Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation
The Ruth H & Warren A Ellsworth Foundation is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. It provides grants to Worcester-area organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) in health, education, culture, and human services.
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation gave $981K across 60 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Massachusetts. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $980,500
- +6.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 60
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,342
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $15,996,998
- +0.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (17 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (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 Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a proposal in letter form describing the request’s goals and objectives and the plan for accomplishing them. Include a project budget and evidence of 501(c)(3) status. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- Submissions must be made before June 1. Grants are restricted to health, educational, cultural, and human service organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and based in the Worcester area.
- Deadline
- Submissions must be made before June 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Sumner B Tilton Jr
Mailing address: 100 Front Street 5Th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 459-8000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Clark University ($98K). Together the top 10 received $415K.
Grant Size Distribution
328 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 313 grants of 328 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing restricts grants to eligible organizations based in the Worcester area. All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 60 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $819K (2023) to $1.0M (2022). In 2025 it made 60 grants totaling $981K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clark University Worcester, MA | Charitable | $97,500 |
| Umas Memorial Health Care Inc Worcester, MA | Charitable | $77,500 |
| United Way of Central Massachusetts Worcester, MA | Charitable | $42,500 |
| Ecotarium Worcester, MA | Charitable | $32,500 |
| Worcester Art Museum Worcester, MA | Charitable | $31,250 |
| Nativity School of Worcester Inc Worcester, MA | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts Worcester, MA | Charitable | $27,500 |
| Barton Center for Diabetes Education Inc North Oxford, MA | Charitable | $26,500 |
| YMCA of Central Massachusetts Worcester, MA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood League of Mass Boston, MA | Charitable | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth 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 | $15,996,998 | $1,323,759 | $1,298,946 | $980,500 | 60 | $1,176,857 | $1,205,981 | $1,126,598 |
| 2024 | $15,959,311 | $789,058 | $1,243,484 | $923,000 | 48 | $1,074,741 | $615,697 | $1,081,991 |
| 2023 | $16,362,662 | $715,513 | $1,137,300 | $819,400 | 57 | $1,010,767 | $595,801 | $987,714 |
| 2022 | $16,784,449 | $752,663 | $1,338,304 | $1,024,500 | 94 | $1,203,748 | $627,393 | $993,941 |
| 2021 | $17,370,090 | $888,160 | $1,233,317 | $946,000 | 69 | $1,109,690 | $764,343 | $1,113,500 |
| 2020 | $17,715,247 | $679,714 | $1,231,844 | $952,000 | 65 | — | $563,944 | $936,866 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M 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 filing identifies health, education, cultural, and human service organizations as eligible areas of support. Its 2025 grantees illustrate this range: United Way of Central Massachusetts says it connects people and resources to improve the community; Nativity School of Worcester describes its work as providing a high-quality education; and Worcester Art Museum says its mission is to connect people, communities, and cultures through art.
Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose own descriptions emphasize food justice and hunger relief. The Regional Environmental Council says it works to create a just food system and build healthy, sustainable, equitable communities, while Community Harvest Project says it engages and educates volunteers to grow fresh produce for hunger relief.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 60 grants totaling $980,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $97,500, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $97,500 to Clark University, $77,500 to UMass Memorial Health Care, $42,500 to United Way of Central Massachusetts, $32,500 to EcoTarium, and $31,250 to Worcester Art Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Todd H Wetzel, Joyce W Hall, Sumner B Tilton Jr, Mark R Wetzel, and Robert F Wetzel as co-trustees.
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; all 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joyce W. Hall
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$18K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Mark R. Wetzel
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$18K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Sumner B. Tilton Jr.
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Todd H. Wetzel
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$18K (2020) → $18K (2025)
Robert F. Wetzel
Co-Trustee
Trustee → Co-Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$13K (2022) → $18K (2025)
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 $18K, to Todd H Wetzel (Co-Trustee). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation
How much does Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation give each year?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation gave $981K across 60 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $923K across 48 grants.
What is Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $16,342, across 60 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation give grants?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Worcester, MA (47 grants) and Southbridge, MA (2 grants).
Does Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 60 grants with a stated purpose on Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (60 grants).
Who are Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Clark University ($97,500), Umas Memorial Health Care Inc ($77,500) and United Way of Central Massachusetts ($42,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation reported $16.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies health, education, cultural, and human service organizations as eligible areas of support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation?
Submit a proposal in letter form describing the request’s goals and objectives and the plan for accomplishing them. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's EIN?
Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6113491. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-h-and-warren-a-ellsworth-foundation-morg_d5a84e692b0a4d73818391ad2d17a448
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046113491_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth H \& Warren a Ellsworth Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-h-and-warren-a-ellsworth-foundation-morg_d5a84e692b0a4d73818391ad2d17a448},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ruth H & Warren a Ellsworth 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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