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.
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
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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, New York, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
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 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 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
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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