The Elizabeth Ferry Speer Foundation is a private foundation based in Avon, Connecticut. Established in 2009, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes. The foundation is also known as Christopher S Drew Ttee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.2M
+30.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$565K
+34.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
+15.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+17.0% YoY
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants to nonprofit organizations across various sectors. Recent grant activity demonstrates a diverse funding portfolio:
Grant Range
s typically range from $15,000 (median) to $100,000 (maximum).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a Connecticut base in Avon and supports organizations both locally and nationally, as evidenced by grants to institutions such as The Frick Collection (New York-based).
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $7,165,361
- Total Revenues: $2,373,708
- Total Expenses: $715,969
- Number of Employees: 1
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $5.51 Million
- Total Revenues: $962,000
- Total Expenses: $548,000
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $249,284
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,124,424
The foundation's asset base and revenue have grown significantly year-over-year, with investment gains representing a substantial portion of annual revenues.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,165,361 | $5,507,316 | $5,091,538 |
| Revenue | $2,373,708 | $961,588 | $1,116,117 |
| Expenses | $715,969 | $548,321 | $528,414 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $610,150 | $448,905 | $429,210 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,277,967 | $880,408 | $1,035,677 |
| Distributable Amount | $563,138 | $446,119 | $411,194 |
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
111 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christopher S Drew - Trustee (1 hour per week, $9,000 compensation)
- John E Drew - Trustee (5 hours per week, $99,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER S DREW | TRUSTEE | 1 | $22,570 |
| JOHN E DREW | TRUSTEE | 5 | $112,900 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in recent grant distributions, with 20 grants distributed in the 2023 tax year totaling approximately $449,000 in distributions.
Speer Dream Foundation awards more than $2.3 million in grants during inauguralSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Grants
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Total Given
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Total Given
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Total Given
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Total Given
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Russel R Taylor Foundation
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Assets
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Total Given
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Nancy a Larson Foundation Inc
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Assets
$9K
Grants
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Total Given
$12K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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