Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund
The Albert Wadsworth and Helen Clark Meserve Memorial Fund is a private foundation established in 1983. It operates as a grantmaking organization serving the Greater Danbury region of Connecticut, with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serving as trustee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$201K
-5.4% YoY
Grant Count
50
-7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund reported a distributable amount of $231K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund supports public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
Program Areas:
- Arts, culture, and humanities
- Education
- Environment
- Health
- Human services
- Public/society benefit
The fund notes there are no absolute program area restrictions, though certain types of proposals are not considered. The fund does not support individual grants or projects primarily benefiting religious groups.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Up to $6,000
Review Cycle
** January 31
How to Apply
** The Distribution Committee of the Fund, a five-member board of distinguished area residents, meets annually to review grant requests. Applications undergo screening to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements and application guidelines. Decisions are reached based upon the quality and nature of each proposal.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund serves the Greater Danbury Region, which includes:
- Danbury
- New Milford
- Surrounding towns: Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Washington, and Woodbury, Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,621,811 | $3,640,869 | $3,466,223 |
| Revenue | $257,338 | $453,698 | $158,106 |
| Expenses | $283,068 | $281,114 | $221,616 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $228,331 | $238,386 | $177,183 |
| Net Investment Income | $208,241 | $410,452 | $116,654 |
| Distributable Amount | $231,255 | $210,254 | $214,117 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Regional Hospice and Home Care of ($15,000), The Center for Empowerment and Education ($12,500), Ann's Place Inc ($12,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF GREATER FAIRFIELD SHELTON, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY BRIDGEPORT, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| DANBURY MUSIC CENTRE INC DANBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $4,000 |
| DANBURY YOUTH SERVICES INC DANBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| FAMILY & CHILDREN'S AID INC DANBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $7,500 |
| THE CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT AND EDUCATION DANBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $12,500 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING CONNECTICUT HAMDEN, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,000 |
| CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE WALLINGFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| REGIONAL HOSPICE AND HOME CARE OF DANBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| LITTLE BRITCHES THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC WOODBURY, CT | GENERAL OPERATING | $3,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as trustee. A five-member Distribution Committee of distinguished area residents reviews grant requests.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLS FARGO BANK N A | TRUSTEE | 1 | $53,765 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund fund?
The fund supports public, charitable, and educational projects and organizations that have an impact on the Greater Danbury area in Fairfield County, Connecticut. **Program Areas:** • Arts, culture, and humanities • Education • Environment • Health • Human services • Public/society benefit The fund notes there are no absolute program area restrictions, though certain types of proposals are not considered. The fund does not support individual grants or projects primarily benefiting religious gro…
How do I apply for a grant from Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund?
**Grant Size:** Up to $6,000 **Application Process:** The Distribution Committee of the Fund, a five-member board of distinguished area residents, meets annually to review grant requests. Applications undergo screening to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements and application guidelines. Decisions are reached based upon the quality and nature of each proposal. **Annual Deadline:** January 31 **Eligible Applicants:** 501(c)(3) organizations
Where does Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund make grants?
The fund serves the Greater Danbury Region, which includes: • Danbury • New Milford • Surrounding towns: Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Washington, and Woodbury, Connecticut
What size grants does Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund award?
In 2024, Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund awarded 50 grants totaling $201K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund reported a distributable amount of $231K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund's EIN?
Albert and Helen Meserve Mem Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6254956. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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