The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation
The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in New York, NY. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a private foundation focused on philanthropic giving. The foundation has been tax-exempt since November 2018.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.8M
+5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$895K
+1.4% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
-30.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $995K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made approximately $895,000 in total giving in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $350,000.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, with documented giving activity in:
- California
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- Maryland
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- Oregon
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,846,757
- Total Revenue: $1,232,063
- Total Expenses: $1,001,734
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation operates with zero employees and relies on its trustee leadership for governance and decision-making.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,846,757 | $19,784,148 | $18,955,076 |
| Revenue | $1,232,063 | $716,087 | $860,997 |
| Expenses | $1,001,734 | $985,786 | $1,272,726 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $895,000 | $883,000 | $1,176,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,191,946 | $1,305,141 | $1,092,528 |
| Distributable Amount | $995,144 | $926,789 | $1,006,413 |
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
83 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Carlos Education Foundation ($200,000), Free the Slaves ($150,000), Transparentem Ltd ($110,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MENLO SCHOOL AHERTON, CA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| FREE THE SLAVES WASHINGTON, DC | Charitable | $150,000 |
| POLARIS PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | Charitable | $50,000 |
| SF FINE ARTS MUSEUM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| THORN MANHATTAN BEACH, CA | Charitable | $75,000 |
| SURVIVOR ALLIANCE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Charitable | $25,000 |
| TENANTS TOGETHER SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY SALEM, OR | Charitable | $100,000 |
| TRANSPARENTEM LTD NEW YORK, NY | Charitable | $110,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is overseen by two trustees:
- Daniel Elkes – Trustee, works 20 hours per week with annual compensation of $67,377
- David Bloom – Trustee, serves without compensation
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL ELKES | Trustee | 20 | $80,234 |
| DAVID BLOOM | Trustee | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation?
The foundation made approximately $895,000 in total giving in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $350,000. Recent grants documented include: • San Carlos Educational Foundation: $200,000 (2024) • Free the Slaves: $150,000 (2024) • Transparentem: $110,000 (2024) The foundation does not maintain a publicly available website and does not appear to have a formal published application process.
Where does The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, with documented giving activity in: • California • New York • Washington, D.C. • Maryland • New Hampshire • New Jersey • Oregon
What size grants does The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation award?
In 2024, The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $895K — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $995K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation's EIN?
The Terrence and Ruth Elkes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4174904. 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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