25; $8,879.17 each on 02/14/25, 03/14/25, 04/15/25, 05/15/25, 06/13/25, 07/15/25, 08/15/25, 09/15/25, 10/15/25, 11/14/25, and 12/15/25.the following amounts (totaling $8,014.14) were granted on the following dates for miscellaneous capital improvements: $4,995.73 on 02/25/25; $529.80 on 07/10/25; and $2,490.61 on 10/09/25.the following amounts (totaling $25,000.00) were granted in the following dates for support of the 2025 elisabeth c miller lecture: $1,000.00 on 08/12/25; $7,662.49 on 8/28/25; | $358,534 |
| University of Wa Miller Library Seattle, WA | Elisabth c. Miller library. The following amounts were granted on the following dates for basic support of the library: $33,750.00 each on 02/04/25, 04/16/25, 7/14/25, and 10/27/25 for a total of $135,000.00. In addition, on 11/25/25 a grant of $8,895.00 was made to the library ultimately for its basic support, in that the grant reimbursed the library for the university of washington gift assessment applicable to all grant support provided by the foundation to the library in 2025. Finally, the following amounts were granted on the following dates for use by the library - at its discretion - for basic support and/or for addition to the principal of the elisabeth c. Miller library endowment: $22,492.00 on 4/18/25; $3,214.00 on 7/14/25; $7,273.00 on 10/27/25; and $2,021.00 on 11/25/25, for a total of $35,000.00. | $178,895 |
| University of Wa School of Law Seattle, WA | Expansion of Experiential Learning Across Immigration Law Contexts | $60,000 |
| Arboretum Foundation Seattle, WA | Miller seed vault:wa rare plant care & conservation program | $41,000 |
| Bloedel Reserve Bainbridge Island, WA | Restoring, replanting, and maintaining certain indoor displays and outdoor landscapes | $30,000 |
| Northwest Horticultural Society Seattle, WA | Scholarships for Undergraduate Horticulture Studies Students | $25,000 |
| Islandwood Bainbridge Island, WA | "Cultivating Stories" Project | $25,000 |
| Arcs Foundation Inc Seattle Chapter Seattle, WA | Scholarship for a Science Graduate Student | $22,500 |
| The Trust for Public Land Seattle, WA | Washington Parks for People Program | $20,000 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | College of the environment earthlab 2026 summer internship program | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller?
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 | $17,026,882 | $1,651,494 | $974,764 | $848,579 | 16 | $884,837 | $1,572,982 | $923,136 |
| 2024 | $18,356,891 | $830,203 | $940,319 | $817,390 | 17 | $854,983 | $752,955 | $896,960 |
| 2023 | $16,377,421 | $712,773 | $928,552 | $813,614 | 19 | $853,145 | $643,386 | $811,036 |
| 2022 | $16,632,012 | $411,227 | $870,731 | $762,875 | 25 | $798,407 | $353,415 | $847,613 |
| 2021 | $17,113,768 | $1,525,537 | $942,610 | $825,849 | 17 | $866,490 | $1,461,554 | $960,239 |
| 2020 | $16,511,382 | $853,018 | $755,001 | $641,129 | 16 | — | $791,068 | $848,701 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller reported a distributable amount of $923K 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
The foundation’s stated purpose is to continue the charitable giving of Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Its website identifies ongoing priority support for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, including Great Plant Picks and the Miller Lecture; the University of Washington’s Elisabeth C. Miller Library; and the Miller Seed Vault and related Washington Rare Plant Care and Conservation program operated by Seattle Botanic Gardens.
The 2025 grants also included support for scholarships, environmental learning, public parks, national park history, and experiential learning in immigration law. Among the grantees, the Arboretum Foundation describes its mission as promoting, protecting, and enhancing the Washington Park Arboretum. IslandWood says it helps children and adults develop lifelong learning and environmental and community stewardship through hands-on learning. BlackPast.org describes its mission as creating an online encyclopedia of African American and global African history.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $848,579. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $358,534, with a median grant of $21,250. The largest grant was $358,534 to the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, for general operations, Great Plant Picks, capital improvements, and the Miller Lecture. Other notable awards included $178,895 to the University of Washington’s Miller Library for basic support and possible addition to its endowment; $60,000 to the University of Washington School of Law for experiential learning in immigration law; and $41,000 to the Arboretum Foundation for its Miller Seed Vault: Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation program.
The foundation’s website says proposals need not be elaborate but should include evidence of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, an indication that an eligibility requirement has been met, a project description and requested amount, a project budget, a liaison’s name and contact information, a list of officers and governing board members, and the organization’s annual report and most recent financial statement. Proposals are to be submitted electronically and in paper form. The website says the foundation typically does not make grants for general operating purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Geoffrey Revelle as president, Frank Minton as vice president, Edward Ted Andrews as treasurer, and John Wm Bill Zook Jr as secretary. It lists Stephen D Fisher, Allison Parker, Susan Nevler, Marka Waechter, Carol Lewis, and Ellen Look as board members.
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller is led by Geoffrey Revelle, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Geoffrey Revelle
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Wm Bill Zook Jr.
Secretary
Secretary & Manager → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $30K (2025)
Edward Ted Andrews
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Minton
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marka Waechter
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan Nevler
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Lewis
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Look
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen D. Fisher
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Parker
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: C. David Hughbanks (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Malcom Moore (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Douglas Bayley (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Elisabeth Betty Bottler (2020) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to John Wm Bill Zook Jr (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller
How much does Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller give each year?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller gave $849K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $817K across 17 grants.
What is Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's typical grant size?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's median grant in 2025 was $21,250, and its average grant was $53,036, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller that year got $20K on average.
Where does Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller give grants?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (14 grants) and Bainbridge Island, WA (2 grants).
Does Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's largest grantees?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's largest 2025 grantees include Elisabeth Miller Botanical Garden T ($358,534), University of Wa Miller Library ($178,895) and University of Wa School of Law ($60,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller reported $17.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $885K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $923K (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 Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to continue the charitable giving of Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Its website identifies ongoing priority support for the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden, including Great Plant Picks and the Miller Lecture; the University of Washington’s Elisabeth C. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller?
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and meet at least one of these criteria: be located in Washington and have been supported by the Millers during their lifetimes; be specifically mentioned in Mrs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's EIN?
Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1671814. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pendleton-and-elisabeth-carey-miller-morg_3497e00e1440452796c9ab11c2051ab6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_911671814_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pendleton-and-elisabeth-carey-miller-morg_3497e00e1440452796c9ab11c2051ab6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. 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 Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller'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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