Vermilion Foundation
Vermilion Foundation is a private foundation based in Danville, Illinois. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return, indicating that the foundation has terminated or is winding down; its application information should therefore not be treated as current.
Vermilion Foundation at a glance
In short: Vermilion Foundation gave $20K across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $1K), mostly in New York. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $20,000
- +132.3% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 14
- +55.6% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $1,429
- +49.3% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $500
- Primary geography
- New York (96% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Vermilion Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Ellen Metzendorf as the contact and says applications must be in writing, with materials at the applicant’s discretion. It lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Ellen Metzendorf
Mailing address: 45 E 85Th St, New York, NY 10028
Phone: (212) 861-9176
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Vermilion Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Lenox Hill Hospital ($9K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 23 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 filing reports that 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, with 1% each going to Colorado, Massachusetts, and California. These figures describe the reported grants and do not establish a broader geographic policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Vermilion Foundation gives
- 43% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2020) to $20K (2021). In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lenox Hill Hospital New York, NY | Medical Programs | $9,000 |
| Lincoln Center for Performing Arts New York, NY | Cultural Programs | $3,500 |
| Riverdale Country School Bronx, NY | Educational Programs | $1,500 |
| Congregation Emanu-El of New York New York, NY | General Operations | $1,000 |
| UJA Federation of New York New York, NY | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Westchester Community College Vahalla, NY | Educational Programs | $1,000 |
| Channel 13 Albany, NY | General Operations | $500 |
| Collegiate School New York, NY | Educational Programs | $500 |
| Auxiliary of Lenox Hill Hospital New York, NY | Medical Programs | $500 |
| Crohn's & Colitis Foundation New York, NY | Medical Programs | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $2 | $22,198 | $20,000 | 14 | $20,913 | $547 |
| 2020 | $22,196 | $142 | $10,395 | $8,610 | 9 | — | $1,346 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vermilion Foundation reported a distributable amount of $547 for 2021 — 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 2021 grants included support for medical programs, educational programs, cultural programs, and general operations.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Riverdale Country School describes itself as a pre-K through grade 12 independent school focused on learning, character, and community. Lenox Hill Hospital, part of Northwell Health, describes its work as including clinical care, healthcare education, biomedical research, and health education. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation says it supports research toward cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and aims to improve quality of life for people affected by those diseases.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2021, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $20,000. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $9,000, with a median of $500. Among the largest grants were $9,000 to Lenox Hill Hospital for medical programs, $3,500 to Lincoln Center for Performing Arts for cultural programs, and $1,500 to Riverdale Country School for educational programs. Other reported grants included $1,000 each to Congregation Emanu-El of New York, UJA Federation of New York, and Westchester Community College.
The 2021 filing says applicants could choose the form and materials, which had to be submitted in writing. It lists no restrictions on awards and no deadline. Because the filing is marked final, these instructions should not be treated as current.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Ellen Metzendorf as president, Lee Metzendorf as secretary, and Edward Metzendorf as treasurer.
Vermilion Foundation is led by Ellen Metzendorf, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Ellen Metzendorf
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$371 (2021)
Edward Metzendorf
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Metzendorf
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $371, to Ellen Metzendorf (President).
Frequently asked questions about Vermilion Foundation
How much does Vermilion Foundation give each year?
Vermilion Foundation gave $20K across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $9K across 9 grants.
What is Vermilion Foundation's typical grant size?
Vermilion Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $500, and its average grant was $1,429, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Vermilion Foundation give grants?
Vermilion Foundation gives mostly in New York: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (8 grants).
Does Vermilion Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Vermilion Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Medical Programs" (5 grants) and "Educational Programs" (4 grants).
Who are Vermilion Foundation's largest grantees?
Vermilion Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Lenox Hill Hospital ($9,000), Lincoln Center for Performing Arts ($3,500) and Riverdale Country School ($1,500), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Vermilion Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for medical programs, educational programs, cultural programs, and general operations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Vermilion Foundation?
The filing lists Ellen Metzendorf as the contact and says applications must be in writing, with materials at the applicant’s discretion. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Vermilion Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Vermilion Foundation reported a distributable amount of $547 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vermilion Foundation's EIN?
Vermilion Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6026375. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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Vermilion Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?