The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Missoula, Montana. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with listed recipients in Montana, Wyoming, Iowa, Washington, DC, and Colorado.
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc gave $84K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Montana. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $84,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,250
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,916,404
- -2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Montana (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6450 S Meadowwood Ln, Missoula, MT 59803
Phone: (406) 552-7981
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Volunteers of America Northern Rockies ($20K). Together the top 10 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 76 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 44% of grant dollars went to recipients in Montana and 35% to recipients in Wyoming. Recipients in Iowa, Washington, DC, and Colorado each received 6% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 94% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−10%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2019) to $93K (2022). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers of America Northern Rockies Sheridan, WY | Operations | $20,000 |
| Missoula Food Bank Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| Watson Children's Shelter Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| American Red Cross Boone, IA | Operations | $5,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Operations | $5,000 |
| Clark Fork Coalition Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| Missoula Art Museum Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| Mountain Home Montana Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| University of Montana Foundation Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
| Missoula Youth Homes Missoula, MT | Operations | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc?
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 | $1,916,404 | $61,578 | $110,761 | $84,000 | 16 | $84,412 | $45,755 | $96,194 |
| 2024 | $1,963,830 | $592,611 | $101,840 | $84,000 | 15 | $84,000 | $578,349 | $84,643 |
| 2023 | $1,471,259 | $49,583 | $102,963 | $87,000 | 16 | $87,000 | $36,454 | $83,682 |
| 2022 | $1,520,792 | $82,612 | $110,121 | $93,000 | 17 | $93,000 | $68,836 | $88,264 |
| 2021 | $1,556,548 | $136,904 | $108,884 | $90,000 | 12 | $90,000 | $121,320 | $94,010 |
| 2020 | $1,517,013 | $67,264 | $100,774 | $84,000 | 14 | — | $54,114 | $89,112 |
| 2019 | $1,560,177 | $87,594 | $97,193 | $78,142 | 12 | — | $72,165 | $81,512 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $96K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions involve social services, arts and education, local media, food assistance, and science learning. For example, Watson Children’s Shelter says it provides a safe, nurturing environment for children who have experienced abuse, neglect, abandonment, or family crisis. Missoula Art Museum describes its work as public art exhibitions and education, while Science Kids says it gets children outdoors for science learning.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $84,000 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $20,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed award was $20,000 to Volunteers of America Northern Rockies for operations. Other listed recipients included Missoula Food Bank, Watson Children’s Shelter, American Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, Clark Fork Coalition, Missoula Art Museum, Mountain Home Montana, University of Montana Foundation, and Missoula Youth Homes, each receiving $5,000 for operations; Public Media Company received $5,000 for support.
Among the grantees’ stated missions, Volunteers of America Northern Rockies’ foundation says it gathers, manages, and distributes resources to support that organization’s mission and priorities. World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Mountain Home Montana says it provides a safe, stable, nurturing home for young mothers and their children.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Noah Phillips as president and director, Pam Phillips as treasurer and director, and Ginny Mahar as secretary and director.
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc is led by Noah R. Phillips, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2019); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Noah R. Phillips
President & Director
President → President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$800 (2019) → $800 (2025)
Ginny Mahar
Secretary & Director
Vice President → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
$600 (2019) → $550 (2025)
Pam Phillips
Treasurer & Director
Treasurer → Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
$200 (2021) → $300 (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Elwin Webb Phillips (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: James Phillips (2019–2020) — Chairman
- Former: Pamela Phillips (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Webb Phillips (2019–2020) — Director
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 $800, to Noah Phillips (President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc
How much does The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc gave $84K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $84K across 15 grants.
What is The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,250, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's top state is Montana, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wyoming (35%) and Iowa (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Missoula, MT (8 grants) and Sheridan, WY (4 grants).
Does The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (14 grants).
Who are The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Volunteers of America Northern Rockies ($20,000), Missoula Food Bank ($5,000) and Watson Children's Shelter ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $96K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions involve social services, arts and education, local media, food assistance, and science learning. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3592853. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 July 10, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ruth-pruitt-phillips-foundation-inc-morg_edbeee79bbbf4612a58f2f170f69c9fc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_593592853_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ruth-pruitt-phillips-foundation-inc-morg_edbeee79bbbf4612a58f2f170f69c9fc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ruth Pruitt Phillips Foundation Inc'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.
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