The Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation concentrates its modest giving on Philadelphia-based education and classical music organizations, particularly through support of annual fundraising drives. Most funding goes to repeated, unrestricted gifts to the University of Pennsylvania and to the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, indicating a local, institution-focused philanthropy that favors sustaining established cultural and educational institutions.
Small, concentrated portfolio with repeat grants to a handful of local institutions; primarily annual-drive or general support rather than project-restricted funding.
Peggy & Ellis Wachs Foundation’s largest recent grant went to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, with annual-drive support recorded at $29,350 in 2023, followed by $18,050 in 2024 and $12,850 in 2025. That repeat pattern points to a foundation that favors sustained support for established institutions rather than one-time awards. The same approach shows up in its other major recurring gifts, especially to Philadelphia cultural and educational organizations. The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society received $11,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and the foundation also gave repeated annual-drive support to Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Free Library of Philadelphia, Ballet X, and 1616 Latimer Fund. Its giving is compact and local, with most grants staying in Pennsylvania and many recipients located in Philadelphia. The overall profile suggests a small grantmaker that uses annual-drive gifts to back institutions already embedded in the city’s higher education, arts, and civic life.
Education is a central part of the foundation’s giving. Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania received the largest grant in the file, along with repeated annual-drive gifts over three years. In the arts, the foundation backed Philadelphia Chamber Music Society with $11,000 in 2024 and again in 2025, and also supported Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Ballet X, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association through annual drives. Civic and community-oriented giving appears as well: the Free Library of Philadelphia received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while 1616 Latimer Fund received multiple annual-drive gifts across the same period. The grant list also includes health and advocacy support, such as Planned Parenthood, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and The Parkinson Council, each funded through annual-drive gifts.
Typical gifts are small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $200, the median is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $2,300. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations over multiple years, especially for annual drives, which indicates recurring support rather than isolated project funding. The foundation appears to operate as a grantmaking family foundation with modest assets of $2,688,372 and annual grants of $308,011. The pattern is institution-centered and mostly unrestricted in form, with annual-drive language appearing throughout the grants list.
$308K
$2.7M
$445K
$126K
Most grants fall between $200 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$200
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
About 71% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Notable grantees: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Local Philadelphia annual drives / charity campaigns
Giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania, which accounts for 71% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Philadelphia is the main recipient city, with many grants going there across education, arts, library, and civic organizations. Outside Pennsylvania, the recent list shows recipients in New York, including National Multiple Sclerosis Society and Tisch Msrc NY. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 152 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipients in the provided data.
The recent grants center on higher education, classical music, and other Philadelphia institutions. The list includes annual-drive support for the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Free Library of Philadelphia, Ballet X, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years. The University of Pennsylvania received annual-drive gifts in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Philadelphia Chamber Music Society received $11,000 in both 2024 and 2025. Free Library of Philadelphia, Ballet X, Curtis Institute of Music, and 1616 Latimer Fund also recur across years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small: the 25th percentile is $200, the median grant is $1,000, and the 75th percentile is $2,300. That places most awards well below the larger annual-drive gifts shown in the recent grants list.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, with 71% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Philadelphia is the main recipient city in the data, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $12,850 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $11,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| 1616 LATIMER FUND | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $9,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| THE PARKINSON COUNCIL | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| BALLET X | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHIALDELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $4,700 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $3,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| J STREET EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,300 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| THE PRINT CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,250 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| USC SHOAH FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| HILLEL INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PARKINSONS DISEASE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE | SOUTH HADLEY, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PLAY ON PHILLY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| ROSENBACH MUSEUM & LIBRARY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| THE TREVOR PROJECT | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| FRIENDS OF SUENOS | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $600 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| LBI FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES | LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, NJ | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| HIAS & COUNCIL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| OPERA PHILADLEPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILADELPHIA JEWISH FILM AND MEDIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHIALDELPHIA BALLET | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $500 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| WHYY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $300 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| FRIENDS OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $250 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| CENTER FOR FAMILY SERVICES | CAMDEN, NJ | $200 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PENNS VILLAGE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| LIVE WELL FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $200 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PA ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $150 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL | WYNNEWOOD, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| CENTER CITY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| ANTHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILALANDMARKS | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| FRIENDS OF THE PHILADELPHIA CITY INSTITUTE LIBRARY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILADELPHIA JEWISH SPORTS HALL OF FAME | GLADWYNE, PA | $100 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| FRIENDS IN THE CITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $75 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $60 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND - USA | BALA CYNWYD, PA | $50 | 2025 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $18,050 | 2024 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
| PHILA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $11,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL DRIVES |
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$12,850ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
$11,000ANNUAL DRIVES
1616 LATIMER FUND
$9,000ANNUAL DRIVES
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$5,500ANNUAL DRIVES
THE PARKINSON COUNCIL
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
BALLET X
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA
$5,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PHIALDELPHIA ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
$4,700ANNUAL DRIVES
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA
$3,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PROJECT HOME
$2,500ANNUAL DRIVES
J STREET EDUCATION FUND
$2,300ANNUAL DRIVES
MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S
$2,000ANNUAL DRIVES
THE PRINT CENTER
$1,250ANNUAL DRIVES
USC SHOAH FOUNDATION
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
HILLEL INTERNATIONAL
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PARKINSONS DISEASE FOUNDATION
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PLAY ON PHILLY
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILABUNDANCE
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
ROSENBACH MUSEUM & LIBRARY
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
THE TREVOR PROJECT
$1,000ANNUAL DRIVES
FRIENDS OF SUENOS
$600ANNUAL DRIVES
LBI FOUNDATION OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES
$500ANNUAL DRIVES
HIAS & COUNCIL
$500ANNUAL DRIVES
OPERA PHILADLEPHIA
$500ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILADELPHIA JEWISH FILM AND MEDIA
$500ANNUAL DRIVES
PHIALDELPHIA BALLET
$500ANNUAL DRIVES
WHYY
$300ANNUAL DRIVES
FRIENDS OF RITTENHOUSE SQUARE
$250ANNUAL DRIVES
CENTER FOR FAMILY SERVICES
$200ANNUAL DRIVES
PENNS VILLAGE
$200ANNUAL DRIVES
LIVE WELL FOUNDATION
$200ANNUAL DRIVES
PA ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
$150ANNUAL DRIVES
PERELMAN JEWISH DAY SCHOOL
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
CENTER CITY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
ANTHENAEUM OF PHILADELPHIA
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILALANDMARKS
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
FRIENDS OF THE PHILADELPHIA CITY INSTITUTE LIBRARY
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILADELPHIA JEWISH SPORTS HALL OF FAME
$100ANNUAL DRIVES
FRIENDS IN THE CITY
$75ANNUAL DRIVES
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$60ANNUAL DRIVES
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND - USA
$50ANNUAL DRIVES
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$18,050ANNUAL DRIVES
PHILA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
$11,000ANNUAL DRIVES