The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Calexico, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported assisting 15 nonprofit organizations through grants ranging from $7,500 to $10,000.
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation gave $140K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in California. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $140,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,333
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,344,315
- -1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (93% 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 Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 619 Paulin Ave Suite 104, Calexico, CA 92231
Phone: (760) 554-2170
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Jude Children's Research Hospita ($10K). Together the top 10 received $98K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
75 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 75 grants of 75 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 7% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $140K (2020) to $140K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Jude Children's Research Hospita Memphis, TN | Research Program | $10,000 |
| Voice Incorporated-KGBA 1001 El Centro, CA | Christian program | $10,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $20,000 |
| The Cancer Resource Center of El Centro, CA | Cancer Awareness Program | $10,000 |
| Grace and Truth Ministries Holtville, CA | Charity Programs | $10,000 |
| Christ Community Church El Centro, CA | Charity Programs | $10,000 |
| Imperial Valley New Creations El Centro, CA | Charity Programs | $10,000 |
| Turning Point Ministries Holtville, CA | Charity Programs | $10,000 |
| Emilio Nares Foundation San Diego, CA | Charity/Programs | $10,000 |
| Lay Brothers of the Poor El Centro, CA | Charity/Programs | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,344,315 | $43,756 | $151,277 | $140,000 | 15 | $140,000 | $33,312 |
| 2024 | $2,389,027 | $96,690 | $153,482 | $140,000 | 15 | $140,000 | $85,108 |
| 2023 | $2,401,544 | $93,355 | $156,235 | $140,000 | 15 | $140,000 | $100,081 |
| 2022 | $2,431,532 | $17,955 | $199,175 | $140,000 | 15 | $140,000 | $74,505 |
| 2021 | $2,695,764 | $220,749 | $154,341 | $140,000 | 15 | $140,000 | $84,770 |
| 2020 | $2,594,422 | $662,100 | $153,386 | $140,000 | 15 | — | $32,837 |
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 included organizations with varied activities. For example, the Emilio Nares Foundation, which received $10,000, says it supports families navigating a child’s cancer or other life-threatening disease. The Imperial County Historical Society, which received $7,500, says its mission is to procure, restore, reconstruct, preserve, and protect Imperial County history.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $140,000 through 15 grants. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $10,000, with a median of $10,000. Examples include $10,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for a research program; $10,000 to an individual recipient High School and $10,000 to an individual recipient Catholic School for scholarships; and $10,000 to the Cancer Resource Center of the for a cancer awareness program. The Emilio Nares Foundation received $10,000, and the Imperial County Historical Society received $7,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Karen Brundy as CFO/Secretary; Jean Seski, Mark Holloway, and Kirk Hems as directors; and Kenton Hems as CEO.
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation is led by Kenton Hems, CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kenton Hems
CEO
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Seski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Hems
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Holloway
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Brundy
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation
How much does The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation give each year?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation gave $140K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $140K across 15 grants.
What is The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,333, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation give grants?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were El Centro, CA (6 grants) and Holtville, CA (2 grants).
Does The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 7% of The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charity Programs" (9 grants).
Who are The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Jude Children's Research Hospita ($10,000), Voice Incorporated-KGBA 1001 ($10,000) and The Cancer Resource Center of ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $44K.
What does The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations with varied activities. For example, the Emilio Nares Foundation, which received $10,000, says it supports families navigating a child’s cancer or other life-threatening disease. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's EIN?
The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 76-0720990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 19, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sam-and-salwa-ellis-family-foundation-morg_b8386bf713564aa397581a9549540ec3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_760720990_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sam \& Salwa Ellis Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sam-and-salwa-ellis-family-foundation-morg_b8386bf713564aa397581a9549540ec3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Sam & Salwa Ellis Family Foundation'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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