J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc
The J. Walton Bissell Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hartford, Connecticut, established in 1989. The foundation provides funding to nonprofit organizations that advance change for individuals and families, with a primary focus on the Hartford area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.9M
+1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+8.8% YoY
Grant Count
85
+1.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is guided by the humility and commitment to inclusion exemplified by J. Walton Bissell. According to the foundation's statement, it is determined to use its resources in ways that match his legacy, focusing on the aspirations of individuals and families who have gone unseen and excluded.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation emphasizes being at others' disposal and incorporating what its partners are teaching, with new program designs announced throughout the year.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The foundation operates on a term-based application system. As of January 2026, the foundation launched a new application portal (updated in June 2025) and announced Term I 2026 grant applications. The foundation indicates that new program designs and application information will be announced in advance of each term's application period.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Hartford.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $19,891,758 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $1,057,825 (2024)
Total Revenue: $1,666,249 (2024)
Total Expenses: $1,378,249 (2024)
Net Assets: $19,891,303 (2024)
The foundation's financial data is derived from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,891,758 | $19,603,677 | $19,984,395 |
| Revenue | $1,666,249 | $886,747 | $546,803 |
| Expenses | $1,378,249 | $1,266,690 | $1,341,317 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,292,948 | $1,193,483 | $1,283,315 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,597,108 | $814,798 | $499,126 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,273,185 | $1,157,503 | $1,190,241 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charter Oak Amateur Boxing Academy ($25,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ct ($20,000), Bushnell Park Foundation ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY FOUNDATION NEW HAVEN, CT | CT BLACK & BROWN STUDENT UNION: HARTFORD | $10,000 |
| ACCESS COLLEGE CONSULTING CORPORATION WEST HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| ARTS FOR LEARNING CONNECTICUT INC HAMDEN, CT | WORK IN HARTFORD REGION | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CT HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF CONNECTICUT WINDSOR, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BUSHNELL PARK FOUNDATION HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| CAPITOL SQUASH INC HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND JUSTICE HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CHARTER OAK AMATEUR BOXING ACADEMY HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's trustees include Sarah D. Anthony and Hyacinth Douglas-Bailey. The foundation operates with one employee.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH D ANTHONY | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $125,550 |
| HYACINTH DOUGLAS-BAILEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| RICHARD A BROWN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| ELIZABETH B ARULAMPALAM | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
| ANDREW F MAYO | DIRECTOR | 1 | $9,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced significant updates to its operations in 2025-2026, including the development of a new application portal launched in June 2025 and key element updates announced in January 2026. The foundation has indicated that new program designs will be announced throughout 2026 in advance of its Term II 2026 application and grantmaking cycle.
BISSELL Pet Foundation Celebrates 1 Million Pets Impacted Through LifesavingFrequently Asked Questions
What does J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation is guided by the humility and commitment to inclusion exemplified by J. Walton Bissell. According to the foundation's statement, it is determined to use its resources in ways that match his legacy, focusing on the aspirations of individuals and families who have gone unseen and excluded. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation emphasizes being at others' disposal and incorporating what its partners are t…
How do I apply for a grant from J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $3,000 to $30,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made approximately $883,450 in annual grants in 2023, with 72 grants documented. Recent grantees have included: • Second Chance Re-Entry Initiative Program ($25,000) • Knox ($25,000) • Hartford Public Library ($25,000) • Arts for Learning Connecticut ($10,000) **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a term-based application system. As of January 2026, the foundation launched a n…
Where does J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut and Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Hartford.
What size grants does J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc awarded 85 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc's EIN?
J Walton Bissell Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1245402. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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