Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $304K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $14K. Net investment income was $24K.
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation gave $14K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,000
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -38.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,750
- +71.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,750
- Total assets
- $304,013
- +3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was City Meals on Wheels ($3K). Together the top 8 received $14K.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 63 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 75% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2021) to $14K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $14K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City Meals on Wheels New York, NY | General | $3,000 |
| Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression Philadelphia, PA | General | $2,500 |
| City Harvest Inc Brooklyn, NY | General | $2,000 |
| God's Love We Deliver New York, NY | General | $2,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General | $1,500 |
| Food Bank of NY New York, NY | General | $1,000 |
| PMC Jimmy Fund Needham, MA | General | $1,000 |
| The Greenwood Historic Fund Brooklyn, NY | General | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $304,013 | $24,084 | $15,175 | $14,000 | 8 | $15,175 | $24,084 | $20,308 |
| 2024 | $295,104 | $23,444 | $14,100 | $13,300 | 13 | $13,400 | $23,444 | $18,946 |
| 2023 | $285,760 | $60,101 | $11,898 | $8,900 | 12 | $9,975 | $60,101 | $19,038 |
| 2022 | $237,557 | $263,508 | $14,390 | $13,300 | 17 | $14,200 | $66,373 | $13,671 |
| 2021 | $153,601 | $13,703 | $10,387 | $8,500 | 13 | — | $13,703 | $11,481 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Catherine Gellis
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Joan Brandy
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Gellis
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation
How much does Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation give each year?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation gave $14K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13K across 13 grants.
What is Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,750, and its average grant was $1,750, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation give grants?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation gives mostly in New York: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (18%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include City Meals on Wheels ($3,000), Foundation for Individual Rights & Expression ($2,500) and City Harvest Inc ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation reported $304K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (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 is Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's EIN?
Ruth & Ezra Chesky Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7003092. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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