The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable
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.
The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,500,000
- +2281.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -90.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,500,000
- +26090.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500,000
- Total assets
- $978,746
- -73.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Bard College ($2.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 52 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $2.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bard College Annandaleonhudson, NY | Establishment of the "Ralph Ellison Center" | $2,500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $978,746 | $481,682 | $2,629,919 | $2,500,000 | 1 | $2,615,789 | $490,510 | $80,806 |
| 2024 | $3,631,669 | $333,625 | $329,096 | $105,000 | 11 | $297,606 | $307,865 | $175,660 |
| 2023 | $3,503,452 | $209,970 | $331,677 | $115,000 | 14 | $307,323 | $185,818 | $171,104 |
| 2022 | $3,359,650 | $167,683 | $344,669 | $140,000 | 15 | $314,537 | $142,857 | $180,670 |
| 2021 | $4,276,759 | $363,313 | $295,572 | $100,000 | 11 | $264,456 | $323,602 | $201,919 |
| 2020 | $4,061,273 | $276,113 | $355,448 | $150,000 | 11 | — | $249,234 | $184,713 |
| 2019 | $3,980,798 | $221,245 | $332,408 | $165,750 | 15 | — | $197,497 | $188,486 |
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.
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
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.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
JKW Foundation Tr
New York, NY
The foundation supports a range of arts and cultural, literary, medical, and local-news organizations, with 98% of its 2025 grant dollars going to recipients in New York. Its 53 grants ranged from $1,000 to $17.5 million, with a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$345K
Grants
53
Total Given
$36.9M
Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Helen Frankenthaler Foundation supports visual arts exhibitions, education, research and programming, cultural organizations’ core capacity, and sustainability projects. Its 2024 grants had a median award of $30,000, with recipients in New York, elsewhere in the U.S., and internationally. It funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$173.2M
Grants
105
Total Given
$14.4M
The Jedra Charitable Foundation Inc
Lexington, KY
The Jedra Charitable Foundation supports a varied range of charitable work, including community services, arts and culture, food access, and reproductive justice. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $15,000, with a median of $1,200, and went mainly to organizations in New York and Kentucky. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
65
Total Given
$132K
The Mai Family Foundation
New York, NY
The Mai Family Foundation funds organizations working in humanitarian response, mental health, the arts, public policy, and civic participation, with 2024 grants ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 and a median of $50,000. Its giving is concentrated in New York, with additional grants in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, Colorado, and California. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.3M
Grants
69
Total Given
$5.1M
The Katie McGrath & JJ Abrams Family Foundation
Encino, CA
The foundation supports organizations working in journalism, arts and storytelling, civic and racial-justice efforts, and community programs. In 2024, it made 76 grants totaling about $5.3 million; grants ranged from $250 to $1.5 million, with a median of $10,000, and funding went mainly to organizations in New York, California, and Washington, DC. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$5.5M
Grants
76
Total Given
$5.3M
New Israel Fund
Washington, DC
New Israel Fund supports registered nonprofits in Israel working on democracy, human rights, equality, and social justice. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $768,777, with a median of $15,000; the available information does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$53.3M
Grants
90
Total Given
$4.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable down — hundreds of funders to go?