The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable

Private foundation · Grantmaker Harrison, NY EIN: 20-7029909

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable is a private foundation, based in Harrison, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $979K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $2.5M. Net investment income was $491K.

Key facts about The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable

In short: The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.5M), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-7029909
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$2,500,000
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$2,500,000
Median grant
$2,500,000
Total assets
$978,746
Primary geography
New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$979K

-73.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.5M

+2281.0% YoY

Grant Count

1

-90.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2.5M

+26090.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable gives

  • Giving grew 1686% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

PortlandNew YorkJamaica PlainWashingtonBrooklynFrenchtownAnnandaleonhudsonChampaignFlorenceLake LuzerneNewallaRushlandVineyard Haven

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M15 grants2019 11 grants2020 11 grants2021 15 grants2022 14 grants2023 11 grants2024 1 grant2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.5M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2025

Bard College: $2.5MBard College$2.5M

The largest 2025 recipient was Bard College ($2.5M).

Grant Size Distribution

52 grants across all recorded years

51<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 52 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bard College Annandaleonhudson, NYEstablishment of the "Ralph Ellison Center"$2,500,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$978,746$3,631,669$3,503,452
Revenue$481,682$333,625$209,970
Expenses$2,629,919$329,096$331,677
Qualifying Distributions$2,615,789$297,606$307,323
Net Investment Income$490,510$307,865$185,818
Distributable Amount$80,806$175,660$171,104

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • John F. Callahan

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    $36K (2019) → $40K (2025)

  • John A. Silberman

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

John F Callahan — Trustee: $40KJohn F CallahanTrustee$40K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $40K, to John F Callahan (Trustee).

Frequently asked questions about The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable

How much does The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable give each year?

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $105K across 11 grants.

How large is The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable?

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable reported $979K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $81K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

Where does The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable operate?

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania.

What is The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable's EIN?

The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7029909. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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