Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation
The Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Its 2024 filing reports 12 grants totaling $153,834, all listed for general support.
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation at a glance
In short: Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation gave $154K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in New Jersey. 0% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $153,834
- -19.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $12,820
- +6.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,795,100
- -3.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (68% 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 L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 12022 Leucandra Court, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Phone: (973) 455-4811
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Oasis - a Haven for Women and Children ($43K). Together the top 10 received $153K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey (68%) and Florida (21%), followed by New York (10%) and Tennessee (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 0 of 12 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 150% 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 $133K (2021) to $192K (2023). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $154K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oasis - a Haven for Women and Children Paterson, NJ | General Support | $43,333 |
| Adopt a Family of the Palm Beaches Inc Lake Worth, FL | General Support | $30,000 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University Madison, NJ | General Support | $25,000 |
| Tri-County Scholarship Fund Mendham, NJ | General Support | $25,000 |
| Tunnels to Towers Foundation Staten Island, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
| Alzheimer's Foundation of America New York, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Morristown Memorial Hospital Morristown, NJ | General Support | $5,000 |
| Preschool Advantage Morristown, NJ | General Support | $5,000 |
| Kravis Center for the Performing Arts West Palm Beach, FL | General Support | $2,500 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | General Support | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation?
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 | $1,795,100 | $103,014 | $166,323 | $153,834 | 12 | $153,834 | $96,898 | $102,303 |
| 2023 | $1,856,715 | $72,230 | $206,122 | $191,833 | 16 | $191,833 | $65,332 | $99,402 |
| 2022 | $1,991,782 | $4,565 | $205,284 | $165,833 | 16 | $165,833 | $39,182 | $101,762 |
| 2021 | $2,192,074 | $1,119,841 | $163,249 | $133,000 | 11 | $133,000 | $750,215 | $84,381 |
| 2020 | $1,235,186 | $401,418 | $145,288 | $134,000 | 11 | — | $401,418 | $56,034 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $102K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated missions span education, health, social services, and the arts. For example, Tri-County Scholarship Fund says it provides K–12 scholarships to financially disadvantaged children in northern New Jersey, and Preschool Advantage says it funds qualified children to attend partner preschools. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America describes its mission as providing support, services, and education to people affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and funding research. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $153,834 through 12 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1 to $43,333, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest reported grants were $43,333 to Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children; $30,000 to Adopt a Family of the Palm Beaches; and $25,000 each to Fairleigh Dickinson University and Tri-County Scholarship Fund. The filing lists all 12 grants as general support.
Other reported 2024 grants included $10,000 to Tunnels to Towers Foundation; $5,000 each to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Morristown Memorial Hospital, and Preschool Advantage; $2,500 to Kravis Center for the Performing Arts; $2,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and $1,000 to New Vernon First Aid Squad. Douglass College received $1.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edward L Hennessy Jr as founder; Elizabeth R Hennessy as trustee and executive director; James T Elliott as trustee and treasurer; and John C Onderdonk, Michelle H Daigle, Jeffery N Sandler, and Daniel Mielnicki as trustees.
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation is led by Elizabeth R. Hennessy, Trustee & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth R. Hennessy
Trustee & Executive Director
Senior Vice President, Treasurer & Executive → Trustee & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $5K (2024)
James T. Elliott
Trustee & Treasurer
Vice President & Secretary → Trustee & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Onderdonk
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle H. Daigle
Trustee
Vice President → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Mielnicki
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffery N. Sandler
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward L. Hennessy Jr.
Founder
Vice Chairman → Founder, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Maria Onderdonk (2020–2021) — Trustee & Secretary
- Former: Paul Onderdonk (2020–2021) — Chairman & President
- Former: Jeff Sandler (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Kathy Wang-Hennessy (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Michael E. Hennessy (2020) — Vice President
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 $5K, to Elizabeth R Hennessy (Trustee, Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation
How much does Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation give each year?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation gave $154K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $192K across 16 grants.
What is Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's typical grant size?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,820, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation give grants?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (21%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Morristown, NJ (2 grants).
Does Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's largest grantees?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Oasis - a Haven for Women and Children ($43,333), Adopt a Family of the Palm Beaches Inc ($30,000) and Fairleigh Dickinson University ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $154K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $102K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated missions span education, health, social services, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's EIN?
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3140476. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Other open foundation grants in Florida
Florida Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Judith & Paul Hochhauser Foundation Inc
Merrick, NY
The foundation supports Jewish organizations, hospitals and health-related groups, and community and cultural organizations. Its 2025 grants ranged from $250 to $21,560, with a median of $2,000; most funding went to New York, followed by Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Illinois. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$550K
Grants
27
Total Given
$135K
Ira and Maryjo Sherman Family
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
The foundation supports Jewish and Israel-related organizations, health and medical causes, and arts and cultural institutions, with 2025 grants ranging from $100 to $58,536 and a median of $1,325. Its giving went to organizations in Maryland, New York, Florida, Washington, DC, and Virginia. It funds only preselected charities and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$520K
Grants
28
Total Given
$205K
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
The Sudler Foundation
Chatham, NJ
The Sudler Foundation funds varied charitable organizations, including education, health and human services, and animal welfare; its 2024 grants ranged from $200 to $120,000, with a median of $5,000. Giving was concentrated in New Jersey, New York, and Florida. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$14.7M
Grants
38
Total Given
$478K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Florida
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/edward-l-and-ruth-s-hennessy-foundation-morg_ec785cbfd25d4f95807845df43d90fc4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223140476_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Edward L \& Ruth S Hennessy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/edward-l-and-ruth-s-hennessy-foundation-morg_ec785cbfd25d4f95807845df43d90fc4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation'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.
Edward L & Ruth S Hennessy Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?