Trellis Charitable Fund is a private foundation established in 1998 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation is registered in Woodbridge, New Jersey (EIN: 45-4027960) but operates from Washington, DC. It functions as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting organizations that use rigorous research and strategic interventions to address complex societal issues.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.9M
+53.9% YoY
Grant Count
18
+28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$270K
+19.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "give voice to the voiceless, expose injustices and advocates for change both in the U.S and abroad." The fund supports organizations whose work successfully changes people's lives and tackles the toughest and most complex societal issues.
The foundation consistently funds three primary areas:
- Visual Arts & Photography: Exhibitions at major institutions ($8,000 - $100,000)
- Journalism & Democracy: Support for investigative journalism organizations ($150,000 - $500,000)
- Human Rights & Social Justice: General operating support for established organizations ($250,000 - $750,000)
Grantmaking
The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited proposals. No public email address or application portal is available.
Grant Range
$8,000 - $750,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, DC and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total assets: $84.1 million
- Total revenues: $2.36 million
- Total expenses: $3.85 million
- Total liabilities: $291,000
- Investment income and dividends: $1,978,145
Historical Comparison (2022):
- Total assets: $83.6 million
- Total giving: $3.3 million
- Number of grants: 15
The foundation maintains a giving rate of approximately 3.8% of assets annually.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Civil Liberities Union ($1,000,000), Children's Law Center ($750,000), Human Rights Watch ($750,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERITIES UNION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $350,000 |
| CHILDREN'S LAW CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $750,000 |
| FUND FOR GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| GLOBAL JUSTICE CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| GLOBAL WITNESS FOUNDATION PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| MAGNUM FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| MANN DESHI FOUNDATION | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART LANDOVER, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $400,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Betsy Karel is listed as Chair/Secretary, though governance information remains largely private with no public disclosure of additional trustees or staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETSY KAREL | CHAIR/SECRET | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced grant awards on a seasonal basis, with documented grant announcements for Spring 2024, Summer 2024, and Fall 2024. The foundation also operates an art fund component that has announced grants, including a $20,000 Stepping Stone Grants program.
Summer 2024 Grant Awards - Trellis FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Trellis Charitable Fund fund?
The foundation's mission is to "give voice to the voiceless, expose injustices and advocates for change both in the U.S and abroad." The fund supports organizations whose work successfully changes people's lives and tackles the toughest and most complex societal issues. The foundation consistently funds three primary areas: • **Visual Arts & Photography**: Exhibitions at major institutions ($8,000 - $100,000) • **Journalism & Democracy**: Support for investigative journalism organizations ($150…
How do I apply for a grant from Trellis Charitable Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: Approximately $3.2 million (2023) • Number of grants: 14-15 grants per year • Grant range: $8,000 - $750,000 • Median grant size: $200,000 **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Human Rights Watch: $750,000 (General Support and Women's Rights) • Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: $500,000 (General Support and Endowment) • Center for Reproductive Rights: $300,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only bas…
Where does Trellis Charitable Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Washington, DC and New York.
What size grants does Trellis Charitable Fund award?
In 2024, Trellis Charitable Fund awarded 18 grants totaling $4.9M — an average of about $270K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Trellis Charitable Fund's EIN?
Trellis Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4027960. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Trellis Charitable Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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