Phillips Charitable Foundation
Phillips Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a private charitable foundation established in 2016 by Eileen Gross at the request of Howard W. Phillips Jr. The foundation is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, with offices also listed in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations that create meaningful impact on the lives of vulnerable populations through solution-driven initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.0M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$880K
-40.4% YoY
Grant Count
33
-5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-36.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Phillips Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations that provide genuine impact on the lives of others by solving problems, removing obstacles, and leading to lasting solutions.
The foundation supports three primary focus areas:
- Humanitarianism: Preserving human dignity through solution-driven endeavors to improve self-sufficiency
- Arts and Culture: Strengthening society through arts and culture
- Education: Innovative and engaging approaches to learning
Recent grantmaking has also emphasized support for:
- Vulnerable children and their care
- Military personnel, first responders, and veterans
- Individuals with disabilities
- Economically disadvantaged populations
- Medical training and healthcare initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation has made 85 grants totaling $2.5 million to 50 unique organizations. Annual giving has grown significantly, from $218,000 in 2020 to $2.3 million in 2022. The foundation announced grants in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Grant Range
s and Patterns:**
Average Grant
award: $30,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- New York
These three states account for approximately 75% of all grants. The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 9 states total. The foundation specifically serves Anne Arundel County, MD; New York City; Pittsburgh, PA; and Charleston, SC.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $25.2 million
- Total Revenue: $1.83 million
- Total Expenses: $2.3 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Annual Income: $9.5 million (reported in recent filings)
2024 Giving: $880,150
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,045,371 | $25,205,482 | $25,670,328 |
| Revenue | $1,577,321 | $1,834,862 | $969,383 |
| Expenses | $1,728,002 | $2,299,094 | $1,841,523 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,494,713 | $2,082,178 | $1,630,122 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,301,054 | $1,569,444 | $763,784 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,618,889 | $1,603,834 | $1,752,562 |
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
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (crab) ($100,000), Nontraditional Employment for Women ($85,000), The Light House Inc ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE ANNAPOLIS ANNAPOLIS, MD | CASH FOR CHARITABLE PROGRAMS | $5,000 |
| THE READING TEAM NEW YORK, NY | CASH CONTRIBUTION FOR PROGRAMMING COSTS AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM | $30,000 |
| START THE ADVENTURE IN READING (STAIR) ANNAPOLIS, MD | LITERACY FUNDING TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN | $25,000 |
| CHESAPEAKE REGION ACCESSIBLE BOATING (CRAB) ANNAPOLIS, MD | SPONSORSHIP OF THE 2024 GROUP SAIL PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| XAVIER SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND NEW YORK, NY | CASH FOR THE PROVISION OF BOOKS AND MASS PROPERS IN BRAILLE | $35,000 |
| BE THE CHANGE CHARLESTON CHARLESTON, SC | CASH FOR THE EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM | $15,000 |
| SEEDS 4 SUCCESS INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | CASH FOR THE LEARN EXPANSION AND CURRICULUM DEEPENING | $15,000 |
| HOUR CHILDREN LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | CASH DONATION FOR THE PURCHASE OF METRO CARDS FOR 'HOUR WORKING WOMEN' | $20,000 |
| NONTRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN NEW YORK, NY | CASH DONATION - OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT AD CAMPAIGN | $85,000 |
| THE LIGHT HOUSE INC ANNAPOLIS, MD | CASH DONATION - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eileen M Gross - Principal Officer and Founder
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EILEEN M GROSS | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 40 | $180,000 |
| JENNIFER C GOOD | VP/SECRETARY | 40 | $130,000 |
| ALEXANDRA D CROWLEY | DIRECTOR | 40 | $130,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained active grantmaking with announcements of new grantees in recent years:
2024 Grantees - Phillips Charitable Foundation**2026**: Announced grants with focus on empowering lives
Empowering Lives: 2026 Grants from Phillips Charitable Foundation - Phillips**2025**: Announced 2025 grantees with additional grants to come
**2024**: Announced 2024 grantees
**2023**: Multiple grant announcements including:
Eight grants totaling $240,900 focused on helping people with disabilities
Eight grant awards to nonprofits dedicated to vulnerable children
Four grants supporting military, first responders, and veterans
Three grants to community-based nonprofits serving economically disadvantaged populations
Grants supporting medical training and healthcare initiatives
The foundation maintains an active web presence with a blog featuring regular updates on grantees and funding priorities.
2024 Grantees - Phillips Charitable FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Phillips Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to support charitable organizations that provide genuine impact on the lives of others by solving problems, removing obstacles, and leading to lasting solutions. The foundation supports three primary focus areas: • **Humanitarianism**: Preserving human dignity through solution-driven endeavors to improve self-sufficiency • **Arts and Culture**: Strengthening society through arts and culture • **Education**: Innovative and engaging approaches to learning Recent grantm…
How do I apply for a grant from Phillips Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Patterns:** • Individual grants have ranged from $1,000 to $250,000 • Average grant award: $30,000 • Median grant: $19,000 • Typical award range: $500–$250,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation has made 85 grants totaling $2.5 million to 50 unique organizations. Annual giving has grown significantly, from $218,000 in 2020 to $2.3 million in 2022. The foundation announced grants in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. **Application Process:** The foundation uses a research-based appro…
Where does Phillips Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Maryland • Pennsylvania • New York These three states account for approximately 75% of all grants. The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across 9 states total. The foundation specifically serves Anne Arundel County, MD; New York City; Pittsburgh, PA; and Charleston, SC.
What size grants does Phillips Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Phillips Charitable Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $880K — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Phillips Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Phillips Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Phillips Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Phillips Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2618658. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Phillips Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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