Balso Foundation
Balso Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hartford, Connecticut. Its 2020 filing is marked as its final return: the foundation stated that it was terminating as of December 31, 2020, and that all assets had been distributed. It therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Balso Foundation at a glance
In short: Balso Foundation gave $405K across 17 grants in 2020 (avg $24K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $404,905
- Grants made (2020)
- 17
- Average grant
- $23,818
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Balso Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its 2020 filing is marked final, so this is not a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 643 Prospect Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06105
Phone: (860) 561-1245
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Balso Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Cheshire Education Foundation Inc ($389K).
Organizations only. It also paid 16 grants to individuals ($16,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 17 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported grant dollars in 2020 went to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 17 grants totaling $405K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire Education Foundation Inc Cheshire, CT | Educational Scholarships | $388,905 |
| 16 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $16,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $182,375 | $414,320 | $404,905 | 17 | $180,249 | $12,897 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Balso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as providing scholarship grants to eligible students. In 2020, it reported awarding 16 scholarships of $1,000 each.
The Cheshire Education Foundation Inc., which received a large 2020 grant, describes its own purpose as supplementing and enhancing public education in Cheshire, Connecticut. This is the recipient’s stated mission, not a stated mission of Balso Foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2020, Balso Foundation reported 17 grants totaling $404,905. The median grant was $1,000; grants ranged from $1,000 to $388,905. The filing separately reports 16 scholarships of $1,000 each. The largest listed grant was $388,905 to Cheshire Education Foundation Inc. for “educational scholarships”; the filing’s narrative says the foundation distributed all its net assets to a qualifying public charity as part of its termination. The remaining grants included $1,000 education grants to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing lists Michael W Herlihy and Frank M Loehmann Jr as co-trustees; Loehmann is identified as managing co-trustee. The filing states that the foundation was a trust and did not have a board of directors.
Balso Foundation's 2020 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Frank M. Loehmann Jr.
Managing Co-Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael W. Herlihy
Co-Trustee
New on the 2020 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Balso Foundation
How much does Balso Foundation give each year?
Balso Foundation gave $405K across 17 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Balso Foundation's typical grant size?
Balso Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $1,000, and its average grant was $23,818, across 17 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Balso Foundation give grants?
Balso Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Balso Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2020: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Balso Foundation's 2020 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (16 grants).
What does Balso Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as providing scholarship grants to eligible students. In 2020, it reported awarding 16 scholarships of $1,000 each. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Balso Foundation?
The foundation stated that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Balso Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, Balso Foundation reported a distributable amount of $13K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Balso Foundation's EIN?
Balso Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7159876. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Does Balso Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 4, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Balso Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Balso Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?