The Ilsababy Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on international health and emergency response, repeatedly funding medical-relief organizations that deliver supplies and clinical services in crisis settings. A smaller but significant interest in ocean science/cleanup suggests an environmental/planetary-health concern. The foundation gives very large, targeted grants to a handful of organizations rather than spreading many small awards.
The Ilsababy Foundation repeatedly makes seven-figure grants to a small set of organizations working in medical relief and crisis response. Its largest recent award was $2.5 million to Direct Relief in 2023, followed by a $1 million grant to Docs Without Borders in 2025, showing a preference for large, targeted support rather than broad small-ticket giving. The foundation also returned to both organizations across multiple years, with additional grants of $700,000 and $500,000 to Docs Without Borders and $750,000 and $700,000 to Direct Relief in later years. Alongside those medical grants, it has supported ocean cleanup work through a $600,000 grant to Ocean Cleanup N Pacific Fdn, and it has also funded organizations tied to prosthetics, service dogs, housing, and children with medical needs. This mix points to a funder centered on direct service in health and emergency settings, with a smaller but visible interest in environmental cleanup and support for people facing disability or housing instability.
International medical and humanitarian relief is the clearest throughline in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $2.5 million to Direct Relief in 2023 and $1 million to Docs Without Borders in 2025, both identified as medical grants. Field medicine and volunteer clinical support also appear in the repeated funding for Docs Without Borders, including a $700,000 grant in 2024 and a $500,000 grant in 2023. The foundation has also supported ocean cleanup and marine science through a $600,000 grant to Ocean Cleanup N Pacific Fdn in 2023. Beyond those core areas, it has made program-specific grants for prostheses, such as $150,000 to Heather Abbott Fdn in 2025 for helping provide prostheses to people with limb loss.
Typical gifts are substantial: the grant-size distribution centers at $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $70,000 at the median, and $98,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations over multiple years, including several grants to Direct Relief, Docs Without Borders, Homes for Our Troops, Neads, and Journey Home. That pattern suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private grantmaker with annual grants of $11,096,000 and total assets of $6,410,906. It also funds individuals.
$3.3M
$3.5M
$476K
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $50K and $99K, with a median of $70K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$70K
75th Percentile
$99K
About 12% of grants go to recipients in CT.
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Highly concentrated: few, very large grants with repeated multi-grant support to the same medical-relief organizations; limited number of grantees overall.
Notable grantees: Direct Relief, Docs Without Borders, Ocean Cleanup N Pacific Foundation
The foundation gives nationally, and every grant in the provided recent list went to U.S. recipients. California appears most often among recipient states, including Santa Barbara and San Francisco, while Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York also show up repeatedly. South Carolina recipients account for 13% of grants, with grants to organizations in North Charleston. The recipient map therefore looks concentrated in a few U.S. hubs rather than broadly dispersed across many states.
Its clearest pattern is support for medical and humanitarian relief organizations. Recent grants include $2.5 million to Direct Relief and $1 million to Docs Without Borders, both in medical relief, plus a $600,000 grant to Ocean Cleanup N Pacific Fdn for scientific work.
Yes. Direct Relief appears in multiple years, including grants of $2.5 million, $700,000, and $750,000. Docs Without Borders also recurs with grants of $500,000, $700,000, and $1 million. Other repeat recipients include Homes for Our Troops, Neads, and Journey Home.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $50,000, a median of $70,000, and a 75th percentile of $98,750. Recent awards also include much larger six- and seven-figure grants, which indicates a mix of mid-sized and very large gifts.
Grants are national, but California is the top state by grant count in the recent record. Recipient cities include Santa Barbara, San Francisco, New York, Charlotte, Hartford, Taunton, Princeton, and North Charleston.
Yes. Recent examples include a $600,000 grant to Ocean Cleanup N Pacific Fdn for scientific work, $150,000 grants to Classroom Central, $100,000 to The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund for children with medical issues, and grants to housing- and disability-related organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Operation Home, Homes for Our Troops, and Neads.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOCS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $500,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| HEATHER ABBOTT FDN | NEWPORT, RI | $160,000 | 2026 | HELPS PROVIDE PROSTHESES TO THOSE WITH LIMB LOSS |
| CLASSROOM CENTRAL | CHARLOTTE, NC | $150,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION/ARTS |
| THE HOLE IN THE WALL GANG FUND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $150,000 | 2026 | CHILDREN W/ MEDICAL ISSUES |
| HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS | TAUNTON, MA | $125,000 | 2026 | CHARITABLE |
