The Koch Ellis Fund concentrates its giving on higher education and a small number of targeted institutional partners, with a secondary emphasis on local community support and selective biomedical research. Grants are often general-purpose or pledge/payments to colleges and divinity/theological programs (including repeat support), alongside substantial donations to the United Way of Greater New Haven and one-off lab support at a research institute. The foundation appears to favor a small slate of established institutions—some with ties to New Haven/Yale—and makes large, focused gifts rather than many small grants.
A repeated pattern of support for Hollins University stands out in the fund’s recent grantmaking, alongside continuing gifts to Berkeley Divinity School of Yale and the United Way of Greater New Haven. The Koch Ellis Fund C/o Charles Ellis Trustee appears to favor a small slate of institutions, with several grants returning to the same recipients over multiple years and a clear mix of higher education, theological education, community support, and biomedical research. Recent awards include $160,000 to Hollins University for general purpose support in 2023 and another $150,000 in 2025 for Mink Cottage; Class of 1974. Berkeley Divinity School of Yale received $100,000 in 2024 as a pledge payment and $51,100 in 2025 as another pledge payment, while United Way of Greater New Haven received several general-purpose grants, including $72,000, $67,250, $52,000, and $44,500 across 2023 to 2025. The foundation also makes selective institutional gifts outside those core relationships. Examples include $100,000 to Whitehead Institute for David Page’s laboratory, as well as support for Yale New Haven Hospital, Trinity Church on the Green, Harlem Academy, and other named nonprofits. The overall picture is of a funder that concentrates on established organizations and often uses grants for general support, pledge-related payments, or named institutional purposes.
Higher education is a clear priority. Hollins University received $160,000 for general purpose support in 2023 and $150,000 in 2025 for Mink Cottage; Class of 1974, showing both unrestricted and designated institutional giving. The fund also supports theological education. Berkeley Divinity School of Yale received $100,000 in 2024 as a pledge payment and $51,100 in 2025 as another pledge payment, indicating continued support for that program. Community-based institutions appear in the portfolio as well. United Way of Greater New Haven received $72,000, $67,250, and $52,000 in successive recent grants, all for general purpose support. In health-related giving, Whitehead Institute received $100,000 for David Page’s laboratory, a restricted gift tied to scientific research infrastructure and personnel.
Typical awards are modest in the lower half of the distribution and larger at the top: p25 is $500, median is $1,000, and p75 is $2,000. The recent list also shows a handful of much larger institutional grants, suggesting a model that combines small recurring support with occasional major commitments. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Hollins University, Berkeley Divinity School of Yale, United Way of Greater New Haven, Trinity Church on the Green, Orange Congregational Church, and Yale New Haven Hospital. The fund is not focused on individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$411K
$1.8M
-$146K
$429K
Most grants fall between $500 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Koch Ellis Fund C/O Charles Ellis Trustee.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 244 | $1.4M | 96.8% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a few repeat institutional beneficiaries; mix of multi-year or pledge fulfillment payments and occasional one-off project/research gifts rather than many small, diversified grants.
Notable grantees: Hollins University, United Way of Greater New Haven, Berkeley Divinity School of Yale, Whitehead Institute
Giving is regional, with most grants landing in the United States and a smaller share in Canada. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, but Connecticut accounts for 38% of grants and anchors many of the foundation’s relationships in New Haven. Recent recipients include organizations in New Haven, Roanoke, Cambridge, Boston, New York, Bethesda, West Palm Beach, Hartford, Orange, and New York City. The Canadian grants are limited to 8 awards, or 3.2% of the total.
The fund supports higher education, theological education, community organizations, and select biomedical research partners. Recent examples include Hollins University, Berkeley Divinity School of Yale, United Way of Greater New Haven, Whitehead Institute, Yale New Haven Hospital, and Harlem Academy.
Yes. Hollins University, Berkeley Divinity School of Yale, United Way of Greater New Haven, Trinity Church on the Green, Orange Congregational Church, and Yale New Haven Hospital all appear more than once in the recent grants list, showing a pattern of recurring institutional support.
The distribution is small at the center, with p25 at $500, median at $1,000, and p75 at $2,000. At the same time, the recent grant list includes several large awards, such as $160,000 to Hollins University and $100,000 to Whitehead Institute.
The foundation gives most often in Massachusetts, while Connecticut receives 38% of grants. Recent recipients are concentrated in New Haven and other Northeast cities, with additional grants in places such as Roanoke, Cambridge, Boston, New York, and Bethesda.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 8 |
| $20K |
3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOLLINS UNIVERSITY | ROANOKE, VA | $150,000 | 2025 | MINK COTTAGE; CLASS OF 1974 |
| BERKELEY DIVINITY SCHOOL OF YALE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $51,100 | 2025 | PEDGE PAYMENT |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $44,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HARLEM ACADEMY | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,100 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TRINITY CHURCH ON THE GREEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $17,750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FAIR HAVEN COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ORANGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH | ORANGE, CT | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW HAVEN READS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE FOOTE SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MCGILL UNIVERSITY | MONTREAL, QC | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE MARFAN FOUNDATION | PORT WASHINGTON, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE NIGHTINGALE BAMFORD SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BROOKLINE CTR FOR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH | BROOKLINE, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BROOKLINE FOOD PANTRY | BROOKLINE, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WESTMINISTER SCHOOL | SIMSBURY, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONNECTICUT NEWS PROJECT INC | HARTFORD, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FAIRPLAY (CAMPAIGN FOR COMMERCIAL FREE CHILDHOOD) | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ALVIN AILEY DANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CARLETON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | OTTAWA, ON | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BERKELY ACADEMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LEILA DAY NURSERIES | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL | BOSTON, MA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOLY TRINITY CHURCH | HARTFORD, CT | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW HAVEN CHORALE INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EDITH B JACKSON CHILDCARE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NEW HAVEN LAWN CLUB | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORFOLK ACADEMY | NORFOLK, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TAFT SCHOOL ALUMNI FUND | WATERTOWN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONNECTICUT VOICES FOR CHILDREN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UTAH FILM CENTER | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NYU STEM SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EDGERTON PARK CONSERVANCY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OPEN COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE | HARTFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WETA | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST THOMAS MORE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $800 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LOST IN NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $750 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $700 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EL EDUCATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
BERKELEY DIVINITY SCHOOL OF YALE
$51,100PEDGE PAYMENT
TRINITY CHURCH ON THE GREEN
GENERAL PURPOSE
ORANGE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
$7,500GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW HAVEN READS
$6,000GENERAL PURPOSE
THE FOOTE SCHOOL
$5,500GENERAL PURPOSE
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
$3,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BROOKLINE FOOD PANTRY
$2,500GENERAL PURPOSE
WESTMINISTER SCHOOL
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CONNECTICUT NEWS PROJECT INC
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FAIRPLAY (CAMPAIGN FOR COMMERCIAL FREE CHILDHOOD)
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CAROLINA PERFORMING ARTS
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CARLETON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BERKELY ACADEMY
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LEILA DAY NURSERIES
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW HAVEN CHORALE INC
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
EDITH B JACKSON CHILDCARE
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NEW HAVEN LAWN CLUB
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NORFOLK ACADEMY
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TAFT SCHOOL ALUMNI FUND
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NYU STEM SCHOOL
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
EDGERTON PARK CONSERVANCY
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST THOMAS MORE
$800GENERAL PURPOSE
LOST IN NEW HAVEN
$750GENERAL PURPOSE