New Canaan Community Foundation Inc
The New Canaan Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in New Canaan, Connecticut, founded in 1977. The Foundation serves as a local philanthropic partner that provides leadership on community issues, addresses community needs, and makes impactful grants to local nonprofits. The organization offers a range of philanthropic and educational services to residents, collaborating with donors to help achieve their personal giving goals while leveraging volunteer leadership to maximize community impact.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.0M
+19.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
-38.8% YoY
Grant Count
106
+14.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
-46.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation leads local philanthropy and makes careful investments in area nonprofit organizations. The organization's grantmaking pursues impact across five primary categories:
- Human Services – Supporting community members' ability to meet basic needs
- Arts, Culture & Community Resources – Providing access to cultural, recreational, and community resources
- Youth & Education – Ensuring youth have academic, social, and financial support to succeed
- Health – Providing information and access to health services
- Seniors & Special Needs – Supporting older adults and persons with special needs in maintaining quality of life
The Foundation has placed additional strategic focus on behavioral health and COVID-19 response initiatives.
Grantmaking
The Foundation distributes grants through multiple programs and mechanisms:
Review Cycle
(2025): Over $1 million awarded
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation primarily serves New Canaan and neighboring communities in lower Fairfield County, Connecticut. Grants support nonprofit organizations in New Canaan and the surrounding region, though donors have the flexibility to direct giving anywhere in the United States while leveraging the Foundation's local expertise.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2025):
- Total Assets: $32,012,168
- Total Revenues: $9,847,106
- Total Expenses: $3,559,033
- Total Giving: $2,571,413
Rating: The Foundation holds a Four-Star rating with a 95% score, reflecting strong accountability and financial management.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,012,168 | $26,789,085 | $25,768,610 |
| Revenue | $9,847,106 | $3,495,364 | $2,915,669 |
| Expenses | $3,559,033 | $5,018,284 | $2,685,577 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $5,192,822 | $1,068,447 | $782,777 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from New Canaan Community Foundation Inc
Annual Main Grant Funding Cycle
NEW CANAAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Main Grant Cycle
NEW CANAAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Sapienza Scholarship - Block Grant Program
NEW CANAAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
April 17, 2026
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Executive Leadership:
- Chris Schipper – Chairman
- Michael Reed – Chief Investment Officer
- Leo Karl – Board Member
- Dan Rashin – Board Member
- Kristina Woods – Board Member
Staff: The Foundation employs 13 people as of the most recent reporting period, representing an 18.8% year-over-year increase.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY WILLIAMS | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| AARON COOPER | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| CHRIS SCHIPPER | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| JIM CLAYTON | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| EILEEN BOYD | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| DAN HARRIS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DAN RASHIN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ERICA SCHWEDEL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAYNE BENTON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOHN SHEFFIELD | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KAREN MACTAS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KRISTINA WOODS | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MONICA CHIMERA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ROSS WEINER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SARA SCHUBERT | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SUZANNE HARRISON | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JIM HUETTER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL REED | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHELLE RILEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARLEY THACKRAY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| HOLLY CASELLA | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| WILLIAM HINES | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TIFFANY KUEHNER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ALEX STEWART | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| LAUREN PATTERSON | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $148,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2026 Volunteer Recognition Awards** – The Foundation announced its 2026 Volunteer Recognition Awards program
New Canaan Community Foundation 2026 Volunteer Recognition Awards - NewsBreak**2025 Annual Grant Cycle** – Over $1 million awarded in the annual grant cycle
New Canaan Community Foundation Awards Over $1 Million in Annual Grant Cycle**Behavioral Health Focus** – Continued emphasis on behavioral health as a priority area for the fourth consecutive year, with nine grants totaling $108,275 distributed through the Community Behavioral Health Fund
Nine Grants Issued from Community Behavioral Health Fund, totaling $108,275\_\**Young Philanthropists Program** – Recent grant awards of $24,500 to 6 nonprofit organizations through the youth-focused program
New Canaan Community Foundation Awards Over $1 Million in Annual Grant Cycle**Annual Reports** – The Foundation publishes annual reports documenting its grantmaking and impact (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 reports available)
New Canaan Community Foundation Awards Over $1 Million in Annual Grant CycleSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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