Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Noank, Connecticut. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including schools and universities, community and health organizations, and organizations supporting conservation and environmental preservation.
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc gave $147K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), top state Connecticut. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $146,500
- +22.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,976
- +22.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $2,672,020
- +11.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (5 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (39% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 129 Prospect Hill Road, Noank, CT 06340
Phone: (860) 460-7480
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Hotchkiss School ($10K). Together the top 10 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 98 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Connecticut (39%), New York (20%), Louisiana (7%), North Carolina (7%), and Massachusetts (7%). The listed grants also included recipients in South Carolina and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 21 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 71% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $95K (2021) to $147K (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $147K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Hotchkiss School Lakeville, CT | General support programs. | $10,000 |
| Tulane University New Orleans, LA | Educational support | $10,000 |
| Island Health Project Fishers Island, NY | Conservation education | $10,000 |
| American Chestnut foundation Asheville, NC | Environmental preservation support | $10,000 |
| Safe Futures New London, CT | Support programs for victims of domestic violence. | $10,000 |
| Fishers Island Community Ctr Inc Fishers Island, NY | Cultural, educational and community support | $10,000 |
| Tufts University Medford, MA | Educational programs | $10,000 |
| Mystic & Noank Library Mystic, CT | Educational support | $10,000 |
| The UConn Foundation Inc Storrs, CT | Educational support | $10,000 |
| Avalonia Land Conservancy Inc Old Mystic, CT | Land conservation programs | $7,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,672,020 | $493,110 | $176,202 | $146,500 | 21 | $146,500 | $463,408 | $118,385 |
| 2023 | $2,397,070 | $138,989 | $148,122 | $120,000 | 21 | $120,000 | $110,867 | $113,262 |
| 2022 | $2,264,977 | $121,728 | $144,525 | $112,620 | 19 | $112,620 | $89,823 | $112,718 |
| 2021 | $2,385,304 | $167,791 | $120,621 | $94,999 | 18 | $96,859 | $144,029 | $105,677 |
| 2020 | $1,960,145 | $82,175 | $121,435 | $102,000 | 19 | — | $63,375 | $93,117 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $118K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included educational support, general support, conservation education and land conservation, cultural and community support, and support for programs serving victims of domestic violence.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Safe Futures says its mission is to stop abuse, restore hope, and save lives for people affected by abuse and violence in southeastern Connecticut. Mystic & Noank Library describes its work as maintaining a community library and providing reading materials and related programs and services. Avalonia Land Conservancy says it conserves open space and natural resources for people and wildlife.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $146,500. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $6,000. Notable awards included $10,000 each to The Hotchkiss School for general support programs; Tulane University for educational support; Island Health Project for conservation education; American Chestnut Foundation for environmental preservation support; Safe Futures for programs for victims of domestic violence; Fishers Island Community Center for cultural, educational, and community support; Tufts University for educational programs; Mystic & Noank Library for educational support; and The UConn Foundation for educational support. Other reported grants included $7,000 to Avalonia Land Conservancy for land conservation programs, $6,000 to the College of Charleston for educational programs, and $5,000 to The Taft School for general support. The 2024 filing also lists $5,000 grants to Fishers Island Fire Department, St. Bernard’s School, and St. George’s School.
The grantees describe additional kinds of work: Island Health Project supports quality health care for Fishers Island residents; Fishers Island Fire Department provides emergency boat, EMT, and volunteer fire services at no cost to users; and St. Bernard’s School and St. George’s School describe educational missions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth T Yerkes as president, Harry E Yerkes IV as treasurer, and Nathalie Y George as secretary.
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc is led by Elizabeth T Yerkes, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth T Yerkes
President
Secretary → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harry E Yerkes IV
Treasurer
President → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathalie Y George
Secretary
Treasurer → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc
How much does Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc give each year?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc gave $147K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $120K across 21 grants.
What is Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $6,000, and its average grant was $6,976, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc that year got $9K on average.
Where does Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc give grants?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (20%) and Louisiana (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fishers Island, NY (3 grants) and Lakeville, CT (2 grants).
Does Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Educational support" (3 grants).
Who are Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The Hotchkiss School ($10,000), Tulane University ($10,000) and Island Health Project ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $147K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $118K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included educational support, general support, conservation education and land conservation, cultural and community support, and support for programs serving victims of domestic violence. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's EIN?
Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2566729. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/nancy-spofford-yerkes-foundation-inc-morg_e1a2d8995e904e60893ffc07116981c8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_472566729_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/nancy-spofford-yerkes-foundation-inc-morg_e1a2d8995e904e60893ffc07116981c8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Nancy Spofford Yerkes Foundation 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.
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