Conn Memorial Foundation Inc
Conn Memorial Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Tampa, Florida, established in 1954 by businessman and philanthropist Fred K. Conn. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since December 1956. It functions as a philanthropic organization providing strategic leadership and grants to support educational achievement and organizational capacity building in the Tampa Bay region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.2M
+7.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+45.8% YoY
Grant Count
31
-29.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+107.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Conn Memorial Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission stems from a commitment to lift children and families out of cycles of poverty and disadvantage. The organization believes that education and enrichment are proven pathways to stop cycles of despair and failure.
Primary focus areas include:
- Educational Achievement: Supporting children and youth in low-income neighborhoods through funding to preschools, schools, and social service organizations
- Youth Development: Programs serving children and youth across various age groups and settings
- Nonprofit Capacity Building: Strengthening the capacity of leaders in preschools, schools, and social service organizations
- Human Services: Support for nonprofit human services organizations
- Leadership Development: Training and professional development for nonprofit sector leaders
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an annual funding cycle with two grant review periods per year. The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals, meaning grants are made to preselected charitable organizations based on Board of Directors decisions.
Grant Range
range: $2,000 to $350,000
Average Grant
$22,000–$40,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Florida, with particular emphasis on Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025 (Most Recent Filing):
- Total Assets: $20,239,970
- Annual Revenue: $3,167,605
- Total Expenses: $1,792,838
- Total Giving: $1,238,085
- Net Investment Income: $1,282,993
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Comparison:
- 2024: Assets $18,865,203; Revenue $1,330,434; Expenses $1,338,316
- 2023: Assets $18,873,085; Revenue $1,182,445; Expenses $1,205,093
Organization Details:
- Employees: 2
- Annual Revenue (operational): $3,870,634
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,239,970 | $18,865,203 | $18,873,085 |
| Revenue | $3,167,605 | $1,330,434 | $1,182,445 |
| Expenses | $1,792,838 | $1,338,316 | $1,205,093 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,631,713 | $1,205,020 | $1,068,192 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,282,993 | $1,197,135 | $1,045,544 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,409,634 | $1,244,445 | $1,214,336 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
169 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay Inc ($350,000), Ymca ($166,500), Champions for Children Inc ($95,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF TAMPA INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $65,000 |
| ACADEMY PREP CENTER OF TAMPA INC TAMPA, FL | CAPACITY GRANTS | $13,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF TAMPA BAY INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $75,000 |
| CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $95,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $19,000 |
| CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES INC TAMPA, FL | CAPACITY GRANTS | $23,964 |
| CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $55,000 |
| CORNERSTONE KIDS INC TAMPA, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $15,000 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH TEMPLE TERRACE, FL | LOW INCOME YOUTH | $15,000 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH TEMPLE TERRACE, FL | CAPACITY GRANTS | $12,548 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sheff Crowder: CEO
- The foundation is governed by 8 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHEFFIELD CROWDER | CEO | 40 | $205,660 |
| JON WAX | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DR MARIA CARLO | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BOB BUESING | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CATHY VALDES | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MAUREEN BUTLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NORMA ALCANTAR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE GIBSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Phone: 813-758-9403 (also listed: 813-210-5758, 727-385-9706)
- Website: connfoundation.org
- Location: Tampa, FL
- EIN: 59-0978713
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Conn Memorial Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission stems from a commitment to lift children and families out of cycles of poverty and disadvantage. The organization believes that education and enrichment are proven pathways to stop cycles of despair and failure. Primary focus areas include: • **Educational Achievement**: Supporting children and youth in low-income neighborhoods through funding to preschools, schools, and social service organizations • **Youth Development**: Programs serving children and youth across var…
How do I apply for a grant from Conn Memorial Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Over 65+ years of operation, the foundation has funded over 2,700 grants totaling more than $42,500,000 to local organizations • Annually awards approximately 30 grants totaling nearly $1,000,000 • Recent grant activity (2025): 31 grants totaling $1,238,085 • Grant size range: $2,000 to $350,000 • Median grant: $15,000 • Average grant: $22,000–$40,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an annual funding cycle with two grant review periods per year. The fou…
Where does Conn Memorial Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Florida, with particular emphasis on Hillsborough County and the Tampa Bay region.
What size grants does Conn Memorial Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Conn Memorial Foundation Inc awarded 31 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Conn Memorial Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Conn Memorial Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Conn Memorial Foundation Inc's EIN?
Conn Memorial Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-0978713. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Conn Memorial Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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