About Us
History of the Charles E. Ellis Trust
Born in 1835 in Philadelphia to Quaker parents, Charles E. Ellis grew up to be a trolley franchise operator, and made his fortune through a horse-drawn trolley company in the Philadelphia area. Upon his death in 1909, he left the bulk of his sizable estate to establish a school for fatherless girls in Newtown Square. When the school closed in 1977, nearly 1,400 girls had graduated — most of whom went on to have fulfilling careers.
Several years after the school closed, the Philadelphia Orphans’ Court established a new mission for the Charles E. Ellis Trust: to provide grants to Philadelphia high school girls in single-parent households who were in need of aid to complete their education.
In 1995, The Ellis Fund Advisory Committee and the Trustee, PNC Bank N.A., selected White-Williams Scholars to administer the Trust. In July 2011, White-Williams Scholars and Philadelphia Futures merged to strengthen their shared mission of providing educational support to underserved students in Philadelphia. Recently in December of 2022, Philadelphia Futures has merged with Steppingstone Scholars to become Heights Philadelphia. Heights Philadelphia is now the administrator for The Ellis Trust.
The Charles E. Ellis Trust for Girls helps eligible young women living in low-income, single-parent households achieve their goals through education. The Trust annually awards Ellis Tuition Assistance Grants to high school students in need of tuition aid, and Ellis Enrichment Grants to cover a range of high-impact enrichment programs and basic school needs (e.g. school supplies, uniforms and basic apparel).
Contact Us
You can contact The Ellis Trust directly by emailing ellis@heights.org or request information about our grants.
Teachers, Counselors & Community-Based Organizations
If you are a teacher, a high school guidance counselor or work with an organization that serves young women, we need your help. Your daily work with Philadelphia-area girls puts you in a unique position to reach students who may be eligible for an Ellis Trust grant. If you know of any young women who meet our eligibility requirements, please encourage them to apply. Our aim is to provide as many girls as possible with the resources and opportunities that will prepare them for success in their college and career endeavors.