The Panaphil Foundation
The Panaphil Foundation is a private foundation established in 1990 in Pennsylvania and New York. Based in New York City, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a notably low public profile and no formal online presence. The foundation maintains an exceptionally selective grantmaking approach and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$113.5M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.7M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
-9.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$205K
+10.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Panaphil Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Environmental Preservation and Conservation: Particularly ocean conservancy, preservation of animal and plant species threatened with extinction, and prevention of cruelty to animals
- Global Health: Support for large international health organizations working with disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in underdeveloped regions, with particular emphasis on women's reproductive health
- Human Services: Funding for organizations serving vulnerable populations
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. Grant seekers must network with the foundation or its past grantees to attract its attention.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes giving in:
- New York (primary area of focus)
- Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
- Additional U.S. locations including California, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $109,254,820
- Total Revenue: $5,931,232
- Total Expenses: $7,075,123
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,671,498
As of 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $113,494,004
- Total Giving: $5,738,073
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $113,494,004 | $109,254,820 | $102,008,517 |
| Revenue | $8,923,239 | $5,931,232 | $3,911,742 |
| Expenses | $7,170,041 | $7,075,123 | $6,417,224 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,122,228 | $6,108,034 | $5,153,901 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,901,462 | $4,962,779 | $2,844,002 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,395,703 | $5,061,346 | $5,439,983 |
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
142 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include ACLU Foundation ($1,000,000), Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($1,000,000), Local Initiatives Support Corporation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted | $1,000,000 |
| African Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA | Velay Fellowship | $59,125 |
| City University of New York New York, NY | Velay Fellowship | $65,000 |
| Compter Sur Demain New York, NY | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | Velay Fellowship | $62,700 |
| Earthjustice San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $300,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | Unresticted | $400,000 |
| Greenpeace Fund Washington, DC | Global Oceans Campaign | $100,000 |
| Haverford College Haverford, PA | Velay Fellowship | $59,600 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Barbara P. Robinson Esq (primary trustee)
- Christophe J. Velay
- Nels Wangensteen
- Heloise Velay (appointed as trustee effective December 14, 2023)
Staffing: The foundation operates with 3 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHE J VELAY | TRUSTEE THRU 12/14/2023 | 1 | $63,563 |
| BARBARA P ROBINSON ESQ | TRUSTEE | 10 | $66,860 |
| NELS WANGENSTEEN | TRUSTEE | 10 | $66,860 |
| HELOISE VELAY | TRUSTEE EFFECTIVE 12/14/2023 | 10 | $3,297 |
Contact Information
Address: 333 Seventh Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10001-5827
Telephone: 212-949-0990
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Panaphil Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • **Environmental Preservation and Conservation**: Particularly ocean conservancy, preservation of animal and plant species threatened with extinction, and prevention of cruelty to animals • **Global Health**: Support for large international health organizations working with disadvantaged and vulnerable populations in underdeveloped regions, with particular emphasis on women's reproductive health • **Human Services**: Funding for organizations servi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Panaphil Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 25 grants in 2023, with total giving of approximately $5.7 million • Typical grant awards range from $5,000 to $1,000,000 • The foundation frequently provides unrestricted support to grantees **Recent Grantees (2023):** • ACLU Foundation ($1,000,000) • Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($1,000,000) • Local Initiatives Support Corporation ($500,000) • Ocean Conservancy **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests fo…
Where does The Panaphil Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes giving in: • New York (primary area of focus) • Pennsylvania • District of Columbia • Additional U.S. locations including California, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia
What size grants does The Panaphil Foundation award?
In 2024, The Panaphil Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $5.7M — an average of about $205K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Panaphil Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Panaphil Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Panaphil Foundation's EIN?
The Panaphil Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6959472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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