Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation
The Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation is a private foundation established in 1997 and based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Key facts about Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation
- EIN
- 06-1485833
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,496,189
- Grants made (2025)
- 104
- Average grant
- $24,002
- Median grant
- $7,250
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (8 of 104, 2025)
- Total assets
- $8,677,773
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation's 104 itemized 2025 grants were Connecticut (91%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bridgeport, CT (47 grants), Fairfield, CT (8 grants), Trumbull, CT (8 grants) and New Haven, CT (6 grants). None of its 104 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation" (104 grants).
Is Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 104 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). 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 Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation
- How to evaluate Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.7M
+13.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
+3.9% YoY
Grant Count
104
+7.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-3.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds in furtherance of its stated objectives. Its primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 92 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $617,020.
Ready to take the next step with Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 104 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year Ending April 2025:
- Total Assets: $8,677,773
- Total Revenue: $3,358,261
- Total Expenses: $2,584,240
- Total Giving: $2,496,189
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,677,773 | $7,657,439 | $8,181,819 |
| Revenue | $3,358,261 | $1,854,147 | $1,181,994 |
| Expenses | $2,584,240 | $2,472,927 | $2,405,115 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,496,189 | $2,402,720 | $2,328,101 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,304,391 | $1,797,181 | $1,125,280 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,489,304 | $2,496,189 | $2,403,320 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
489 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include University of Bridgeport ($400,000), Norwalk Hospital Foundation ($250,000), ST Vincent'S Medical Center Foundation ($217,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $400,000 |
| Norwalk Hospital Foundation Norwalk, 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 | $217,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Greater Hudson Valley Valhalla, NY | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $132,000 |
| Ronald McDonald House Of New Haven CT New Haven, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $125,000 |
| Bridgeport Hospital Foundation Bridgeport, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $100,000 |
| Wakemans Boys & Girls Club Fairfield, CT | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $100,000 |
| Kids And Clay Foundation Michigan City, IN | In Furtherance of Stated Objectives of the Foundation | $68,900 |
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian C Trefz | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Paul D Trefz | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Linda M Trefz | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 10 Middle Street, Floor 17, Bridgeport, CT 06604-4257
Phone: 203-367-3621
EIN: 06-1485833
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds in furtherance of its stated objectives. Its primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation?
The foundation made 92 grants in its most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $617,020. Recent notable grants include: • University of Bridgeport: $400,000 • Norwalk Hospital Foundation: $250,000 • St. Vincent Medical Center Foundation: $217,000
Where does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, New York, and California.
What size grants does Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation award?
In 2025, Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation awarded 104 grants totaling $2.5M — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.