The Joseph and Barbara Ellis Foundation concentrates its giving into a small number of sizable, unrestricted grants to established national and institutional organizations. Its funding mixes higher education support with a strong emphasis on environmental/conservation causes and Jewish international and community philanthropy. Grants are typically general purpose, indicating trust in grantee leadership and flexible use of funds.
A $400,000 unrestricted grant to Colorado State University Foundation stands out as the foundation’s largest recent award, and it fits a broader pattern of giving general-purpose support to established organizations. The Joseph and Barbara Ellis Foundation also made a six-figure grant to Friends of BirdLife International and a $100,000 grant to American Jewish World Service, showing that its portfolio reaches across higher education, conservation, and Jewish international philanthropy. Across recent filings, the foundation favors flexible support rather than tightly restricted project funding, which gives recipients room to use funds where leadership sees the greatest need. Its grant list includes environmental organizations such as National Audubon Society, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Earthjustice, Rare, and World Wildlife Fund, alongside Jewish communal institutions and international relief groups. It also supports cultural, educational, and service organizations, including Barnard College, Dorot, The Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music, and Médecins Sans Frontières USA. The result is a profile shaped less by one narrow program and more by a set of recurring institutional relationships anchored by general-purpose grants.
Environmental and conservation work is one of the clearest threads in the foundation’s giving. Recent grants include $55,000 to National Audubon Society, $50,500 to Massachusetts Audubon Society, $25,000 to World Wildlife Fund, and $20,000 to Rare, all marked general purpose. The foundation also backs bird-focused and habitat-oriented work through $112,500 to Friends of BirdLife International and $12,500 to Sharon Audubon Center. Jewish communal and international philanthropy is another major theme. It gave $100,000 to American Jewish World Service and supported United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York with grants of $65,000 and $33,000. Beyond those areas, the foundation has also funded education and culture, including $400,000 to Colorado State University Foundation and $50,000 to The Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music.
Typical grants cluster at a relatively modest level compared with a few larger awards: the p25 is $500, the median is $2,000, and the p75 is $10,000. That distribution sits alongside a small set of much larger general-purpose gifts. The same organizations appear across multiple years, including Massachusetts Audubon Society, Earthjustice, Barnard College, Rare, World Wildlife Fund, Dorot, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, and Sharon Audubon Center, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time awards. The foundation’s recent grants are consistently described as general purpose, with no evidence in the provided data of program-related investments or individual giving.
$475K
$582K
$39K
$475K
Most grants fall between $500 and $10K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Joseph and Barbara Ellis Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 204 | $2.8M | 99.5% |
| 2 | Israel |
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Concentrated, low-volume giving: few but large general-purpose grants to well-established national and institutional grantees rather than many small, project-specific awards.
Notable grantees: Colorado State University Foundation, Friends of BirdLife International Inc, American Jewish World Service Inc, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York Inc, National Audubon Society Inc
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, with 125 grants there and 1 in Israel. Within the U.S., New York City appears frequently through grantees such as Friends of BirdLife International, American Jewish World Service, National Audubon Society, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, Dorot, and Médecins Sans Frontières USA. Connecticut also shows up as a recipient location through Housatonic Valley Association in Cornwall Bridge and Sharon Audubon Center in Sharon. Other recipient cities include Fort Collins, Lincoln, San Francisco, Arlington, Atlanta, Brooklyn, and Washington.
Its recent grants go to higher education, conservation, Jewish communal philanthropy, international relief, and cultural organizations. Examples from the grant list include Colorado State University Foundation, National Audubon Society, American Jewish World Service, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, and The Brooklyn Queens Conservatory of Music.
The grant-size distribution is weighted toward smaller awards: the p25 is $500, the median is $2,000, and the p75 is $10,000. The recent file also includes larger gifts, including a $400,000 grant and several $50,000 to $112,500 awards.
Yes. The recent grants shown are described as general purpose across the board, including awards to Colorado State University Foundation, Friends of BirdLife International, American Jewish World Service, National Audubon Society, and Earthjustice. That pattern suggests flexible support is a standard part of its approach.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Massachusetts Audubon Society, Earthjustice, Barnard College, Rare, World Wildlife Fund, Dorot, United Jewish Appeal - Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, and Sharon Audubon Center. That indicates ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
The grant record is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with 125 grants in the United States and 1 in Israel. New York City appears often among recipient locations, and Connecticut recipients include Cornwall Bridge and Sharon.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $100 |
0.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE BROOKLYN QUEENS CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC | BROOKLYN, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE INC | NEW YORK, CT | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL - FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL CONSERVATION TRUST INC | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $18,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSATONIC VALLEY ASSOCIATION INC | CORNWALL BRIDGE, CT | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOROT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS USA INC (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SHARON AUDUBON CENTER | GUNTOWN, MS | $5,550 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN INC | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC | GUNTOWN, MS | $3,150 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CITY MEALS ON WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE CORNWALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW YORK CITY AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL FOUNDATION INC | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STANLEY M ISAACS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK INC | WALLINGFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF NORTHWEST CT | LITCHFIELD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INC | CORNWALL, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF N WEST CT | SALISBURY, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | CORNWALL, CT | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY OF WESTERN PA | PITTSBURGH, PA | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL CHILD CENTER INC | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $300 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| 122 EAST 66TH STREET FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $250 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL CHRONICLE INC | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CORNWALL VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY | WEST CORNWALL, CT | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONGREGATION BNAI TORAH | SPRING VALLEY, NY | $100 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FIDELITY CHARITABLE | CINCINNATI, OH | $160,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL INC | NEW YORK, NY | $101,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC | LINCOLN, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOROT INC | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE INC | NEW YORK, CT | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS USA INC (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS) | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHARLOTTE HUNGERFORD HOSPITAL | TORRINGTON, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOUSATONIC VALLEY ASSOCIATION INC | CORNWALL BRIDGE, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UNITED JEWISH APPEAL - FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARE INC | ATLANTA, GA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$150,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL CONSERVATION TRUST INC
$18,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS USA INC (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS)
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SHARON AUDUBON CENTER
$5,550GENERAL PURPOSE
SAVE THE CHILDREN FEDERATION INC
$3,150GENERAL PURPOSE
THE CORNWALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL FOUNDATION INC
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK INC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHABAD LUBAVITCH OF NORTHWEST CT
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF N WEST CT
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
$500GENERAL PURPOSE
LADIES HOSPITAL AID SOCIETY OF WESTERN PA
$500GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL CHILD CENTER INC
$300GENERAL PURPOSE
122 EAST 66TH STREET FOUNDATION INC
$250GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL CHRONICLE INC
$100GENERAL PURPOSE
CORNWALL VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY
$100GENERAL PURPOSE
CONGREGATION BNAI TORAH
$100GENERAL PURPOSE
FIDELITY CHARITABLE
$160,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY INC
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERS USA INC (DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS)
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHARLOTTE HUNGERFORD HOSPITAL
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GENERAL PURPOSE