Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation
The Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hartford, Connecticut. The foundation is among the top funders in West Hartford by total giving.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.1M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$340K
+5.0% YoY
Grant Count
29
+7.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
-2.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $292K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated total giving of $340,100. The foundation supports organizations across multiple funding areas, including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in and funds organizations in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Giving: $340,100
The foundation ranks among the top foundations in West Hartford by total giving volume.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,062,245 | $6,209,072 | $6,697,203 |
| Revenue | $328,228 | $26,064 | $238,910 |
| Expenses | $446,378 | $499,002 | $382,595 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $340,100 | $324,000 | $339,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $222,098 | $65,004 | $205,708 |
| Distributable Amount | $291,771 | $286,664 | $292,742 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Classical Uprising ($27,000), Keeping Track Inc ($24,100), 240 Strings ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 240 STRINGS PORTLAND, ME | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $20,000 |
| ARCHIPELAGO BOOKS INC BROOKLYN, NY | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| BLUE DOOR FOUNDATION INC NIANTIC, CT | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| BROKEN SOULS RESCUE AND RECOVERY INC STATEN ISLAND, NY | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CAPITAL COMMUNITY VOICES EAST GREENBUSH, NY | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $2,000 |
| CITYSEED NEW HAVEN, CT | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| CLASSICAL UPRISING PORTLAND, ME | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $27,000 |
| EUGENE ONEILL MEMORIAL THEATER CENTER INC WATERFORD, CT | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
| FESTIVAL CELEBRATION CHOIR INC (FCC) ALBANY, NY | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY NEW YORK, NY | CURRENT USE FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERESE DAVIDSON | TRUSTEE | 15 | $29,751 |
| CHASE WILSON ROEPER | TRUSTEE | 15 | $29,751 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated total giving of $340,100. The foundation supports organizations across multiple funding areas, including: • Singing & Choral Groups • Printing & Publishing • Private Independent Foundations
Where does Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in and funds organizations in West Hartford, Connecticut.
What size grants does Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation award?
In 2025, Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $340K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $292K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1183294. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation'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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