Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation
The Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation is a private foundation based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In its 2026 filing, it reported 109 grants totaling $2,493,654 to charitable organizations, primarily in Connecticut.
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation at a glance
In short: Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation gave $2.5M across 109 grants in 2026 (avg $23K), mostly in Connecticut. 29% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $2,493,654
- -0.1% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 109
- +4.8% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $22,878
- -4.7% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $9,218,794
- +6.2% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (32 of 109, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (90% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ernest and Joan Trefz 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: 10 Middle Street 17Th Floor, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Phone: (203) 367-3621
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was University of Bridgeport ($377K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
506 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 446 grants of 506 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut, 7% to recipients in New York, and 3% to recipients in Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 109 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 32 of 109 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 71% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+7%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2026). 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 2019 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2019) to $2.5M (2025). In 2026 it made 109 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $377,337 |
| Norwalk Hospital Foundation Danbury, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $250,000 |
| St Vincent's Medical Center Foundation Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $190,727 |
| Ronald McDonald House Greater Hudson Valley Valhalla, NY | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $150,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT & Western MA New Haven, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $150,000 |
| Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $100,000 |
| Kids & Clays Foundation Michigan City, IN | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $68,900 |
| CT Beardsley Zoo Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $50,000 |
| Danbury Hospital Development Fund Danbury, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $50,000 |
| Housatonic Community College Foundation Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $9,218,794 | $2,060,582 | $2,637,390 | $2,493,654 | 109 | $2,493,654 | $2,002,577 | $2,635,398 |
| 2025 | $8,677,773 | $3,358,261 | $2,584,240 | $2,496,189 | 104 | $2,496,189 | $3,304,391 | $2,489,304 |
| 2024 | $7,657,439 | $1,854,147 | $2,472,927 | $2,402,720 | 97 | $2,402,720 | $1,797,181 | $2,496,189 |
| 2023 | $8,181,819 | $1,181,994 | $2,405,115 | $2,328,101 | 97 | $2,328,101 | $1,125,280 | $2,403,320 |
| 2022 | $15,102,626 | $1,377,532 | $2,143,976 | $2,056,640 | 99 | $2,056,640 | $1,316,518 | $2,342,797 |
| 2021 | $15,706,792 | $1,229,417 | $2,094,370 | $2,034,544 | 92 | — | $1,173,873 | $2,063,575 |
| 2019 | $17,125,046 | $1,039,665 | $1,893,898 | $1,806,110 | 86 | — | $983,672 | $1,857,417 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2026 — 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’s listed grant purposes are “In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation”; the available information does not specify those objectives. Its 2026 grantees include hospitals and hospital foundations, educational institutions, and community organizations. For example, Norwalk Hospital Foundation describes its mission as raising and administering funds for Norwalk Hospital and its nonprofit affiliates. Bridgeport Caribe Youth Leaders says it provides youth with sports, educational, and civic direction, while Caroline House describes its work as empowering low-income immigrant women and their children in the Greater Bridgeport area.
Grantmaking
In its 2026 filing, the foundation reported 109 grants totaling $2,493,654. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $377,337, with a median grant of $7,000. The largest listed grants included $377,337 to the University of Bridgeport, $250,000 to Norwalk Hospital Foundation, $190,727 to St Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation, and $150,000 each to Ronald McDonald House Greater Hudson Valley and Ronald McDonald House Charities of CT & Western MA.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Christian C Trefz, Paul D Trefz, and Linda M Trefz as trustees.
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's 2026 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Christian C Trefz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda M Trefz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul D Trefz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joan M Trefz (2019–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation
How much does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation give each year?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation gave $2.5M across 109 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $2.5M across 104 grants.
What is Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's typical grant size?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $7,000, and its average grant was $22,878, across 109 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation give grants?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bridgeport, CT (41 grants), Trumbull, CT (8 grants), Fairfield, CT (8 grants) and New Haven, CT (6 grants).
Does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 109 grants with a stated purpose on Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation" (109 grants).
Who are Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's largest grantees?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include University of Bridgeport ($377,337), Norwalk Hospital Foundation ($250,000) and St Vincent's Medical Center Foundation ($190,727), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation reported $9.2M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation fund?
The foundation’s listed grant purposes are “In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation”; the available information does not specify those objectives. Its 2026 grantees include hospitals and hospital foundations, educational institutions, and community organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ernest and Joan Trefz 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 Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's EIN?
Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1485833. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2026.
Does Ernest and Joan Trefz 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 24, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS July 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ernest-and-joan-trefz-foundation-morg_9ae40bf322f64c11b857d3734e0766ac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061485833_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ernest-and-joan-trefz-foundation-morg_9ae40bf322f64c11b857d3734e0766ac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ernest and Joan Trefz 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.
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