Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In its 2025 filing, it reported giving $610,000 to 13 charitable organizations, with grants supporting organizations including educational institutions, arts and cultural organizations, and programs serving children and young people.
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr at a glance
In short: Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr gave $610K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Tennessee. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $610,000
- +42.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,923
- +42.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $67,731,714
- +1007.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (75% 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 Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Bny Mellon Na - PO Box 185, Pittsburgh, PA 15230-0185
Phone: (302) 421-2207
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dixon Gallery and Gardens ($150K). Together the top 10 received $575K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 60 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee and 19% to recipients in New Jersey. The remaining grant dollars were distributed to recipients in Washington, DC (2%), Massachusetts (2%), and Florida (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) 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. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $52K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 85% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $280K (2019) to $610K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $610K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dixon Gallery and Gardens Memphis, TN | General Operating | $150,000 |
| Church of Holy Communion Episcopal Memphis, TN | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Rhodes College Memphis, TN | General Operating | $90,000 |
| Real Partners Uganda Inc Hawthorne, NJ | General Operating | $60,000 |
| Princeton Day School Inc Princeton, NJ | General Operating | $55,000 |
| The Hutchison School Memphis, TN | General Operating | $35,000 |
| Memphis Botanic Garden Foundation Memphis, TN | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Pure Youth Athletics Alliance Memphis, TN | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Tr Memphis, TN | General Operating | $20,000 |
| Trezevant Manor Memphis, TN | General Operating | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr?
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 | $67,731,714 | $67,118,525 | $878,254 | $610,000 | 13 | $712,268 | $409,882 | $654,100 |
| 2024 | $6,116,690 | $1,133,642 | $654,759 | $429,500 | 13 | $509,122 | $703,885 | $357,365 |
| 2023 | $5,942,004 | $1,816,403 | $529,675 | $350,000 | 11 | $418,769 | $1,388,261 | $319,708 |
| 2022 | $4,981,027 | $1,433,650 | $476,458 | $315,000 | 11 | $371,698 | $526,310 | $309,459 |
| 2021 | $4,839,531 | $1,167,184 | $447,476 | $317,500 | 12 | $366,606 | $687,215 | $315,130 |
| 2020 | $4,519,311 | $216,870 | $398,440 | $285,000 | 10 | — | $143,498 | $271,240 |
| 2019 | $4,700,882 | $236,367 | $398,601 | $280,000 | 10 | — | $166,723 | $274,207 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr reported a distributable amount of $654K 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 went to organizations whose stated missions include exhibiting and maintaining art and gardens (Dixon Gallery and Gardens); liberal arts education (Rhodes College); supporting schools, feeding programs, training, and farming in Uganda through nonprofit organizations (REAL PARTNERS UGANDA INC); and educating girls at an independent college preparatory school (The Hutchison School). Other recipients include Princeton Day School, whose stated mission centers on intellectual vitality and character, and Pure Youth Athletics Alliance, which describes its work as educating under-resourced young men in a supportive residential setting.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $610,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $25,000. All listed grants were for general operating support.
Largest reported grants included $150,000 to Dixon Gallery and Gardens, $100,000 to Church of Holy Communion Episcopal, and $90,000 to Rhodes College, all in Memphis, Tennessee. Other notable awards were $60,000 to REAL PARTNERS UGANDA INC and $55,000 to Princeton Day School, both in New Jersey, and $35,000 to The Hutchison School in Memphis.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dana W Hiscock, Richard Eckels, and Amanda Eckels Goetze as co-trustees, and BNY Mellon N A as trustee.
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
BNY Mellon N A
Trustee
Co-Trustee → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$37K (2019) → $256K (2025)
Richard Eckels
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$37K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Dana W. Hiscock
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$41K (2021) → $0 (2025)
Amanda Eckels Goetze
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
$10K (2022) → $0 (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: JP Morgan Chase Bank (2019–2020) — Co-Trustee
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 $256K, to BNY Mellon N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr
How much does Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr give each year?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr gave $610K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $430K across 13 grants.
What is Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's typical grant size?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $46,923, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr that year got $18K on average.
Where does Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr give grants?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr gives mostly in Tennessee: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (8 grants).
Does Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's largest grantees?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's largest 2025 grantees include Dixon Gallery and Gardens ($150,000), Church of Holy Communion Episcopal ($100,000) and Rhodes College ($90,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr reported $67.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $712K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $654K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it 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 Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's EIN?
Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2941744. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/theodore-w-and-betty-j-eckels-fdn-tr-morg_9ff3660a4f0c41549e9ed44fdc67280a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_452941744_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Theodore W \& Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/theodore-w-and-betty-j-eckels-fdn-tr-morg_9ff3660a4f0c41549e9ed44fdc67280a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. 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 Theodore W & Betty J Eckels Fdn-Tr'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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