The Panaphil Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Panaphil Foundation gives to environmental causes, animal welfare, human rights and women in science, including the Frances Velay Women’s Science Research Fellowship Program for research fellowships at participating colleges and universities.
- It states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so a small nonprofit should not send a speculative application but should instead look for an existing connection before approaching it.
- Grants to organisations have typically ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $66,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though some are much larger.
- A very large share of its grant dollars goes to organisations it has already funded in recent filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder that favours continuing support over new, unsolicited partners.
- Given this pattern, organisations without a prior relationship or invitation are unlikely to succeed simply by applying cold.
Overview
The Panaphil Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (cuny.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Panaphil Foundation’s stated commitments are environmental, animal welfare and human rights causes. It also describes encouraging and supporting women’s leadership and advancement in the sciences as its guiding principle, and sponsors the Frances Velay Women’s Science Research Fellowship Program. The programme supports research fellowships at participating colleges and universities. Its grant record includes unrestricted support for charitable organisations, alongside grants identified for ocean programmes, turtle conservation and science fellowships. Recipients include universities and colleges, environmental and wildlife organisations, and advocacy bodies. Its giving therefore combines broad organisational support with focused fellowship and conservation grants.
Themes
- Environmental Causes
- Animal Welfare
- Human Rights
- Women in Science
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 96 grants to organisations were $66,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 18% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations The Panaphil Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $82,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- ACLU Foundation · Unrestricted$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Planned Parenthood Federation of America · Unrestricted$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Ocean Conservancy · Unrestricted$500,0002024 tax year
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation · For work in Philadelphia$500,0002024 tax year
- Environmental Defense Fund · Unresticted$400,0002024 tax year
- Reproductive Freedom for All · Unrestricted$400,0002024 tax year
- Earthjustice · Unrestricted$300,0002024 tax year
- Natural Resources Defence Council · Oceans Programs$200,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Heloise Velay — Trustee Effective 12/14/2023
- Nels Wangensteen — Trustee
- Barbara P Robinson Esq — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,417,224 | $4,820,573 | $102,008,517 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,075,123 | $5,771,773 | $109,254,820 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,170,041 | $5,738,073 | $113,494,004 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to The Panaphil Foundation?
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Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to The Panaphil Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY