New Haven Promise Inc
New Haven Promise Inc is a public charity based in New Haven, Connecticut. It provides incentive-based scholarship funding and support to help New Haven students access and complete college, prepare for careers, and connect with opportunities to live, work, and serve in the greater New Haven community.
New Haven Promise Inc at a glance
In short: New Haven Promise Inc gave $4.8M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $228K), mostly in Connecticut. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,786,192
- +16.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $227,914
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $77,500
- Total assets
- $2,968,372
- +32.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to New Haven Promise Inc
- Review Cycle
- The Class of 2026 senior application deadline was December 23, 2025; that application cycle has passed. The application page says the Class of 2026 application season is closed.
- Deadline
- The Class of 2026 senior application deadline was December 23, 2025; that application cycle has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 28 Lincoln Way, New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 776-6473
Website: https://newhavenpromise.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who New Haven Promise Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Connecticut ($2.8M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($1,102,817), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 85 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in New Haven, Connecticut. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to Connecticut recipients: 92% were in Connecticut, with 2% each in Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland, and 1% in an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is New Haven Promise Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $318K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $78K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $4.1M (2022) to $4.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | Scholarship | $2,774,398 |
| 6 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $1,102,817 |
| University of New Haven West Haven, CT | Scholarship | $222,672 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Scholarship | $131,875 |
| Hampton University Hampton, VA | Scholarship | $112,500 |
| Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT | Scholarship | $80,286 |
| Howard University Washington, DC | Scholarship | $80,000 |
| Morgan State University Baltimore, MD | Scholarship | $77,500 |
| Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT | Scholarship | $67,188 |
| Spelman College Atlanta, GA | Scholarship | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,968,372 | $6,221,208 | $5,837,918 | $4,786,192 | 21 |
| 2024 | $2,236,518 | $5,281,484 | $5,206,260 | $4,122,499 | 18 |
| 2023 | $2,057,306 | $5,195,298 | $5,043,547 | $4,129,570 | 15 |
| 2022 | $1,905,241 | $5,114,232 | $4,972,969 | $4,063,848 | 15 |
| 2021 | $1,892,989 | $4,853,461 | $5,063,690 | $4,355,902 | 16 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
New Haven Promise’s stated mission is to build a culture in public schools in which students aspire to attend and graduate from college, provide financial incentives and support, and facilitate students’ return to live, work, and serve in the greater New Haven community.
Its college-access work includes helping students and families with applications, community service requirements, financial literacy, and college-cost and admissions information. For college success, it provides renewable scholarships, promotes financial-aid completion, works with colleges to support scholars, and offers mentoring and career-development activities. Its career and civic work includes internships, job opportunities, leadership development, and alumni wealth-building activities.
The 2025 grants listed in the filing were for scholarships to colleges and universities. Among those grantees, an individual recipient State University’s foundation describes its role as developing, stewarding, and delivering private financial resources to assist the university; the University of New Haven describes its mission as preparing students for purposeful lives through liberal arts and professional education; and Hampton University describes its mission as promoting learning, building character, and preparing students for leadership and service. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not New Haven Promise’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, New Haven Promise reported 21 grants totaling $4,786,192. Grant amounts ranged from $7,375 to $2,774,398, with a median of $77,500. All listed purposes were scholarships. The largest awards included:
The organization’s scholarship materials describe an online application process. The materials say applicants must be New Haven residents and attend New Haven Public Schools or approved New Haven charter schools continuously for at least grades 9–12. They also list attendance, GPA, disciplinary-record, and community-service requirements. A parent or guardian must authorize the application; students who qualify must sign a FERPA release to accept benefits. Scholarship amounts are calculated individually, and grants are paid directly to colleges and universities for credit to student accounts, up to the total cost of education. These are benefits for the organization’s scholars, not an application process for outside organizations seeking grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Patricia Melton as President and Maurie McInnis as Board Chair. It also lists Brett Hoover, Director of Data and Digital Strategy, and directors Justin Elicker, Karen DuBois-Walton, Christopher O’Connor, Nathan Fuerst, July D Olian, and Tamar Gendler.
New Haven Promise Inc is led by Patricia Melton, President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patricia Melton
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$167K (2021) → $225K (2025)
Maurie McInnis
Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brett Hoover
Director - Data & Digital Strategy
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
July D Olian
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Elicker
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Fuerst
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher O'Connor
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamar Gendler
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen DuBois-Walton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Peter Salovey (2021–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: William Ginsberg (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: William Terry Brown PhD (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Joe Bertolino (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Marna P Borgstrom (2021–2022) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $225K, to Patricia Melton (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about New Haven Promise Inc
How much does New Haven Promise Inc give each year?
New Haven Promise Inc gave $4.8M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $4.1M across 18 grants.
What is New Haven Promise Inc's typical grant size?
New Haven Promise Inc's median grant in 2025 was $77,500, and its average grant was $227,914, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from New Haven Promise Inc that year got $20K on average.
Where does New Haven Promise Inc give grants?
New Haven Promise Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Haven, CT (2 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does New Haven Promise Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on New Haven Promise Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (21 grants).
Who are New Haven Promise Inc's largest grantees?
New Haven Promise Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Connecticut ($2,774,398), University of New Haven ($222,672) and Yale University ($131,875), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 6 individual scholarships ($1,102,817), which are not listed by name. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is New Haven Promise Inc?
New Haven Promise Inc reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.2M.
What does New Haven Promise Inc fund?
New Haven Promise’s stated mission is to build a culture in public schools in which students aspire to attend and graduate from college, provide financial incentives and support, and facilitate students’ return to live, work, and serve in the greater New Haven community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from New Haven Promise Inc?
New Haven Promise Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check newhavenpromise.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is New Haven Promise Inc's EIN?
New Haven Promise Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1267064. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). New Haven Promise Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/new-haven-promise-inc-morg_8e3d0657495d45c79fe93fbda9999f4f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_811267064_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{New Haven Promise Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/new-haven-promise-inc-morg_8e3d0657495d45c79fe93fbda9999f4f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 New Haven Promise 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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