Burlingame Foundation
Burlingame Foundation is a private foundation based in Darien, Connecticut. Its 2023 filing reports 24 grants totaling $1,705,500 to charitable organizations, including humanitarian, food-access, health, education, and community organizations. Its 2022 filing is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking; the filing data also reports grants for 2023.
Burlingame Foundation at a glance
In short: Burlingame Foundation gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2023 (avg $71K), top state New York. 8% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,705,500
- +21.7% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 24
- -4.0% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $71,063
- +26.8% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (2 of 24, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (30% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Burlingame Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated on its 2022 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Because that filing is marked as the organization’s final return, this should not be treated as current application guidance.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 2101, Darien, CT 06820
Phone: (203) 327-2333
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Burlingame Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Americares ($210K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 122 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2023 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest shares went to New York (30%), Connecticut (26%), Maryland (13%), Massachusetts (11%), and Illinois (10%). These figures describe the locations of grant recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Burlingame Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 2 of 24 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 92% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 379% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $275K (2019) to $1.7M (2023). In 2023 it made 24 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Americares Stamford, CT | General Fund | $210,000 |
| Catholic Relief Services Baltimore, MD | General Fund | $200,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | General Fund | $165,500 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Fund | $150,000 |
| Finca Washington, DC | General Fund | $125,000 |
| Dana Farber Cancer Institute Brookline, MA | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Salvation Army Hartford, CT | General Fund | $100,000 |
| US Fund for UNICEF New York, NY | General Fund | $100,000 |
| Joslin Diabetes Center Boston, MA | General Fund | $75,000 |
| Stanley M Isaacs Neighborhood Center New York, NY | General Fund | $75,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $29,603 | $1,714,052 | $1,705,500 | 24 | $1,705,500 | $22,118 | $46,326 |
| 2022 | $1,684,449 | $109,136 | $1,405,099 | $1,401,500 | 25 | $1,401,500 | $106,873 | $129,410 |
| 2021 | $2,965,747 | $917,821 | $633,583 | $630,000 | 24 | — | $65,938 | $175,720 |
| 2020 | $2,681,509 | $57,369 | $358,739 | $355,700 | 24 | — | $55,333 | $140,961 |
| 2019 | $2,982,879 | $2,005,455 | $291,981 | $274,500 | 25 | — | $72,306 | $141,142 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Burlingame Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address varied needs. For example, Feeding America describes its mission as ensuring equitable access to nutritious food; the International Rescue Committee says it responds to humanitarian crises and helps people affected by conflict and disaster; and Norwalk Hospital Foundation says it raises and distributes funds to Norwalk Hospital and affiliated nonprofits. Other 2023 recipients include organizations working in neurological care, neighborhood services, education, and support for seniors.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $1,705,500 through 24 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $210,000, with a median grant of $50,000. The largest awards included $210,000 to Americares, $200,000 to Catholic Relief Services, $165,500 to Feeding America, $150,000 to Doctors Without Borders, and $125,000 to FINCA. Other recipients included Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Salvation Army, each receiving $100,000; the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, $100,000; and Stanley M. Isaacs Neighborhood Center, $75,000.
Additional 2023 grants included $40,000 to the International Rescue Committee, $25,000 to Norwalk Hospital Foundation, $25,000 to Inner City Scholarship Fund, $20,000 to At Home in Darien, and $5,000 to Learning Ally.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Mary E. Burlingame, Janet E. Burlingame, Susan B. Levangia, and Elizabeth A. Burlingame as trustees.
Burlingame Foundation's 2023 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Elizabeth A. Burlingame
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.7 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $0 (2023)
Janet E. Burlingame
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.7 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $0 (2023)
Mary E. Burlingame
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.7 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $0 (2023)
Susan B. Levangia
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.7 hrs/week
$4K (2019) → $0 (2023)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2019 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2019 filing was $4K, to Mary E Burlingame (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Burlingame Foundation
How much does Burlingame Foundation give each year?
Burlingame Foundation gave $1.7M across 24 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $1.4M across 25 grants.
What is Burlingame Foundation's typical grant size?
Burlingame Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $50,000, and its average grant was $71,063, across 24 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Burlingame Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Burlingame Foundation give grants?
Burlingame Foundation's top state is New York, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (26%) and Maryland (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants), Stamford, CT (2 grants), Baltimore, MD (2 grants) and Bridgeport, CT (2 grants).
Does Burlingame Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Burlingame Foundation's 2023 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Burlingame Foundation's largest grantees?
Burlingame Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Americares ($210,000), Catholic Relief Services ($200,000) and Feeding America ($165,500), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Burlingame Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address varied needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Burlingame Foundation?
The foundation stated on its 2022 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Burlingame Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Burlingame Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Burlingame Foundation's EIN?
Burlingame Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2779816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Does Burlingame 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
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 13, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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