Friend a Russ Fund Inc
Friend a Russ Fund Inc is a private foundation, based in Shelton, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $66K. Net investment income was $74K.
Friend a Russ Fund Inc at a glance
In short: Friend a Russ Fund Inc gave $66K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $65,500
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,917
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $1,311,510
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friend a Russ Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Griffen Hospital ($25K). Together the top 6 received $66K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Friend a Russ Fund Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $64K (2024) to $66K (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $66K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Griffen Hospital Derby, CT | Charitable | $25,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley Shelton, CT | Charitable | $12,000 |
| Derbyshelton Rotary Clubarea Congregation Together Act Derby, CT | Charitable | $12,000 |
| Valley United Way Ansonia, CT | Charitable | $12,000 |
| Housatonic BSA Derby, CT | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Girl Scouts of CT Hartford, CT | Charitable | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Friend a Russ Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,311,510 | $86,217 | $81,193 | $65,500 | 6 | $65,500 | $73,837 | $62,478 |
| 2024 | $1,267,348 | $47,721 | $74,868 | $63,950 | 6 | $63,950 | $38,600 | $57,878 |
| 2023 | $1,105,213 | $53,252 | $74,723 | $64,000 | 6 | $64,000 | $44,622 | $52,631 |
| 2022 | $1,057,625 | $150,800 | $79,205 | $66,000 | 5 | $66,000 | $140,549 | $58,760 |
| 2021 | $1,408,936 | $30,053 | $75,584 | $64,000 | 4 | — | $19,642 | $64,201 |
| 2020 | $1,209,316 | $48,397 | $75,619 | $65,400 | 8 | — | $39,538 | $59,874 |
| 2019 | $1,238,300 | $90,437 | $77,246 | $65,400 | 8 | — | $82,002 | $61,648 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Friend a Russ Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $62K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friend a Russ Fund Inc is led by Thomas M. Sutnik, President & Trustee on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas M. Sutnik
President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Donahue
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Casalveri
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Coffey
Trustee
Trustee & Treasurer → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Wilson
Trustee & Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Friend a Russ Fund Inc
How much does Friend a Russ Fund Inc give each year?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc gave $66K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $64K across 6 grants.
What is Friend a Russ Fund Inc's typical grant size?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $10,917, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Friend a Russ Fund Inc give grants?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Derby, CT (3 grants).
Does Friend a Russ Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Friend a Russ Fund Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (6 grants).
Who are Friend a Russ Fund Inc's largest grantees?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Griffen Hospital ($25,000), Boys & Girls Club of Lower Naugatuck Valley ($12,000) and Derbyshelton Rotary Clubarea Congregation Together Act ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Friend a Russ Fund Inc?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $66K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $62K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Friend a Russ Fund Inc's EIN?
Friend a Russ Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6035481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Other open foundation grants in Connecticut
Connecticut Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friend a Russ Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common
The Own Your Future Foundation Inc
Shelton, CT
Assets
$442K
Grants
4
Total Given
$58K
Raymond P Lavietes Foundation Inc
Shelton, CT
Assets
$865K
Grants
5
Total Given
$300K
Griffin Hospital
Derby, CT
Griffin Hospital is committed to providing personalized, humanistic, consumer-driven health care in a healing environment, to empowering individuals to be actively involved in decisions affecting their care and well-being through access to information and education. (sch. O)Griffin Hospital is also committed to providing leadership to improve the health of the community we serve.
Assets
$218.4M
Grants
6
Total Given
$229K
The HH Peterson & Howard Gcrockey
Farmington, MO
The foundation funds a range of charitable organizations, including health and hospice groups, churches, and community nonprofits. Its grants are typically $500–$2,000, mostly in Missouri, with some funding in Florida. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265K
Grants
20
Total Given
$27K
The Valley Community Foundation Inc
Derby, CT
The Valley Community Foundation supports civic vitality, health, education, and arts and culture, with priority for nonprofits serving Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,495 to $142,500, with a median of $15,000; its Valley Community Grants offer $250 to $2,500. The profile describes application and inquiry processes but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
45
Total Given
$1.1M
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 Connecticut
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Friend a Russ Fund Inc'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.
Friend a Russ Fund Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?