Elkes Foundation III
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts applications by invitation only and states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so an organisation without an existing introduction should not send a cold application.
- Its typical grants fall between $1,000 and $30,000, with about 8 in 10 of its 217 grants to organisations in that range and a median of $7,000, so a modest request near the middle of that band fits its usual pattern, though its largest grant was $100,000.
- It funds a broad mix of arts, literacy, youth and sports, environmental, health and community organisations under a general charitable purpose, and no geographic focus is stated, so your work should be presented on its charitable merit rather than against a set of stated priorities.
- Relationships appear to count: 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, so an introduction through someone connected to the foundation is likely to help more than an unprompted approach.
Overview
Elkes Foundation III is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's filings record grants to a varied set of charitable organisations, rather than stating a defined funding field. Recipients include arts and cultural organisations, including theatre, film and arts bodies; literacy and reading organisations; youth and sports organisations; environmental and land-conservation bodies; health and medical organisations; and human-service, religious and community organisations. The grants are recorded under the general purpose Charitable, so the filings do not identify the specific activities supported or set out narrower priorities. Grants went to organisations in multiple states, with New York receiving the largest share of reported grant dollars.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York, California and New Hampshire.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 217 grants to organisations were $7,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 9%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations Elkes Foundation III 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 82 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $5,500 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- James Beard Foundation · Charitable$100,0002025 tax year
- Strawton Studios · Charitable$50,0002025 tax year
- Grassroots Soccer · Charitable$45,0002025 tax year
- Read to Grow · Charitable$40,0002025 tax year
- Bronx Lacrosse · Charitable$34,0002025 tax year
- MarinHealth Foundation · Charitable$30,0002025 tax year
- Historic Hudson Valley · Charitable$30,0002025 tax year
- Reach Out Read Of Greater New York · Charitable$30,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mitzi Elkes — Trustee
- Steven Elkes — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,251,206 | $969,955 | $20,262,600 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,432,331 | $1,045,676 | $21,164,953 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,312,441 | $893,575 | $21,756,358 | Filing for 2025 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
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At a glance
Applying to Elkes Foundation III?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY
Applying to Elkes Foundation III?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- New York, NY