Zell Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 04-2767470

Zell Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, and the foundation stated in its 2023 filing that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.

Key facts about Zell Family Foundation Inc

In short: Zell Family Foundation Inc gave $140K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in California. 86% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
04-2767470
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$140,000
Grants made (2025)
21
Average grant
$6,667
Median grant
$2,000
New grantees (estimate)
86% first-time grantees (18 of 21, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$1,009,183
Primary geography
California (50% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation stated in its 2023 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0M

-5.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$140K

+27.3% YoY

Grant Count

21

+23.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+3.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zell Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $139K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Zell Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

86%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 18 of 21 grantees (86%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 14% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 105% 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.

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 whose own missions address reentry and support for people affected by incarceration. For example, Golden Rule ReEntry describes itself as a trauma-informed, community-based organization assisting formerly incarcerated people through connection, classes, services, and personal and professional growth. Beyond These Walls says it provides housing and advocacy for LGBTQ people impacted by incarceration in Oregon. GIVE A BEAT Foundation describes using music as a pathway to healing and opportunity for people impacted by the criminal justice system.

Other 2025 recipients describe work addressing homelessness and related challenges. The Doe Fund says it helps people break cycles of homelessness, substance use, and criminal justice involvement through services that include transitional work, career training, housing, and support. English for New Bostonians says it provides access to English classes for adult immigrants.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $140,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $56,000, with a median of $2,000. Among the largest grants were $56,000 to Rise Up Industries in San Diego, California; $16,000 to Golden Rule ReEntry in Ashland, Oregon; $15,000 to Women First Transition and Referral Center in Portland, Oregon; $11,000 to Freedom Farms in Gold Hill, Oregon; and $10,000 to Beyond These Walls in Portland, Oregon. The stated purpose for these grants was general. Other reported 2025 grants included $6,000 to GIVE A BEAT Foundation and $3,000 to The Doe Fund.

How to Apply

The foundation stated in its 2023 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, California recipients received 50% of grant dollars and Oregon recipients received 38%. Massachusetts and New York each received 4%, and Pennsylvania received 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkPortlandSanta FeLos AngelesPhiladelphiaBostonSan DiegoDetroitBerkeleyCarlsbadGreenfieldHuntingtonLaguna BeachOaklandAshlandAtlantaBostnBrooklynChelseaClaremont

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K15 grants2019 9 grants2021 13 grants2022 15 grants2023 17 grants2024 21 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $60K (2019) to $140K (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $140K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

To Rise up Industries: $56KTo Rise up Industries$56KGolden Rule Reentry: $16KGolden Rule Reentry$16KWomen First Transition and Referral Center: $15KWomen First Transition andReferral Center$15KFreedom Farms: $11KFreedom Farms$11KBeyond These Walls: $10KBeyond These Walls$10KGive a Beat Foundation: $6KGive a Beat Foundation$6KIt Takes a Village: $3KIt Takes a Village$3KTo Leap to Success: $3KTo Leap to Success$3KThe Doe Fund: $3KThe Doe Fund$3KGSL Rescue: $3KGSL Rescue$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was To Rise up Industries ($56K). Together the top 10 received $126K.

Grant Size Distribution

75 grants across all recorded years

74<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 75 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
To Rise up Industries San Diego, CAGeneral$56,000
Golden Rule Reentry Ashland, ORGeneral$16,000
Women First Transition and Referral Center Portland, ORGeneral$15,000
Freedom Farms Gold Hill, ORGeneral$11,000
Beyond These Walls Portland, ORGeneral$10,000
Give a Beat Foundation Laguna Beach, CAGeneral$6,000
It Takes a Village Huntington, MAGeneral$3,000
To Leap to Success Carlsbad, CAGeneral$3,000
The Doe Fund New York, NYGeneral$3,000
GSL Rescue West Hollywood, CAGeneral$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $1,009,183 $114,448 $175,244 $140,000 21
2024 $1,069,979 $162,015 $146,232 $110,000 17
2023 $1,054,196 $90,940 $138,367 $114,000 15
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,009,183$1,069,979$1,054,196
Revenue$114,448$162,015$90,940
Expenses$175,244$146,232$138,367
Qualifying Distributions$146,025$119,061$117,352
Net Investment Income$87,708$121,544$66,205
Distributable Amount$139,041$150,670$112,791

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 17, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 21, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 19, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 19, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 19, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 18, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Alison Ellsworth as president; Laura Norfolk as vice president; Margot Doucette as treasurer; and Melissa Zell Andrews as secretary. Board members listed are Amy Zell Ellsworth, Jennifer Fis Menache, Judith Faust, Sarah Hamilton, Adam Ellsworth, and Kendal Blank.

Zell Family Foundation Inc is led by Alison Ellsworth, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Alison Ellsworth

    President

    President → Board Member, 2023

    Board Member → President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Adam Ellsworth

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amy Zell Ellsworth

    Board Member

    Co- Secretaries → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Fis Menache

    Board Member

    Board Member → Co-President, 2023

    Co-President → Board Member, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Judith Faust

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kendal Blank

    Board Member

    Treasurer → Co-Treasurer, 2022

    Co-Treasurer → Board Member, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Norfolk

    Vice President

    Vice President → Co-President, 2023

    Co-President → Vice President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margot Doucette

    Treasurer

    Secretary & Recording Clerk → Co-Treasurer, 2022

    Co-Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa Zell Andrews

    Secretary

    Board Member → Co- Secretaries, 2022

    Co- Secretaries → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sarah Hamilton

    Board Member

    Vice President → Board Member, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Contact

Mailing address: 230 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 523-6531

Frequently asked questions about Zell Family Foundation Inc

How much does Zell Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Zell Family Foundation Inc gave $140K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $110K across 17 grants.

What is Zell Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Zell Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,667, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zell Family Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.

Where does Zell Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Zell Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).

Does Zell Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Zell Family Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Zell Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Zell Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include To Rise up Industries ($56,000), Golden Rule Reentry ($16,000) and Women First Transition and Referral Center ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Zell Family Foundation Inc?

Zell Family Foundation Inc reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $146K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $139K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Zell Family Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions address reentry and support for people affected by incarceration. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Zell Family Foundation Inc?

The foundation stated in its 2023 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 Zell Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Zell Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2767470. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Zell Family Foundation Inc 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.

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