The Ellis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILWAUKEE, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $95K. Net investment income was $142K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
+2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$95K
-75.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
-21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
-68.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $102K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Ellis Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Ellis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILWAUKEE, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $95K. Net investment income was $142K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,854,825 | $1,810,652 | $2,174,347 |
| Revenue | $155,789 | $35,645 | $96,787 |
| Expenses | $111,618 | $397,441 | $151,537 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $98,125 | $383,713 | $135,740 |
| Net Investment Income | $142,390 | $43,628 | $80,464 |
| Distributable Amount | $102,255 | $99,942 | $111,299 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Puget Sound Sage ($25,000), Urban Sparks ($25,000), 350 Seattle ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PUGET SOUND SAGE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| SOLID GROUND WASHINGTON SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS FUND EUGENE, OR | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| 350 SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| URBAN SPARKS SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| WELD SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE FUND NORTHWEST SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| WASHINGTON COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| REAL CHANGE HOMELESS EMPOWERMENT SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| AFGHAN ADVANTAGE BELLEVUE, WA | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDMUND ELLIS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JOANNE ELLIS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINA ELLIS | SGT AT ARMS | 1 | — |
| CHARLES ELLIS | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ROBYN ELLIS | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Ellis Foundation?
The Ellis Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in MILWAUKEE, WI. It holds $1.9M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Ellis Foundation?
As of 2024, The Ellis Foundation holds $1.9M in total assets with $156K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $95K in 2024.
Where does The Ellis Foundation operate?
The Ellis Foundation has awarded grants in Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington.
What size grants does The Ellis Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ellis Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $95K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ellis Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ellis Foundation reported a distributable amount of $102K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ellis Foundation's EIN?
The Ellis Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3894940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ellis Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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