The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland. Its 2026 filing reports grants to organizations in Maryland, New York, and Maine, including hospitals, cultural organizations, and organizations providing human services.
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation gave $3.2M across 18 grants in 2026 (avg $177K), mostly in Maryland. 0% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $3,182,409
- +3.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $176,801
- +3.3% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $15,067
- Total assets
- $23,435,413
- -1.2% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 18, 2026; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (66% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written proposal describing the activities to be funded, with any supporting details, to David Leipnik.
- Contact
Application contact: David Leipnik
Mailing address: 1801 Porter Street Suite 500, Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 685-5512
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Sinai Hospital ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $3.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 87 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2026, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maryland, 22% to New York, and 12% to Maine. The filing data lists Massachusetts at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 0 of 18 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 100% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2022) to $3.2M (2026). In 2026 it made 18 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sinai Hospital Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $1,000,753 |
| The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $667,943 |
| Patient Airlift Services Farmingdale, NY | General Purpose of Recipient | $359,602 |
| The University at Albany Foundation Albany, NY | General Purpose of Recipient | $347,411 |
| Maine Museum of Innovcation Learning & Labor Lewiston, ME | General Purpose of Recipient | $344,471 |
| Center for Hope Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $165,374 |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $103,699 |
| Dyslexia Tutoring Program Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $102,236 |
| Temple Oheb Shalom Baltimore, MD | General Purpose of Recipient | $15,240 |
| The Public Theatre Lewiston, ME | General Purpose of Recipient | $14,893 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ellen WP Wasserman 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $23,435,413 | $1,541,198 | $3,537,446 | $3,182,409 | 18 | $3,182,409 | $433,157 | $2,648,123 |
| 2025 | $23,712,105 | $2,035,074 | $3,444,577 | $3,081,607 | 18 | $3,081,607 | $944,500 | $2,524,341 |
| 2024 | $23,387,685 | $2,426,503 | $2,381,955 | $2,071,863 | 17 | $2,071,863 | $1,374,399 | $2,194,244 |
| 2023 | $22,138,017 | $1,899,558 | $2,813,357 | $2,518,534 | 17 | $2,518,534 | $1,123,713 | $2,029,783 |
| 2022 | $21,844,120 | $2,485,146 | $1,861,642 | $1,536,059 | 17 | $1,536,059 | $1,660,603 | $2,440,979 |
| 2021 | $20,272,694 | $1,655,426 | $1,903,525 | $1,558,049 | 16 | — | $883,917 | $1,997,227 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health, arts and culture, education, and human services. For example, Patient Airlift Services describes its mission as helping families access vital treatment through volunteer pilots, while Center for Hope describes its work as advancing hope, healing, and resilience for people affected by trauma, abuse, and violence. Dyslexia Tutoring Program says it provides free screening, evaluations, and tutoring for low-income adults and youth with dyslexia and language-based learning differences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $3,182,409. Grant amounts ranged from $5,006 to $1,000,753, with a median of $15,066. Among the largest grants were $1,000,753 to Sinai Hospital, $667,943 to The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, $359,602 to Patient Airlift Services, $347,411 to The University at Albany Foundation, and $344,471 to Maine Museum of Innovation Learning & Labor.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that applicants should submit a written proposal describing the activities to be funded, with supporting details. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Ellen WP Wasserman as trustee.
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation is led by Ellen Wp Wasserman, Trustee on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Ellen Wp Wasserman
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation
How much does The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation give each year?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation gave $3.2M across 18 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $3.1M across 18 grants.
What is The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $15,067, and its average grant was $176,801, across 18 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation give grants?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation gives mostly in Maryland: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (22%) and Maine (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (12 grants) and Lewiston, ME (3 grants).
Does The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Sinai Hospital ($1,000,753), The Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore ($667,943) and Patient Airlift Services ($359,602), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation reported $23.4M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health, arts and culture, education, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation?
Submit a written proposal describing the activities to be funded, with any supporting details, to David Leipnik. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's EIN?
The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-2038129. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ellen-wp-wasserman-foundation-morg_6142f104361b449eacab339994e96096
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_522038129_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ellen WP Wasserman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ellen-wp-wasserman-foundation-morg_6142f104361b449eacab339994e96096},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Ellen WP Wasserman 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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