The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust
The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust is an independent foundation based in Jacksonville, Florida. The trust operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving to nonprofit organizations, with particular emphasis on supporting small organizations in Northeast Florida.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.1M
+12.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$348K
+7.0% YoY
Grant Count
42
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $431K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support small, nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida that primarily promote women, children, veterans, and the homeless. The trust prefers to fund specific projects and seeks to assist new organizations each year. While relief support is considered necessary, the foundation prioritizes grants that promote education, prevention, improvement, and reform.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and creative writing
- Historic buildings
- Education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Human services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** The foundation awards grants ranging from $500 to $15,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts grant applications through their application forms, as well as requests in other formats. Inquiries can be directed to connect@mewillisfoundation.org.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Northeast Florida, with some giving extending to Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $9,095,477
- Total Annual Giving: $347,500
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,095,477 | $8,067,800 | $7,267,439 |
| Revenue | $205,387 | $373,678 | $542,315 |
| Expenses | $502,698 | $471,458 | $494,599 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $431,539 | $397,737 | $398,282 |
| Net Investment Income | $135,629 | $306,830 | $470,851 |
| Distributable Amount | $431,300 | $399,528 | $414,010 |
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
194 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ($115,000), Basca Inc ($15,000), Downtown Ecumenical Services Council ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Association Washington, DC | Operational Support | $1,000 |
| Barnabas Center Inc Fernandina Beach, FL | Operational Support | $10,000 |
| Basca Inc Orange Park, FL | Operational Support | $15,000 |
| Blessing Others All the Time Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $2,000 |
| Central Riverside Elementary Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $2,500 |
| Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $115,000 |
| Cummer Museum Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $2,000 |
| Doing What We Dream Inc Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $1,000 |
| Downtown Ecumenical Services Council Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $15,000 |
| Drug Free Duval Jacksonville, FL | Operational Support | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
- Address: 4495 Roosevelt Blvd Ste 304, Jacksonville, FL 32210-3381
- Telephone: 904-388-3826
- Email: connect@mewillisfoundation.org
- EIN: 30-6410683
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust fund?
The foundation's mission is to support small, nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida that primarily promote women, children, veterans, and the homeless. The trust prefers to fund specific projects and seeks to assist new organizations each year. While relief support is considered necessary, the foundation prioritizes grants that promote education, prevention, improvement, and reform. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and creative writing • Historic buildings • Education • Philan…
How do I apply for a grant from The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust?
**Grant Sizes:** The foundation awards grants ranging from $500 to $15,000. **Typical Awards:** Historical grant amounts have ranged from $1,000 to $125,000. **Grant Timing:** Most grants are issued in the third quarter of each year, though the foundation is continually researching and connecting with nonprofits throughout the year. **Application Process:** The foundation accepts grant applications through their application forms, as well as requests in other formats. Inquiries can be directed …
Where does The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Northeast Florida, with some giving extending to Virginia and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust awarded 42 grants totaling $348K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $431K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Maryellen S Willis Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6410683. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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