Seedlings Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2002 and based in Branford, Connecticut. The foundation supports programs that nourish the physical and mental health of children and families, and foster an educated and engaged citizenship. It maintains a deliberately low profile while serving as a significant funder of education, journalism, civic engagement, and mental health research initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$215.4M
+11.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.6M
+9.8% YoY
Grant Count
88
+11.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$257K
-1.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated mission is to support programs that nourish the physical and mental health of children and families, and foster an educated and engaged citizenship.
Primary funding areas include:
Education: The foundation's largest giving area, supporting a range of schools and programs from early childhood through higher education. Early childhood giving prioritizes quality learning experiences and early literacy. K-12 support focuses on schools and educational initiatives, with particular emphasis on project-based learning and teacher development.
Civic Engagement & Journalism: Support for programs that promote informed citizenship and media literacy, including journalism organizations and civic education initiatives.
Mental Health & Child Wellness: Funding for programs addressing the physical and mental health of children and families.
Dyslexia Education & Awareness: Programs designed to educate the public about dyslexia, its signs, and available support resources.
Social Justice: Educational programs addressing social justice topics.
Grantmaking
American Journalism Project, Anti-Defamation League, Boundless Literacy, Calvin Hill Day Care Center, The Clifford Beers Clinic, Climate Haven, Community Dining Room Inc., The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, ConnCAT, The Connecticut Mirror, Connecticut Voices for Children, Francis W. Parker School, Friends Center for Children, Grameen America, Habitat for Humanity, Illinois Institute of Technology, International Festival of Arts and Ideas Inc., International Medical Corps, Internews, IRIS (Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services), Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, LEAP (Leadership, Education & Athletics in Partnerships), Long Wharf Theater, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, The My Hero Project, The National Archives Foundation, National Diaper Bank Network, National Poetry Series, The New Haven Independent, Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, The Neurodiversity Alliance, New Haven Reads, NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship), PEN America, Read to Grow, Service Year Alliance, Soundview Family YMCA, Symphony Space, TINA (Truth in Advertising), United Way of Greater New Haven, Women's Health Research at Yale, World Central Kitchen, Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1.7 million
Average Grant
Approximately $256,000
How to Apply
**: Seedlings Foundation does not review or accept unsolicited grant proposals.
Ready to take the next step with Seedlings Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grantmaking is national in scope with significant geographic concentration:
- Approximately 50% of grants support Connecticut-based organizations
- Particular emphasis on New Haven and Branford communities
- Secondary focus on New York and the District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $215.4 million
- Total revenue: $62.6 million
- Total expenses: $25.3 million
- Net income: $37.3 million
- Total liabilities: $0
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $193.9 million
- Total revenue: $86.9 million
- Total expenses: $23.7 million
The foundation ranks among the largest private foundations in Connecticut.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $215,354,231 | $193,952,084 | $144,986,692 |
| Revenue | $62,611,847 | $86,918,654 | $39,211,516 |
| Expenses | $25,267,460 | $23,668,921 | $27,750,289 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $23,374,571 | $21,484,425 | $26,734,704 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,031,792 | $86,314,710 | $38,580,309 |
| Distributable Amount | $19,969,482 | $17,331,667 | $18,562,794 |
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
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is steered by sisters Karen Pritzker and Linda Pritzker (also known as Lama Tsomo). Both are daughters of the late Robert Pritzker, an heir to the Pritzker family fortune and founder of the Marmon Group, a conglomerate of industrial companies. Karen Pritzker is a documentary film producer, and Linda Pritzker is a Buddhist spiritual leader and author.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN PRITZKER | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| TONI BURT | TREASURER & SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| LINDA PRITZKER | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | — | — |
| AUDREY RATNER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include:
A $2.5 million grant to YIVO to create learning and media resources
YIVO Receives $2.5 Million Grant to Create Learning and Media ...A five-year grant to PEN America to fund the DREAMing Out Loud program
New Grant Award Will Fund PEN America's DREAMing Out Loud ...Support for Wild Ones' Seeds for Education Grant program
Announcing the 2026 Wild Ones Seeds for Education Grant Awardees - WildContact Information
- Address: 944 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405
- Phone: 203-481-5740
- Website: seedlingsct.org
- EIN: 04-3600502
- Tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since July 2002
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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