Chambers Family Foundation
The Chambers Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Southport, Connecticut. Established in 2014 in memory of Carol Chambers, an educator, it makes grants to organizations focused on children and cancer research.
Key facts about Chambers Family Foundation
In short: Chambers Family Foundation gave $400K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), top state Connecticut. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-6354710
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $400,223
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- Average grant
- $18,192
- Median grant
- $18,554
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (9 of 22, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,607,257
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- No later than December 1 of each calendar year.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.6M
+204.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$400K
+55.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
+10.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+41.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chambers Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $409K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Chambers Family Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 22 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation identifies cancer research, military families, educational programs, and children’s wellness as its four primary areas of support. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in these areas. For example, End 68 Hours of Hunger says it addresses the gap in meals some schoolchildren experience over weekends; Breast Cancer Alliance says it supports research, prevention, treatment, education, and services for people affected by breast cancer; and Camp Southern Ground says it runs an inclusive summer camp and programs for veterans and their families.
Other 2024 recipients also describe work in education and public programming. New London Maritime Society says it operates a maritime museum, maintains lighthouses, and offers educational programs and exhibits. World Affairs Council says it promotes public understanding of international affairs through forums and other events.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $400,223. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $18,554. The listed grants generally identified their purpose as operations.
Review Cycle
No later than December 1 of each calendar year.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (40%), Massachusetts (39%), New Hampshire (9%), New Jersey (5%), and Georgia (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $223K (2020) to $400K (2024). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $400K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Flutie Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $286K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 102 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Flutie Foundation Framingham, MA | Operations | $50,000 |
| PMC Jimmy Fund Brookline, MA | Operations | $40,000 |
| End 68 Hours of Hunger Somersworth, NH | Operations | $30,000 |
| Circle of Care Wilton, CT | Operations | $26,000 |
| Boston Children's Hospital Boston, MA | Operations | $25,000 |
| Breast Cancer Alliance Greenwich, CT | Operations | $25,000 |
| Trackside Teen Center Wilton, CT | Operations | $25,000 |
| Will Norton Foundation New Haven, CT | Operations | $25,000 |
| Giants of the Earth East Rutherford, NJ | Operations | $20,000 |
| Camp Southern Ground Peachtree City, GA | Operations | $20,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,607,257 | $1,723,935 | $837,267 | $400,223 (22 grants) |
| 2023 | $2,498,601 | $318,107 | $452,411 | $257,300 (20 grants) |
| 2022 | $2,635,001 | $985,683 | $518,171 | $316,125 (20 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,607,257 | $2,498,601 | $2,635,001 |
| Revenue | $1,723,935 | $318,107 | $985,683 |
| Expenses | $837,267 | $452,411 | $518,171 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $428,488 | $275,434 | $335,118 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,311,322 | $137,991 | $222,047 |
| Distributable Amount | $409,369 | $339,262 | $329,886 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John A. Wyman is listed as a trustee on the 2024 filing.
Chambers Family Foundation is led by John A. Wyman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John A. Wyman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $85K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $85K, to John a Wyman (Trustee).
Contact
Application contact: James D Funnell Jr Esq
Mailing address: Brody Wilkinson Pc 2507 Post Road, Southport, CT 06890
Phone: (203) 319-7100
Email: jfunnell@brodywilk.com
Website: https://chambersfamilyfoundationct.org
Frequently asked questions about Chambers Family Foundation
How much does Chambers Family Foundation give each year?
Chambers Family Foundation gave $400K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $257K across 20 grants.
What is Chambers Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Chambers Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,554, and its average grant was $18,192, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chambers Family Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Chambers Family Foundation give grants?
Chambers Family Foundation's top state is Connecticut, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (39%) and New Hampshire (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wilton, CT (4 grants), Boston, MA (4 grants) and Greenwich, CT (2 grants).
Does Chambers Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Chambers Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (22 grants).
Who are Chambers Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Chambers Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Flutie Foundation ($50,000), PMC Jimmy Fund ($40,000) and End 68 Hours of Hunger ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Chambers Family Foundation?
Chambers Family Foundation reported $7.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $428K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $409K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Chambers Family Foundation fund?
The foundation identifies cancer research, military families, educational programs, and children’s wellness as its four primary areas of support. Its 2024 grants included organizations working in these areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chambers Family Foundation?
The foundation states 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 ↑
What is Chambers Family Foundation's EIN?
Chambers Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6354710. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Chambers Family 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.
Here's the math on researching Chambers Family Foundation by hand.
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