General William Mayer Foundation
The General William Mayer Foundation is a private foundation located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Established in March 1969, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to funding outreach and service activities within its community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$114K
+9.6% YoY
Grant Count
37
+5.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, General William Mayer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to fund outreach and service activities within its community. The foundation receives contributions from donors, which are invested periodically. At least annually, the board of directors determines which charitable organizations will receive contributions and the amounts of each grant. The foundation generates income through interest, dividends, and gains from the sale of assets held in its investment portfolio.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 36 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,879,668
- Total Revenues: $124,120
- Total Expenses: $156,822
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Total Giving: $114,000
The foundation has no employees and operates with volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,879,668 | $1,912,370 | $1,971,656 |
| Revenue | $124,120 | $106,580 | $240,222 |
| Expenses | $156,822 | $165,866 | $115,488 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $131,684 | $139,848 | $90,412 |
| Net Investment Income | $98,982 | $80,562 | $215,146 |
| Distributable Amount | $146,195 | $132,967 | $139,399 |
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
181 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Robert C Parker School ($13,500), Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm Wildlife ($10,750), The Chill Foundation ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Museum of Natural History New York, NY | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $500 |
| Tuck School of Business Hanover, NH | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $750 |
| Berkshire School Sheffield, MA | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $200 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $800 |
| The Chill Foundation Burlington, VT | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $10,000 |
| Colby College Waterville, ME | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $300 |
| Colgate University Hamilton, NY | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $1,450 |
| Dana Hall School Wellesley, MA | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $700 |
| Deerfield Academy Deerfield, MA | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $2,350 |
| Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm Wildlife Lincoln, MA | To further organization's outreach & service activities to its community. | $10,750 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deborah M O'Brien | President | 2.55 | $4,638 |
| Edward F Krzanowski | Treasurer | 0.21 | — |
| Cynthia M Benfield | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Daniel P Benfield | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Edward P Benfield | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Thomas G Benfield | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Cathey M Kennedy | Secretary | 0.57 | $1,032 |
| G Reed Kennedy | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Elisabeth W Mayer | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Gerald G Mayer | Vice President | 0.15 | — |
| William H Mayer | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| James N P O'Brien | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Lauren M F O'Brien | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
| Timothy G F O'Brien | Vice President | 0.12 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does General William Mayer Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is to fund outreach and service activities within its community. The foundation receives contributions from donors, which are invested periodically. At least annually, the board of directors determines which charitable organizations will receive contributions and the amounts of each grant. The foundation generates income through interest, dividends, and gains from the sale of assets held in its investment portfolio.
How do I apply for a grant from General William Mayer Foundation?
The foundation made 36 grants in 2024. Recent grant recipients include: • Robert C Parker School: $13,500 (2024) — to further the organization's outreach and service activities to its community • Westerly Land Trust: grant amount listed in 2024 Typical grant awards range from $100 to $13,500. The foundation's total giving in 2024 was $114,000.
Where does General William Mayer Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
What size grants does General William Mayer Foundation award?
In 2024, General William Mayer Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $114K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is General William Mayer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, General William Mayer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is General William Mayer Foundation's EIN?
General William Mayer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2625602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in General William Mayer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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