Marks Family Foundation
The Marks Family Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hartford, Connecticut. Its 2025 filing reports 12 grants totaling $19,130 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in youth development, animal welfare, hunger relief, and health.
Marks Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Marks Family Foundation gave $19K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Connecticut. 58% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $19,130
- -43.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,594
- -48.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $271,360
- -1.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (7 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (70% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Marks Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. The filing describes an application by letter and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Heather J Rhoades Esq Cummings Lock
Mailing address: 75 Isham Road Ste 400, West Hartford, CT 06107
Phone: (860) 313-4933
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marks Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($2K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut, 13% to Maryland, 9% to Washington, DC, and 8% to Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Marks Family Foundation open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 12 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 63% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2025) to $34K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $19K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Bethesda, MD | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $2,416 |
| Camp Laurelwood Madison, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,854 |
| Bnai Brith Youth Organization Washington, DC | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,800 |
| Camp Courant Hartford, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,800 |
| The Animal Haven Inc North Haven, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,510 |
| Cheshire Community Food Pantry Inc Cheshire, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,500 |
| Connecticut Foodshare Wallingford, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,500 |
| Connecticut Humane Society Newington, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,500 |
| Farmington Food Pantry Inc Farmington, CT | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,500 |
| St Jude's Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | Current Use for General Charitable Purposes | $1,500 |
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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 | $271,360 | $25,161 | $28,762 | $19,130 | 12 | $19,130 | $16,203 | $30,395 |
| 2024 | $274,287 | $55,719 | $44,342 | $34,000 | 11 | $34,000 | $47,191 | $27,637 |
| 2023 | $262,910 | $29,680 | $28,193 | $20,000 | 8 | $20,000 | $21,487 | $26,380 |
| 2022 | $261,423 | $27,477 | $36,818 | $28,000 | 15 | $28,000 | $18,659 | $29,276 |
| 2021 | $270,764 | $8,115 | $30,134 | $22,000 | 14 | — | $13 | $25,773 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marks Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $30K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Camp Laurelwood describes its work as fostering personal growth and leadership through Jewish overnight and day camps; Camp Courant says it provides camp and youth-development experiences for city children. Connecticut Foodshare describes its mission as responding to hunger, and The Animal Haven says it provides refuge and adoptive homes for homeless dogs and cats.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $19,130. Grants ranged from $750 to $2,416, with a median of $1,500. The largest grants included $2,416 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, $1,854 to Camp Laurelwood, and $1,800 each to Bnai Brith Youth Organization and Camp Courant. Other recipients included The Animal Haven ($1,510), Cheshire Community Food Pantry ($1,500), Connecticut Foodshare ($1,500), Connecticut Humane Society ($1,500), Farmington Food Pantry ($1,500), St Jude's Children's Research Hospital ($1,500), The Simon Foundation ($1,500), and Farmington Public Schools Foundation ($750). The listed grants were for current use for general charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joanne M Dragunoff was listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Marks Family Foundation is led by Joanne M Dragunoff, Trustee on every filing since 2024 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joanne M Dragunoff
Trustee
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Sheila T Marks (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Marks Family Foundation
How much does Marks Family Foundation give each year?
Marks Family Foundation gave $19K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $34K across 11 grants.
What is Marks Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Marks Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,594, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marks Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Marks Family Foundation give grants?
Marks Family Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (13%) and District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Farmington, CT (2 grants).
Does Marks Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Marks Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Marks Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Marks Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cystic Fibrosis Foundation ($2,416), Camp Laurelwood ($1,854) and Bnai Brith Youth Organization ($1,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Marks Family Foundation?
Marks Family Foundation reported $271K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $30K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Marks Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marks Family Foundation?
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marks Family Foundation's EIN?
Marks Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1570465. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Marks Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Figures come from Marks Family Foundation'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.
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