Samuel S Fels Fund
The Samuel S. Fels Fund is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It supports organizations working to improve conditions and opportunities for marginalized and historically excluded communities in Philadelphia, with grantmaking focused on movement building.
Samuel S Fels Fund at a glance
In short: Samuel S Fels Fund gave $1.6M across 75 grants in 2024 (avg $21K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,570,000
- -22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 75
- -29.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $20,933
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $46,438,680
- +2.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (67% 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 Samuel S Fels Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Fund does not accept unsolicited requests. Its process has two stages: an initial funding inquiry, followed by a proposal by invitation. The proposal stage includes a conversation with program staff, written questions, organizational demographics, and a financial statement or tax return. The current cycle is closed, and no new funding inquiries are being accepted until it reopens.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are expected to reopen in 2027.
- Deadline
- Applications are expected to reopen in 2027.
- Contact
Application contact: Samuel S Fels Funds
Mailing address: 1528 Walnut Street Suite 1002, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: (215) 731-9455
Website: https://samfels.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Samuel S Fels Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rockwood Leadership Institute ($300K). Together the top 10 received $920K.
Grant Size Distribution
466 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 441 grants of 466 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s stated focus is organizations serving the City of Philadelphia. In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 29% to California, 3% to New York, 1% to Delaware, and less than 1% to Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 75 itemized grants.
Cities
How Samuel S Fels Fund gives
- 32% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2024) to $3.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 75 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rockwood Leadership Institute San Francisco, CA | Capacity Building Grants | $300,000 |
| Windcall Institute Oakland, CA | Capacity Building Grant | $135,000 |
| Amistad Law Project Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Asian Americans United Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Beyond the Bars Inc Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Coalition of Africian Communities - Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Juntos Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Lift Every Voice Philly Inc Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| Neighborhood Land Power Project Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
| New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelp Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Samuel S Fels Fund?
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 | $46,438,680 | $1,630,820 | $4,357,232 | $1,570,000 | 75 | $2,524,556 | $1,702,949 | $2,275,099 |
| 2023 | $45,116,266 | $1,223,439 | $2,966,974 | $2,025,000 | 106 | $2,928,831 | $1,121,013 | $2,136,072 |
| 2022 | $43,265,733 | $1,728,221 | $2,128,026 | $2,314,000 | 110 | $3,185,219 | $1,480,901 | $2,231,207 |
| 2021 | $53,175,079 | $3,679,994 | $3,141,089 | $3,386,500 | 172 | $4,045,305 | $4,011,631 | $2,556,164 |
| 2020 | $51,736,194 | $952,777 | $6,148,658 | $2,545,500 | 3 | — | $806,428 | $2,288,116 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samuel S Fels Fund reported a distributable amount of $2.3M for 2024 — 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 Fund’s mission is to improve conditions and opportunities for marginalized and historically excluded communities in Philadelphia and help move society toward greater social, racial, and economic justice. Its grantmaking focuses on movement building: organizing and activating people and organizations to work toward a shared vision.
The Fund provides general operating grants to organizations engaged in at least two of these strategies: advocating for equitable policies and economic opportunity; challenging harmful institutions and systems; promoting collective healing and joy in historically excluded communities; and building power.
Examples of grantees’ work include Amistad Law Project, which says it provides legal services to Philadelphians and advocates for policy change; Asian Americans United, which says it builds leadership among people of Asian ancestry in the Philadelphia area; and Neighborhood Land Power Project, which says it builds a neighborhood-rooted food and land system through community leadership and land-based strategies in West Philadelphia. Movement Alliance Project says it facilitates peer learning, training, and skill-building for social justice organizations, primarily in Philadelphia.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund awarded 75 grants totaling $1,570,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest grants were $300,000 to Rockwood Leadership Institute for capacity building and $135,000 to Windcall Institute for capacity building. Other listed grants included $30,000 each to Amistad Law Project, Asian Americans United, Beyond the Bars, Juntos, Lift Every Voice Philly, Neighborhood Land Power Project, New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, Movement Alliance Project, and National Domestic Workers Alliance.
