Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Westport, CT EIN: 46-1589126

CHRISTIAN J & EVA W TREFZ FAMILY is a private foundation based in Westport, Connecticut. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in several states, including Connecticut and Florida.

Key facts about Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc

In short: Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc gave $87K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state Florida. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
46-1589126
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$87,050
Grants made (2025)
26
Average grant
$3,348
Median grant
$1,000
New grantees (estimate)
15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
Total assets
$125,021
Primary geography
Florida (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$125K

+27.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$87K

-43.3% YoY

Grant Count

26

-33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-15.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

15%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $900 first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 54% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 228% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s listed grant purposes are “in furtherance of stated objectives of the foundation.” The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Gulf Coast Humane Society says it provides safe refuge, medical care, and adoption services for companion pets. Aspetuck Land Trust describes its mission as protecting land and connecting people to the natural world. Simply Smiles says it works to improve the lives of impoverished people and is currently working in Oaxaca, Mexico. Happy Wheels says it visits hospitalized children and distributes toys and books.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $87,050. The grants ranged from $50 to $18,000, with a median grant of $1,000. In 2024, it reported 39 grants totaling $153,576; in 2023, it reported 32 grants totaling $180,325.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida (43%) and Connecticut (38%). Other reported recipient-state shares were South Carolina (6%), New York (4%), and North Carolina (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

23states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.

Cities

WestportNew YorkWashingtonBridgeportNew HavenPhoenixPort CharlotteRaleighRockvilleArlingtonStamfordAlbuquerqueFt LauderdaleRestonStaten IslandFort MeyersNorwalkValhallaChicagoCranston

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M42 grants2019 30 grants2021 42 grants2022 32 grants2023 39 grants2024 26 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $87K (2025) to $965K (2019). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $87K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Helping Ministries: $18KHelping Ministries$18KGulf Coast Humane Society: $14KGulf Coast Humane Society$14KThe Westport Library: $10KThe Westport Library$10KAspetuck Land Trust: $6KAspetuck Land Trust$6KThe Church by the Sea: $5KThe Church by the Sea$5KHappy Wheels Inc: $5KHappy Wheels Inc$5KSimply Smiles: $5KSimply Smiles$5KRed Cross of Connecticut: $5KRed Cross of Connecticut$5KTunnels to Towers Foundation: $3KTunnels to Towers Foundation$3KZOE Empowers: $3KZOE Empowers$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Helping Ministries ($18K). Together the top 10 received $74K.

Grant Size Distribution

169 grants across all recorded years

165<$50K3$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 165 grants of 169 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Helping Ministries Port Charlotte, FLIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$18,000
Gulf Coast Humane Society Fort Meyers, FLIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$14,000
The Westport Library Westport, CTIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$10,000
Aspetuck Land Trust Westport, CTIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$6,000
The Church by the Sea Fort Lauderdale, FLIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$5,000
Happy Wheels Inc Lexington, SCIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$5,000
Simply Smiles Westport, CTIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$5,000
Red Cross of Connecticut Bridgeport, CTIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$5,000
Tunnels to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NYIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$3,000
ZOE Empowers Raleigh, NCIn Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation$3,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Number of grants
2025 $87,050 26
2024 $153,576 39
2023 $180,325 32
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2019 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$125,021$98,153$66,397
Revenue$120,248$193,386$207,924
Expenses$93,380$161,630$188,970
Qualifying Distributions$87,050$153,576$180,325
Net Investment Income$116,387$189,430$201,311
Distributable Amount$38,191$40,233$46,947

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 3, 2019)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Lewis Cohen as secretary, treasurer, and director; Eva W Trefz as vice president and director; and Tara N Locke and James C Trefz as directors.

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Eva W. Trefz

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • James C. Trefz

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lewis Cohen

    Secretary, Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Tara N. Locke

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Christian J. Trefz (2019–2024) — President & Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 21 Burritts Landing South, Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 367-3621

Frequently asked questions about Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc

How much does Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc gave $87K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $154K across 39 grants.

What is Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $3,348, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.

Where does Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's top state is Florida, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (38%) and South Carolina (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westport, CT (5 grants), Bridgeport, CT (2 grants), New Haven, CT (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation" (26 grants).

Who are Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Helping Ministries ($18,000), Gulf Coast Humane Society ($14,000) and The Westport Library ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc reported $125K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $87K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $38K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s listed grant purposes are “in furtherance of stated objectives of the foundation.” The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Gulf Coast Humane Society says it provides safe refuge, medical care, and adoption services for companion pets. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc?

The foundation 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 ↑

What is Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1589126. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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