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Connecther

Public charity · Grantmaker Austin, TX EIN: 26-4235366 Website

CONNECTHER is an Austin, Texas public charity that supports women and girls through storytelling, film, locally led projects, education, and relief efforts. Its website describes work that includes an annual film festival, support for community projects, and filmmaking workshops led by youth and past filmmakers.

Key facts about Connecther

In short: Connecther reported $417K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
26-4235366
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Grants paid (2025)
$416,953 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
Total assets
$203,844
Next open deadline
December 15, 2026 (ConnectHER Fellowship)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$204K

-20.4% YoY

Grants Paid (reported total)

$417K

+40.3% YoY

Revenue

$697K

+10.3% YoY

Net Investment Income

$114

-74.8% YoY

How Connecther gives

  • Giving fell 70% from 2020 to 2023. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

CONNECTHER’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to invest in women and girls by elevating their status through stories, film, and relief projects. Its programs include the ConnectHER Film Festival, the ConnectHER Fellowship, scholarships for girls and young women, and relief and rapid-response initiatives.

The organization says it has supported women-founded, locally led organizations working on women’s and girls’ rights and wellbeing, including in maternal health, education, and leadership. Its 2023 impact report says grants to 14 women-led organizations in 11 countries supported activities such as girls’ education, health, and leadership. The website also describes project work inspired by submitted films, including scholarships in Bangladesh and humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Grantmaking

IRS filing data lists one grant totaling $6,000 in 2023, and no grants in 2024 or 2025. CONNECTHER’s 2023 impact report says it made grants to 14 women-led organizations in 11 countries, but does not state the total amount. Its 2022 impact report reports $48,000 donated to 12 partners in 10 countries. The available information does not establish a typical grant size or provide amounts for named grantees.

Grant Range

or provide amounts for named grantees.

Review Cycle

is December 15, 2026.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Connecther

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

CONNECTHER describes its project work as global. Its website lists projects in countries including Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Uganda, Somaliland, and Gaza, among others. The Fellowship is described as global and open internationally to eligible past Film Festival filmmakers.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Cities

CambridgeDearbornMadisonSugar LandWashington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K2 grants2020 Total only2021 2 grants2022 1 grant2023 Total only2024 Total only2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2023) to $417K (2025). In 2025 it reported $417K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

3 grants across all recorded years

3<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for 2025.

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $203,844 $697,282 $745,549 0
2024 $256,063 $631,986 $600,897 0
2023 $227,060 $394,010 $347,126 1 grant; $6,000 total
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$203,844$256,063$227,060
Revenue$697,282$631,986$394,010
Expenses$745,549$600,897$347,126
Net Investment Income$114$452$298

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 19, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 19, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 22, 2022)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 14, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists FAYRUZ BENYOUSEF as president and JENNA WESSAM YOUSSEF as treasurer. It lists SAMIRA KHAN, LILA KING, AMANI AHMED, MARNE KELLER KRIKAVA, SABA TERNIKAR, and COURTNEY HAWKINS as members. The organization’s website identifies Lila Igram as its founder.

Connecther is led by Fayruz Benyousef, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Fayruz Benyousef

    President

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Amani Ahmed

    Member

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jenna Wessam Youssef

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lila King

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marne Keller Krikava

    Member

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Saba Ternikar

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Samira Khan

    Member

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Courtney Hawkins

    Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Chelsea Toler (2020–2023) — Member
  • Former: Gretchen Canter (2020–2022) — Member
  • Former: Saba Rizvi (2020–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Zarmeena Vendal (2020) — Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 9311 Simmons Road, Austin, TX 78759
Phone: (512) 560-5608
Website: https://connecther.org

Frequently asked questions about Connecther

How much does Connecther give each year?

Connecther reported $417K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $297K in grants paid.

How large is Connecther?

Connecther reported $204K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $697K.

What does Connecther fund?

CONNECTHER’s mission, as stated in its 2024 filing, is to invest in women and girls by elevating their status through stories, film, and relief projects. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Connecther?

Connecther has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check connecther.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

Where does Connecther make grants?

CONNECTHER describes its project work as global. Its website lists projects in countries including Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Uganda, Somaliland, and Gaza, among others. The Fellowship is described as global and open internationally to eligible past Film Festival filmmakers.

What is Connecther's EIN?

Connecther's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4235366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

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