Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
The Edward John Noble Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Greenwich, Connecticut. Its stated principal interests are arts, education, conservation, and health, with priorities that include cultural and community organizations, conservation projects on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia, and general health support in Connecticut and New York.
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Edward John Noble Foundation Inc gave $5.0M across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $121K), mostly in Georgia. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,964,230
- +36.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- +78.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $121,079
- -23.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $120,968,918
- +29.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (17 of 36, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
- Review Cycle
- No submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- No submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Ej Noble Smith
Mailing address: 5 Sound View Court, Greenwich, CT 06830
Phone: (203) 661-0281
Email: admin@ejnf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Edward John Noble Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Catherine's Island Foundation Inc ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 78 grants of 106 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated arts and education priority is primarily in Connecticut and New York, and its health priority is general support in those states. Its conservation priorities include projects on St. Catherine’s Island, Georgia, and selected other environmental organizations. In 2024, recipients in Georgia received 60% of grant dollars, recipients in New York 32%, Connecticut 4%, New Mexico 3%, and South Carolina 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 17 of 36 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $246K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 47% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.2M (2020) to $5.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $5.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Catherine's Island Foundation Inc Midway, GA | General Operations | $3,000,000 |
| St Lawrence University Canton, NY | Anthony and Constance Soupios P71 Scholarship | $1,000,000 |
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | St Catherines Island Archaeological Project | $386,730 |
| Climate Adovocates Voces Unidas Santa Fe, NM | General Support | $150,000 |
| Greenwich Hospital Cos Cob, CT | Pediatrics Program | $50,000 |
| The Paley Center for Media New York, NY | Paley Honors | $30,000 |
| Bruce Museum Inc Greenwich, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| Camp Mohawk Inc Litchfield, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| Fairfield University Fairfield, CT | 2024-2025 Grant - Health and Wellness Center | $25,000 |
| Family Centers Inc Greenwich, CT | Early Care and Education (ECE) Program | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $120,968,918 | $9,293,982 | $8,282,205 | $4,964,230 | 41 | $6,121,473 | $7,937,516 | $5,697,790 |
| 2023 | $93,714,554 | $122,597 | $6,194,213 | $3,645,000 | 23 | $4,749,007 | — | $5,228,390 |
| 2022 | $99,786,170 | $2,438,559 | $6,080,780 | $3,580,712 | 20 | $4,590,637 | $1,084,183 | $5,376,844 |
| 2021 | $103,428,391 | $15,864,223 | $7,031,309 | $3,682,425 | 12 | $5,267,861 | $14,325,236 | $6,157,264 |
| 2020 | $94,595,470 | $4,674,318 | $6,302,862 | $3,156,351 | 10 | — | $3,261,650 | $5,260,908 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward John Noble Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.7M for 2024 — 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 describes its priorities as supporting cultural and community organizations, particularly education programs and internships in Connecticut and New York; conservation projects on St. Catherine’s Island and selected organizations working to preserve the natural environment; and general health support in Connecticut and New York.
Its 2024 grants show support for varied organizations. St. Lawrence University describes itself as a liberal arts institution preparing students to be critical and creative thinkers. The American Museum of Natural History says its mission is to advance knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through research and education. The Bruce Museum describes its work as engaging audiences through art and science, while Family Centers says it works to empower children, adults, families, and communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 41 grants totaling $4,964,230. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $3,000,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant was $3,000,000 to St. Catherine’s Island Foundation for general operations. Other notable grants included $1,000,000 to St. Lawrence University for the Anthony and Constance Soupios P71 Scholarship and $386,730 to the American Museum of Natural History for the St. Catherine’s Island Archaeological Project. Additional grants included $150,000 to Climate Advocates Voces Unidas for general support and $50,000 to Greenwich Hospital for its pediatrics program.
Applications should be initiated by letter describing the project. Materials requested include a brief description of the organization; a concise statement of the project’s need, objectives, methods, and anticipated duration; qualifications of key personnel; a program budget; other support assured and sought; the organization’s most recent IRS 501(c)(3) and 509(a) rulings; its most recent annual audit or financial statement; and a list of officers, directors, or trustees. The foundation may request additional information and arrange a meeting if appropriate. It generally does not consider requests for buildings or equipment and does not make grants to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists EJ Noble Smith as chairman and president; Christine Breite as chief financial officer; Sarah N Smith as secretary and director; and Daniel L Mosley Esq, Edward N Smith, and Maribeth S Smith as directors. E Mary Heffernan is listed as former CFO.
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc is led by Ej Noble Smith, Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ej Noble Smith
Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$284K (2020) → $298K (2024)
Sarah N. Smith
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$21K (2021) → $2K (2024)
Daniel L. Mosley Esq.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward N. Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maribeth S. Smith
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
E. Mary Heffernan
Former CFO
Treasurer → CFO, 2023
CFO → Former CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
$215K (2020) → $257K (2024)
Christine Breite
Chief Financial Officer
CFO - → Chief Financial Officer, 2024
On filings since 2023
30 hrs/week
$19K (2023) → $223K (2024)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Deborah Menton-Nightlinger (2020) — Executive Director & C
- Former: Jeremy T. Smith (2020) — Vice Chairman
- Former: June Noble Larkin (2020) — Chairman Emeritus
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $298K, to Ej Noble Smith (Chairman and President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
How much does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc give each year?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc gave $5.0M across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 23 grants.
What is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $121,079, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edward John Noble Foundation Inc that year got $17K on average.
Where does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc give grants?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Clayton, NY (5 grants), Canton, NY (3 grants) and Greenwich, CT (3 grants).
Does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 54% of Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 41) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include St Catherine's Island Foundation Inc ($3,000,000), St Lawrence University ($1,010,000 across 3 grants) and American Museum of Natural History ($386,730), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc reported $121.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation describes its priorities as supporting cultural and community organizations, particularly education programs and internships in Connecticut and New York; conservation projects on St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward John Noble Foundation Inc?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's EIN?
Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1055586. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edward John Noble Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edward-john-noble-foundation-inc-morg_c454860049a44d2389e783dd0381ac01
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061055586_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edward John Noble Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edward-john-noble-foundation-inc-morg_c454860049a44d2389e783dd0381ac01},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Edward John Noble 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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