Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc
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.
Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $87,050
- -43.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,348
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $125,021
- +27.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 21 Burritts Landing South, Westport, CT 06880
Phone: (203) 367-3621
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Helping Ministries ($18K). Together the top 10 received $74K.
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 165 grants of 169 (98%).
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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
- 62% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $87K (2025) to $965K (2019). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $87K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Helping Ministries Port Charlotte, FL | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $18,000 |
| Gulf Coast Humane Society Fort Meyers, FL | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $14,000 |
| The Westport Library Westport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $10,000 |
| Aspetuck Land Trust Westport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $6,000 |
| The Church by the Sea Fort Lauderdale, FL | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $5,000 |
| Happy Wheels Inc Lexington, SC | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $5,000 |
| Simply Smiles Westport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $5,000 |
| Red Cross of Connecticut Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $5,000 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $3,000 |
| ZOE Empowers Raleigh, NC | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $3,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $125,021 | $120,248 | $93,380 | $87,050 | 26 | $87,050 | $116,387 | $38,191 |
| 2024 | $98,153 | $193,386 | $161,630 | $153,576 | 39 | $153,576 | $189,430 | $40,233 |
| 2023 | $66,397 | $207,924 | $188,970 | $180,325 | 32 | $180,325 | $201,311 | $46,947 |
| 2022 | $47,443 | $191,309 | $198,197 | $189,675 | 42 | $189,675 | $107,905 | $52,474 |
| 2021 | $54,331 | $264,922 | $270,723 | $260,994 | 30 | — | $69,555 | $49,064 |
| 2019 | $75,748 | $649,180 | $973,066 | $965,302 | 42 | — | $61,296 | $55,244 |
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.
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.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $18,000 to Helping Ministries in Port Charlotte, Florida; $14,000 to Gulf Coast Humane Society in Fort Meyers, Florida; $10,000 to The Westport Library; and $6,000 to Aspetuck Land Trust. Other reported grants included $5,000 each to The Church by the Sea, Happy Wheels, Simply Smiles, and Red Cross of Connecticut.
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.
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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 3, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/christian-j-and-eva-w-trefz-family-foundation-inc-morg_193b9b21df3d4e1aa240c9ae8a3170c2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461589126_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Christian J \& Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/christian-j-and-eva-w-trefz-family-foundation-inc-morg_193b9b21df3d4e1aa240c9ae8a3170c2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Christian J & Eva W Trefz Family Foundation Inc'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.
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