Phelps Foundation
Phelps Foundation is a private foundation based in St. Helena, California. Its 2024 filing says it generally limits awards to education and healthcare in Napa and Sonoma counties, though its four listed grants that year went to charitable funds in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Kentucky.
Phelps Foundation at a glance
In short: Phelps Foundation gave $4.4M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $1.1M), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,412,669
- +1102.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +100.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,103,167
- +501.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,109,309
- Total assets
- $64,035
- -98.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (27% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Phelps Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing says to submit a letter describing the type of charity, the specific request and intended use of funds, and general information about the organization’s mission and management. Awards are generally limited to education and healthcare in Napa and Sonoma counties of California.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists no deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: The Phelps Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 1031, St Helena, CA 94574
Phone: (520) 975-9019
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Phelps Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was William and Andrea Phelps Family Fund ($1.2M). Together the top 4 received $4.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 38 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing says it generally limits awards to education and healthcare in Napa and Sonoma counties, California. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, and Kentucky.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Phelps Foundation gives
- Giving grew 2205% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $122K (2020) to $4.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| William and Andrea Phelps Family Fund Ma Boston, MA | Charitable | $1,194,930 |
| The Lap Charitable Fund Jenkintown, PA | Charitable | $1,194,930 |
| The Todd and Laurie Anderson Fund Coliseum Drive CO, NY | Charitable | $1,023,687 |
| Lynn Phelps and Richard Finch Charitable Fund Covington, KY | Charitable | $999,122 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,035 | $1,962,608 | $4,426,123 | $4,412,669 | 4 | $4,412,669 | $1,949,154 | $177,833 |
| 2023 | $3,731,481 | $229,873 | $434,789 | $367,051 | 2 | $367,051 | $220,897 | $179,550 |
| 2022 | $3,421,192 | $196,378 | $15,893 | — | — | — | $130,667 | $171,243 |
| 2021 | $4,260,846 | $270,645 | $199,117 | $191,428 | 18 | $191,428 | $262,956 | $195,808 |
| 2020 | $3,759,827 | $126,042 | $134,310 | $121,609 | 14 | — | $113,341 | $159,362 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phelps Foundation reported a distributable amount of $178K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing identifies education and healthcare in Napa and Sonoma counties as areas to which it generally limits awards. The listed 2024 grants each state “charitable” as their purpose.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported four grants totaling $4,412,669. Grant amounts ranged from $999,122 to $1,194,930, with a median of $1,109,308. Recipients included the William and Andrea Phelps Family Fund ($1,194,930), the LAP Charitable Fund ($1,194,930), the Todd and Laurie Anderson Fund ($1,023,687), and the Lynn Phelps and Richard Finch Charitable Fund ($999,122).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lydia Rau as secretary and Leslie Ann Phelps, Alexandra Phelps, Elizabeth Neuman, and Claire Finch as directors.
Phelps Foundation's 2024 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alexandra Phelps
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Claire Finch
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Neuman
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Ann Phelps
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lydia Rau
Secretary
Treasurer → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Bill Phelps (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Ami Iadarola (2020) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Phelps Foundation
How much does Phelps Foundation give each year?
Phelps Foundation gave $4.4M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $367K across 2 grants.
What is Phelps Foundation's typical grant size?
Phelps Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,109,309, and its average grant was $1,103,167, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Phelps Foundation give grants?
Phelps Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 27% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (27%) and New York (23%).
Does Phelps Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Phelps Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (4 grants).
How large is Phelps Foundation?
Phelps Foundation reported $64K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $178K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Phelps Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies education and healthcare in Napa and Sonoma counties as areas to which it generally limits awards. The listed 2024 grants each state “charitable” as their purpose. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Phelps Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Phelps Foundation's EIN?
Phelps Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2842878. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Phelps 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Phelps 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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