Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
The Edward John Noble Foundation Inc is an independent private foundation established as a trust in 1940 in Connecticut and incorporated in 1982. Based in Greenwich, Connecticut, the foundation was founded by Edward John Noble, co-founder of the Life Savers Corporation in 1913 and founder of the American Broadcasting Company, which he established by purchasing the NBC Blue Network in 1943 following a Federal Communications Commission directive requiring RCA to divest one of its two radio networks.
Key facts about Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 06-1055586
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,964,230
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- Average grant
- $121,079
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (21 of 35, 2024)
- Total assets
- $120,968,918
- Primary geography
- Georgia (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- No confirmed application deadlines are provided by the foundation. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). 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
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Edward John Noble Foundation Inc's 41 itemized 2024 grants were Georgia (60%) and New York (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (11 grants), Clayton, NY (5 grants), New Haven, CT (4 grants) and Canton, NY (3 grants). 54% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 21 of 35 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $330K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 37% 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Edward John Noble Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Edward John Noble Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$121.0M
+29.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.0M
+36.2% YoY
Grant Count
41
+78.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$121K
-23.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to support the Arts, Education, Conservation, and Health. Specific funding interests include:
- Cultural Organizations: Grants to major cultural organizations in New York City, with emphasis on educational programs and management training internships
- Education: Programs to improve educational opportunities for gifted and talented disadvantaged children in New York
- Conservation and Ecology: Selected projects primarily related to activities on an island off the coast of Georgia
- Health Education: Programs related to family planning and population education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Review Cycle
are provided by the foundation. The foundation appears to be possibly open to applications and likely has dedicated paid staff.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Edward John Noble Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic scope includes:
- New York (primary focus for cultural and education programs)
- Connecticut
- South Carolina
- National giving in selected areas
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 41 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Income (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $120,968,918 (2024 data)
- Total assets: $93,714,554 (ledger value, 2023)
- Income: $16,106,855 (2023)
- Revenue: $123,000 (2023)
- Total liabilities: $0 (2023)
Foundation Ranking:
- Ranked #1,655 of 159,550 U.S. foundations by assets (top 10%)
- Ranked #88 among Connecticut foundations by assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $120,968,918 | $93,714,554 | $99,786,170 |
| Revenue | $9,293,982 | $122,597 | $2,438,559 |
| Expenses | $8,282,205 | $6,194,213 | $6,080,780 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,121,473 | $4,749,007 | $4,590,637 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,937,516 | — | $1,084,183 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,697,790 | $5,228,390 | $5,376,844 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St Catherine's Island Foundation Inc ($3,000,000), St Lawrence University ($1,010,000 across 3 grants), American Museum of Natural History ($386,730).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel (as of most recent filing):
- EJ Noble Smith - Chairman and President (30 hours/week, $298,000 compensation)
- Christine Breite - Chief Financial Officer (30 hours/week, $223,000 compensation)
- Sarah N Smith - Secretary and Director (1 hour/week, $2,300 compensation)
- Daniel L Mosley Esq - Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Edward N Smith - Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
- Maribeth S Smith - Director (1 hour/week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ej Noble Smith | Chairman and President | 30 | $298,483 |
| Christine Breite | Chief Financial Officer | 30 | $222,516 |
| Sarah N Smith | Secretary and Director | 1 | $2,308 |
| Daniel L Mosley Esq | Director | 1 | — |
| Edward N Smith | Director | 1 | — |
| Maribeth S Smith | Director | 1 | — |
| E Mary Heffernan | Former CFO | — | $256,696 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to support the Arts, Education, Conservation, and Health. Specific funding interests include: • **Cultural Organizations**: Grants to major cultural organizations in New York City, with emphasis on educational programs and management training internships • **Education**: Programs to improve educational opportunities for gifted and talented disadvantaged children in New York • **Conservation and Ecology**: Selected projects primarily related to activities on a…
How do I apply for a grant from Edward John Noble Foundation Inc?
No confirmed application deadlines are provided by the foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's geographic scope includes: • New York (primary focus for cultural and education programs) • Connecticut • South Carolina • National giving in selected areas
What size grants does Edward John Noble Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Edward John Noble Foundation Inc awarded 41 grants totaling $5.0M — an average of about $121K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Edward John Noble Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Edward John Noble Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.