Axe-Houghton Foundation
The Axe-Houghton Foundation is an independent private foundation incorporated in 1965 in New York and based in Fairfield, Connecticut. The foundation was created from bequests under the will of Emerson W. Axe and is operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$410K
-1.9% YoY
Grant Count
50
-15.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+15.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Axe-Houghton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $442K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's principal mission is to foster and encourage an appreciation of the English language, with major emphasis on the spoken language.
Priority is given to projects for the improvement of speech and its uses in the following areas:
- Theater and performing arts
- Arts-in-education
- Poetry and spoken word
- Debate and spoken word
- Public affairs
- Education
- Oral interpretation of literature
A portion of available funds may be devoted to speech remediation. All projects must include a significant phase which is subject to observation by an audience.
Grantmaking
The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited proposals. Applications are accepted only from organizations that have been invited to apply.
Grant Range
s**
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds projects in New York, with a strong emphasis on the New York City metropolitan area. Grants are rarely made to organizations outside this region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue
- Total assets: $8,026,548
- Total annual giving: $410,000
- Total revenues: $756,678
- Total expenses: $503,080
Grant Activity
- Approximately 60 grants awarded annually
- Average grant amount: $4,500–$12,500
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,026,548 | $7,772,950 | $6,885,729 |
| Revenue | $756,678 | $1,403,808 | $307,952 |
| Expenses | $503,080 | $516,587 | $488,395 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $456,834 | $463,851 | $443,923 |
| Net Investment Income | $720,569 | $1,369,584 | $274,225 |
| Distributable Amount | $442,414 | $396,195 | $407,643 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include De La Salle Academy ($12,500), Justice Resource Center ($12,000), Justice Resource Center ($12,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASIAN AMERICAN WRITERS WORKSHOP INC NEW YORK, NY | AAWW Voices in Bloom | $8,000 |
| BUSHWICK STARR BROOKLYN, NY | 2024-25 Artistic Development Activities fund | $7,500 |
| CLASSICAL THEATRE OF HARLEM NEW YORK, NY | Classical Theatre of Harlem's Literary Series program | $7,500 |
| CLUBBED THUMB INC NEW YORK, NY | Summerworks 2025 | $8,000 |
| COLT COEUR THEATER COMPANY INC BROOKLYN, NY | Colt Coeur's Education and Mentorship Programs | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITY-WORD PROJECT INC NEW YORK, NY | Collaborative Arts Residency program | $6,000 |
| CSC REPERTORY LTD NEW YORK, NY | Production Support for BUS STOP, a mainstage production in CSC's 2024-25 Season | $10,000 |
| DE LA SALLE ACADEMY NEW YORK, NY | Axe-Houghton Speech and Debate Program | $12,500 |
| ENGLISH SPEAKING UNION OF THE UNITED STATES NEW YORK, NY | ESU International Public Speaking Competition (ipsc) | $6,000 |
| ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE INC NEW YORK, NY | EST / Youngblood 2024-2025 | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board members include:
- Lynn F. Angelson
- Bruce D. Haims
- Katrina E. McCann
- Warner Shook
- Jeffrey Steinman
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn F Angelson | Dir | 1 | — |
| Bruce D Haims | Dir, Treas, Sec | 1 | — |
| Katrina E McCann | Dir | 1 | — |
| Warner Shook | Dir | 1 | — |
| Jeffrey Steinman | Dir, Pres | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address
Foundation Source 55 Walls Drive, 3rd Floor Fairfield, CT 06824 United States
Telephone
800-839-1754
EIN
13-6200200
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Axe-Houghton Foundation fund?
The foundation's principal mission is to foster and encourage an appreciation of the English language, with major emphasis on the spoken language. Priority is given to projects for the improvement of speech and its uses in the following areas: • Theater and performing arts • Arts-in-education • Poetry and spoken word • Debate and spoken word • Public affairs • Education • Oral interpretation of literature A portion of available funds may be devoted to speech remediation. All projects must inclu…
How do I apply for a grant from Axe-Houghton Foundation?
**Application Process** The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited proposals. Applications are accepted only from organizations that have been invited to apply. **Grant Types & Limitations** • Grants are made for specific projects or programs only • General or capital support, scholarships, and fellowships are not funded • Grants are not made to individuals or private foundations • Grants are not made to organizations whose work is produced outside of the United States • Grants are rarely mad…
Where does Axe-Houghton Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds projects in New York, with a strong emphasis on the New York City metropolitan area. Grants are rarely made to organizations outside this region.
What size grants does Axe-Houghton Foundation award?
In 2025, Axe-Houghton Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $410K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Axe-Houghton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Axe-Houghton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $442K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Axe-Houghton Foundation's EIN?
Axe-Houghton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6200200. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Axe-Houghton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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