The Elfenworks Foundation
The Elfenworks Foundation is a private foundation based in San Mateo, California. It reports supporting awareness of issues including education, public health, social justice, sustenance, and non-violence through media production and outreach.
The Elfenworks Foundation at a glance
In short: The Elfenworks Foundation gave $250K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), top state Georgia. 54% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $250,150
- -37.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,242
- -37.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $5,426,576
- +3.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (7 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (42% 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 The Elfenworks Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 30 S El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA 94401
Phone: (650) 347-9700
Website: https://www.elfenworksfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Elfenworks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northeastern University ($100K). Together the top 10 received $248K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 57 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Georgia (42%), Massachusetts (40%), California (16%), and Washington (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Elfenworks Foundation open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 13 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $117K (2019) to $469K (2020). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $250K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | GRANT | $100,000 |
| Ideas United LLC Atlanta, GA | GRANT | $89,100 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey, CA | GRANT | $25,000 |
| The Carter Center Atlanta, GA | GRANT | $15,000 |
| Sutter Health Sacramento, CA | GRANT | $10,000 |
| Realized Impact Bainbridge Island, WA | GRANT | $5,000 |
| Bay Area Rescue Mission Richmond, CA | GRANT | $1,000 |
| Covenant House Oakland, CA | GRANT | $1,000 |
| Samaritan House San Mateo, CA | GRANT | $1,000 |
| St Anthony's San Francisco, CA | GRANT | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Elfenworks Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,426,576 | $1,033,059 | $1,011,288 | $250,150 | 13 | $910,146 | $80,789 |
| 2024 | $5,224,113 | $3,110,824 | $1,057,807 | $401,187 | 13 | $1,054,708 | $128,676 |
| 2023 | $2,610,390 | $1,782,556 | $957,059 | $398,950 | 14 | $954,201 | $878,993 |
| 2022 | $2,021,906 | $1,569,298 | $1,003,794 | $419,835 | 7 | $1,001,865 | $11,015 |
| 2021 | $1,515,240 | $475,449 | $945,705 | $166,700 | 10 | $933,113 | — |
| 2020 | $1,746,115 | $871,928 | $1,007,565 | $468,749 | 14 | — | $14,795 |
| 2019 | $1,466,694 | $760,582 | $628,773 | $116,520 | 8 | — | $10,286 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its 2024 filing, the foundation said it raises awareness of those issues by supporting the production of books, films, and audio CDs. It also described providing awards and outreach support through film, print, web, and award programs to other exempt organizations and visionary individuals.
Its 2025 grantees included organizations with varied missions. The Carter Center describes its work as seeking to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. Samaritan House says it provides food, shelter access, healthcare, and supportive services to people in need. Bay Area Rescue Mission says its mission is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with homeless and needy people and empower them to change their world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $250,150. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $100,000, with a median of $1,000.
Among its largest reported grants were $100,000 to Northeastern University, $89,100 to Ideas United LLC, $25,000 to Monterey Bay Aquarium, $15,000 to The Carter Center, and $10,000 to Sutter Health. Other reported grants included $5,000 to Realized Impact and $1,000 each to Bay Area Rescue Mission, Covenant House, Samaritan House, St Anthony’s, St Mary’s College, and YWAM San Francisco.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kenneth Hillier as tax matters officer and Lauren Speeth, Mark Vorsatz, and Elizabeth Wied as trustees.
The Elfenworks Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Wied
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Speeth
Trustee
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Vorsatz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Hillier
Tax Matters Officer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kim Schoknecht (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Elfenworks Foundation
How much does The Elfenworks Foundation give each year?
The Elfenworks Foundation gave $250K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $401K across 13 grants.
What is The Elfenworks Foundation's typical grant size?
The Elfenworks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $19,242, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Elfenworks Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Elfenworks Foundation give grants?
The Elfenworks Foundation's top state is Georgia, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (40%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does The Elfenworks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Elfenworks Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (13 grants).
Who are The Elfenworks Foundation's largest grantees?
The Elfenworks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northeastern University ($100,000), Ideas United LLC ($89,100) and Monterey Bay Aquarium ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Elfenworks Foundation?
The Elfenworks Foundation reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.0M.
What does The Elfenworks Foundation fund?
In its 2024 filing, the foundation said it raises awareness of those issues by supporting the production of books, films, and audio CDs. It also described providing awards and outreach support through film, print, web, and award programs to other exempt organizations and visionary individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Elfenworks Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Elfenworks Foundation's EIN?
The Elfenworks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5522254. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Elfenworks 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Elfenworks Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-elfenworks-foundation-morg_8e10e94af93545b1b9e44c8cefa20c24
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205522254_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Elfenworks Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-elfenworks-foundation-morg_8e10e94af93545b1b9e44c8cefa20c24},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Elfenworks 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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