The Elmo Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia, established in 2007. The foundation operates without a public website or significant public presence, making it less visible to many grantseekers. Despite its low profile, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking program focused on environmental causes, health, mental health, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.7M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$617K
-1.7% YoY
Grant Count
46
+2.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-3.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Elmo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $604K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its grantmaking reveals the following primary focus areas:
- Environment and Climate Change: The foundation's largest grantmaking priority has evolved to center on environmental issues. Recent environmental grantees include Clean Wisconsin, Ecoaddendum Inc., the Citizens Climate Education Corp. of California, the Michigan Climate Action Network, and U.S. Climate Action (which has received the majority of the foundation's climate-related grants).
- Health and Mental Health: The foundation supports health projects in the United States and abroad.
- Human Services: General support for human services organizations.
- Education: Including support for school-based programs.
- Child Advocacy: Support for child-focused organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation tends to support the same organizations year after year, which can make it challenging for new grantees to secure funding. The foundation's giving has shifted over recent years away from global initiatives toward smaller organizations closer to home, particularly in the Charlottesville area of Virginia.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes Charlottesville, Virginia, where it is based. However, grantmaking extends to organizations in other states, including Massachusetts and Colorado. The foundation's recent strategic shift emphasizes local and regional organizations over global initiatives.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $12,657,739
- Total Revenues: $743,678
- Total Expenses: $617,175
- Total Grants Made: $616,500 (48 grants)
- Number of Employees: 0
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment Income and Dividends: $677,131
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $66,547
Year-over-Year Changes: Investment income increased 35.3% from 2023 ($500,526) to 2024 ($677,131), while gains from asset sales decreased 55% from 2023 ($147,736) to 2024 ($66,547).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,657,739 | $12,139,462 | $11,626,074 |
| Revenue | $743,678 | $648,262 | $876,187 |
| Expenses | $617,175 | $627,650 | $561,650 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $616,500 | $627,000 | $561,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $743,678 | $648,262 | $876,187 |
| Distributable Amount | $603,997 | $565,537 | $592,772 |
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
233 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charlottesville Habitat for Humanit ($100,000), Charlottesville High School ($40,000), Clean Wisconsin ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | MENTAL HEALTH | $10,000 |
| WVTF ROANOKE, VA | PUBLIC RADIO | $10,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | HUMAN SERVICES | $5,000 |
| VIRGINIA ORGANIZING CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING | $15,000 |
| PIEDMONT CASA CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | CHILD ADVOCACY | $25,000 |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | EDUCATION | $40,000 |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE HABITAT FOR HUMANIT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | HOUSING | $100,000 |
| PBS RICHMOND, VA | PUBLIC TV | $20,000 |
| OPEN CITY ADVOCATES WASHINGTON, DC | JUVENILE LEGAL AID | $10,000 |
| ST ANTHONY FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | HOMELSS RELIEF | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
William Weaver is listed as the foundation's trustee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM WEAVER | President | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 711a Graves Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5721
- Phone: 434-242-8524
- EIN: 26-0795189
- IRS Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation, tax-exempt since December 2007
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Elmo Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, its grantmaking reveals the following primary focus areas: • **Environment and Climate Change**: The foundation's largest grantmaking priority has evolved to center on environmental issues. Recent environmental grantees include Clean Wisconsin, Ecoaddendum Inc., the Citizens Climate Education Corp. of California, the Michigan Climate Action Network, and U.S. Climate Action (which has received the majority of the foundation…
How do I apply for a grant from The Elmo Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $100,000 • In 2024, the foundation made 48 grants totaling approximately $616,500 • Recent notable grants include: • Charlottesville High School Band Boosters: $40,000 (2024) • Clean Wisconsin: $30,000 (2024) • Piedmont Casa: $25,000 (2024) **Grantmaking Patterns:** The foundation tends to support the same organizations year after year, which can make it challenging for new grantees to secure funding. The foundation's giv…
Where does The Elmo Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes Charlottesville, Virginia, where it is based. However, grantmaking extends to organizations in other states, including Massachusetts and Colorado. The foundation's recent strategic shift emphasizes local and regional organizations over global initiatives.
What size grants does The Elmo Foundation award?
In 2024, The Elmo Foundation awarded 46 grants totaling $617K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Elmo Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Elmo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $604K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Elmo Foundation's EIN?
The Elmo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0795189. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Elmo Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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