| JOURNEY HOME | HARTFORD, CT | $105,000 | 2026 | INDIGENT ASSISTANCE |
| WINTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | WOMEN IN NON TRADITIONAL WORK |
| NEADS | PRINCETON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | DOGS FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED |
| OPERATION HOME | NO CHARLESTON, SC | $90,000 | 2026 | UNAFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | ATLANTA, GA | $90,000 | 2026 | AFFORDABLE HOUSING |
| KATIES KROPS | SUMMERVILLE, SC | $80,000 | 2026 | HUNGER |
| NEABPD | WASHINGTON, NJ | $80,000 | 2026 | ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE GIVERS |
| HARTFORD PROMISE | HARTFORD, CT | $75,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| JEFFERSON BOARD FOR AGING | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $70,000 | 2026 | INNOVATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY |
| APOPO | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2026 | CLEAR LANDMINES, DETECT TB AND SAVE LIVES |
| INSULIN FOR LIFE | GAINESVILLE, FL | $65,000 | 2026 | MEDICAL |
| RIVER FRONT RECAPTURE | HARTFORD, CT | $60,000 | 2026 | RECREATIONAL |
| SAMARITANS | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | SUICIDE PREVENTION |
| HUNGRY FOR MUSIC | WOODSTOCK, VA | $50,000 | 2026 | REPAIRS INSTRUMENTS |
| PROJECT OUTPOUR | CHARLOTTE, NC | $40,000 | 2026 | PERSONAL HYGEINE/HEALTH FOR THE HOMELESS |
| REESTABLISH RICHMOND | RICHMOND, VA | $30,000 | 2026 | IMMIGRANT SUPPORT |
| UGLY DUCKLING PRESSE | BROOKLYN, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION/ARTS |
| FORGE CITY WORKS | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | FOODSERVICE TRAINING FOR JOBLESS |
| HER JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | LAWYERS PROBONOFOR WOMEN IN NEED |
| FRESH START WORK | HARTFORD, CT | $18,000 | 2026 | CARPENTRY FOR HARD-CORE UNEMPLOYED |
| DOCS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $750,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| HEATHER ABBOTT FDN | NEWPORT, RI | $150,000 | 2025 | HELPS PROVIDE PROSTHESES TO THOSE WITH LIMB LOSS |
| CLASSROOM CENTRAL | CHARLOTTE, NC | $150,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/ARTS |
| HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS | TAUNTON, MA | $110,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| THE HOLE IN THE WALL GANG FUND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | CHILDREN W/ MEDICAL ISSUES |
| NEADS | PRINCETON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | DOGS FOR PHYSICALLY DISABLED |
| JOURNEY HOME | HARTFORD, CT | $100,000 | 2025 | INDIGENT ASSISTANCE |
| OPERATION HOME | NO CHARLESTON, SC | $85,000 | 2025 | UNAFFORDABLE HOME REPAIRS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES |
| NEABPD | WASHINGTON, NJ | $75,000 | 2025 | ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE GIVERS |
| HARTFORD PROMISE | HARTFORD, CT | $75,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | ATLANTA, GA | $75,000 | 2025 | AFFORDABLE HOUSING |
| RIVER FRONT RECAPTURE | HARTFORD, CT | $70,300 | 2025 | RECREATIONAL |
| KATIES KROPS | SUMMERVILLE, SC | $70,000 | 2025 | HUNGER |
| APOPO | WASHINGTON, DC | $70,000 | 2025 | CLEAR LANDMINES, DETECT TB AND SAVE LIVES |
| JEFFERSON BOARD FOR AGING | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $60,000 | 2025 | INNOVATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY |
| USS YORKTOWN FOUNDATION | MT PLEASANT, SC | $60,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/ARTS |
| INSULIN FOR LIFE | GAINESVILLE, FL | $60,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL |
| WINTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,700 | 2025 | WOMEN IN NON TRADITIONAL WORK |
| SAMARITANS | BOSTON, MA | $45,000 | 2025 | SUICIDE PREVENTION |
| HUNGRY FOR MUSIC | WOODSTOCK, VA | $40,000 | 2025 | REPAIRS INSTRUMENTS |
| PROJECT OUTPOUR | CHARLOTTE, NC | $35,000 | 2025 | PERSONAL HYGEINE/HEALTH FOR THE HOMELESS |
| UGLY DUCKLING PRESSE | BROOKLYN, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION/ARTS |
| A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS | ST PAUL, MN | $15,000 | 2025 | LOANS FOR HOME REPAIR |
DOCS WITHOUT BORDERS
$1,000,000MEDICAL
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS
CHARITABLE
JOURNEY HOME
$105,000INDIGENT ASSISTANCE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$90,000AFFORDABLE HOUSING
KATIES KROPS
$80,000HUNGER
NEABPD
$80,000ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE GIVERS
JEFFERSON BOARD FOR AGING
$70,000INNOVATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY
INSULIN FOR LIFE
$65,000MEDICAL
RIVER FRONT RECAPTURE
$60,000RECREATIONAL
HUNGRY FOR MUSIC
$50,000REPAIRS INSTRUMENTS
PROJECT OUTPOUR
$40,000PERSONAL HYGEINE/HEALTH FOR THE HOMELESS
REESTABLISH RICHMOND
$30,000IMMIGRANT SUPPORT
UGLY DUCKLING PRESSE
$30,000EDUCATION/ARTS
FRESH START WORK
$18,000CARPENTRY FOR HARD-CORE UNEMPLOYED
DOCS WITHOUT BORDERS
$1,000,000MEDICAL
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS
$110,000CHARITABLE
JOURNEY HOME
$100,000INDIGENT ASSISTANCE
NEABPD
$75,000ASSISTANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE GIVERS
HARTFORD PROMISE
$75,000EDUCATION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$75,000AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RIVER FRONT RECAPTURE
$70,300RECREATIONAL
KATIES KROPS
$70,000HUNGER
JEFFERSON BOARD FOR AGING
$60,000INNOVATIVE ASSISTANCE FOR THE ELDERLY
USS YORKTOWN FOUNDATION
$60,000EDUCATION/ARTS
HUNGRY FOR MUSIC
$40,000REPAIRS INSTRUMENTS
PROJECT OUTPOUR
$35,000PERSONAL HYGEINE/HEALTH FOR THE HOMELESS
UGLY DUCKLING PRESSE
$25,000EDUCATION/ARTS
A BRUSH WITH KINDNESS
$15,000LOANS FOR HOME REPAIR