Bafflin Foundation

PROVIDENCE, RI EIN: 05-0454795

The Bafflin Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island. Established in 1991, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$13.9M

+7.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

-1.9% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$40K

-1.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bafflin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Environmental and land conservation initiatives

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Although the Bafflin Foundation's grantmaking does not have geographic restrictions, the majority of grants are made to organizations located in southern New England, specifically:

Connecticut
Massachusetts
Rhode Island

Grant Distribution by State

Massachusetts $2.0M (36%)

Connecticut $1.4M (27%)

Rhode Island $995K (18%)

Maine $607K (11%)

Vermont $215K (4%)

New Hampshire $100K (2%)

Virginia $85K (2%)

New York $11K (0%)

States

Connecticut Massachusetts Maine New Hampshire New York Rhode Island Virginia Vermont

Cities

AmherstAndoverArlingtonAthensAtholBangorBarnstableBathBelgrade LakesBethelBlue HillBostonBridgeportBristolBrunswickCamdenCape NeddickConcordDartmouthEast Haddam

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $12,969,930 (as of most recent 990 filing in 2023)

Total Giving: $1,132,974 (2023)

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$13,891,314	$12,969,930	$19,975,839
Revenue	$905,288	$1,029,262	$682,793
Expenses	$1,208,132	$1,254,365	$1,335,438
Qualifying Distributions	$1,168,477	$1,202,232	$1,272,120
Net Investment Income	$865,633	$1,011,948	$664,763
Distributable Amount	$1,181,217	$1,067,476	$1,088,138

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

136 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wyndham Land Trust ($100,000), The Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island ($100,000), Forest Society of Maine ($75,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
FOREST SOCIETY OF MAINE BANGOR, ME	LAND CONSERVATION	$75,000
AQUIDNECK LAND TRUST MIDDLETOWN, RI	LAND CONSERVATION	$20,000
BARTLETT ABORETUM & GARDENS STAMFORD, CT	LAND CONSERVATION	$25,000
BERKSHIRE NATURAL RESOURCES COUNCIL LENOX, MA	LAND CONSERVATION	$20,000
CAMP JORI WAKEFIELD, RI	LAND CONSERVATION	$15,000
CENTER FOR WILDLIFE CAPE NEDDICK, ME	LAND CONSERVATION	$25,000
ESSEX COUNTY GREENBELT ESSEX, MA	LAND CONSERVATION	$25,000
WINDMILL HILL PINNACLE ASSOCIATION ATHENS, VT	LAND CONSERVATION	$10,000
SOUTHBURY LAND TRUSTINC SOUTHBURY, CT	LAND CONSERVATION	$25,000
NORTHERN CONNECTICUT LAND TRUST SOMERS, CT	LAND CONSERVATION	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
PAUL A SILVER	DIRECTOR/SECRETARY	4	$35,394
MICHAEL M EDWARDS	DIRECTOR/TREASURER	4	$35,394

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Colchester Land Trust, supporting land conservation efforts in Connecticut.

Bafflin Foundation awards $25K grant to Colchester Land Trust

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bafflin Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary mission is to support nonprofit organizations that focus on art, animals, plants, and the earth. In the art field, the foundation concentrates on painting and sculpture from France and the United States. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Environmental and land conservation initiatives

How do I apply for a grant from Bafflin Foundation?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $200,000. **Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed $1,132,974 in total giving according to its most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2023). **Recent Activity:** The foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Colchester Land Trust, demonstrating active grantmaking in land conservation efforts.

Where does Bafflin Foundation make grants?

Although the Bafflin Foundation's grantmaking does not have geographic restrictions, the majority of grants are made to organizations located in southern New England, specifically: • Connecticut • Massachusetts • Rhode Island

What size grants does Bafflin Foundation award?

In 2024, Bafflin Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Bafflin Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bafflin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.