The Fund’s grant cycle offers one cohort a three-year term. In grantmaking years, general operating grants are $25,000–$30,000 per year, totaling $75,000–$90,000 over three years. Each general operating grantee automatically receives an additional $10,000 per year for leadership development and wellness; those grants are not open for separate applications.
Eligible applicants must serve Philadelphia and be actively engaged in movement building and systems change. The Fund accepts applications from qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations, organizations with a not-for-profit mission using a fiscal sponsor, and Philadelphia offices of national organizations; national offices must have a local advisory board. The Fund generally does not support work outside Philadelphia unless it significantly affects the city, direct-service-only work, grants to individuals, endowments, capital or equipment requests, deficit financing, or major programs of large institutions. Its stated exclusions also include various one-time events, sponsorships, religious and private education, schools, higher education, scholarships, and research or travel grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sarah Martinez-Helfman as president and Fariha Khan as board chair. Michael O’Bryan is vice chair. Listed board members are Will Gonzalez, Esq., John L. Jackson Jr., Danyelle Austin, Ida K. Chen, Chelsea Hicks, and Nimrit Kang.
Samuel S Fels Fund is led by Sarah Martinez-Helfman, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 7 of 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah Martinez-Helfman
President
Foundation President → Foundation P, 2022
Foundation P → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$191K (2020) → $253K (2024)
Fariha Khan
Board Chair
Board Vice Chair → Board Vice C, 2022
Board Vice C → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $7K (2024)
Danyelle Austin
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Michael O'Bryan
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2024)
Will Gonzalez Esq.
Board Member
Board Member → Treasurer & Secretary, 2023
Treasurer & Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$4K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Chelsea Hicks
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$1K (2023) → $4K (2024)
Nimrit Kang
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2024)
John L. Jackson Jr.
Board Member
Board Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ida K. Chen
Board Member
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Pari Hashemi Magura (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tamer Makary (2020–2023) — Treasurer & Secretary
- Former: Michael Brown (2023) — Board Vice C
- Former: Judge Ida K Chen (2020–2021) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $253K, to Sarah Martinez-Helfman (President). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Samuel S Fels Fund
How much does Samuel S Fels Fund give each year?
Samuel S Fels Fund gave $1.6M across 75 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.0M across 106 grants.
What is Samuel S Fels Fund's typical grant size?
Samuel S Fels Fund's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $20,933, across 75 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Samuel S Fels Fund give grants?
Samuel S Fels Fund gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (65 grants), Mew York, NY (2 grants), Pittsburgh, PA (2 grants) and Marina Del Rey, CA (2 grants).
Does Samuel S Fels Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Samuel S Fels Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (30 of 75) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Leadership Development & Wellness" (26 grants), "Grant of Recognition" (6 grants) and "Leadership Development & Wellness Fo" (4 grants).
Who are Samuel S Fels Fund's largest grantees?
Samuel S Fels Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Rockwood Leadership Institute ($300,000), Movement Alliance Project ($205,000 across 13 grants) and Windcall Institute ($135,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Samuel S Fels Fund?
Samuel S Fels Fund reported $46.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Samuel S Fels Fund fund?
The Fund’s mission is to improve conditions and opportunities for marginalized and historically excluded communities in Philadelphia and help move society toward greater social, racial, and economic justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Samuel S Fels Fund?
The Fund does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Samuel S Fels Fund's EIN?
Samuel S Fels Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1365325. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Samuel S Fels Fund 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 September 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Samuel S Fels Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-s-fels-fund-morg_43e2326eabb84101a86b35cd26901821
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231365325_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Samuel S Fels Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/samuel-s-fels-fund-morg_43e2326eabb84101a86b35cd26901821},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Samuel S Fels Fund'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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