Swedish Aid Society
Swedish Aid Society is a private foundation based in Cheshire, Connecticut. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, primarily in Connecticut, for food assistance and, in one case, research.
Swedish Aid Society at a glance
In short: Swedish Aid Society gave $31K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Connecticut. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $31,000
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,818
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $3,611
- -59.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (97% 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 Swedish Aid Society
- 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: 764 Devonwood Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410
Phone: (203) 645-2510
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Swedish Aid Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Connecticut Foodshare ($7K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 55 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing shows that 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 3% to recipients in Maryland. The listed grants include organizations in several Connecticut communities and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Bethesda, Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Swedish Aid Society open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2024) to $31K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $31K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Foodshare Wallingford, CT | Food Bank | $6,600 |
| Branford Food Pantry Branford, CT | Food Bank | $3,000 |
| Community Dining Room Branford, CT | Food For Needy | $3,000 |
| Wheat West Haven, CT | Food For Needy | $3,000 |
| Newreach New Haven, CT | Food For Needy | $3,000 |
| Saint Paul IV Parish Hamden, CT | Food for needy | $3,000 |
| Food Pantry of North Branford North Branford, CT | Food For Needy | $3,000 |
| Masters Manna Wallingford, CT | Food for needy | $3,000 |
| Bethesda Luteran Church New Haven, CT | Food for Needy | $1,200 |
| Tabor Lutheran Church Branford, CT | Food For Needy | $1,200 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,611 | $25,833 | $31,213 | $31,000 | 11 | $31,000 | $169 |
| 2024 | $8,991 | $30,108 | $24,558 | $24,350 | 11 | $24,350 | $443 |
| 2023 | $3,441 | $21,661 | $27,708 | $27,500 | 11 | $27,500 | $165 |
| 2022 | $9,488 | $34,175 | $27,992 | $27,800 | 11 | $27,800 | $326 |
| 2021 | $3,305 | $30,166 | $30,192 | $30,000 | 11 | $30,000 | $163 |
| 2020 | $3,331 | $29,196 | $29,328 | $29,200 | 12 | — | $163 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swedish Aid Society reported a distributable amount of $169 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 grants include support for food banks, food pantries, and organizations serving people experiencing hunger. For example, Connecticut Foodshare describes its mission as delivering an informed and equitable response to hunger by mobilizing community partners, volunteers, and supporters. WHEAT says it provides emergency food to West Haven residents. Community Dining Room describes its work as providing food, support, and companionship to Shoreline neighbors, feeding people experiencing hunger, and helping with other basic needs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Swedish Aid Society reported 11 grants totaling $31,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,600, with a median grant of $3,000.
The largest grant was $6,600 to Connecticut Foodshare in Wallingford, Connecticut, for a food bank. Other listed grants included $3,000 each to Branford Food Pantry, Community Dining Room, WHEAT, Newreach, Saint Paul IV Parish, Food Pantry of North Branford, and Masters Manna; $1,200 each to Bethesda Luteran Church and Tabor Lutheran Church; and $1,000 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lars Gunneson as president, Kenneth Bjork as vice president, Paul Gunneson as treasurer, and Claire Couture as secretary.
Swedish Aid Society is led by Lars Gunneson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lars Gunneson
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Claire Couture
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Kenneth Bjork
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Gunneson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Swedish Aid Society
How much does Swedish Aid Society give each year?
Swedish Aid Society gave $31K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $24K across 11 grants.
What is Swedish Aid Society's typical grant size?
Swedish Aid Society's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $2,818, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Swedish Aid Society that year got $2K on average.
Where does Swedish Aid Society give grants?
Swedish Aid Society gives mostly in Connecticut: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Branford, CT (3 grants), Wallingford, CT (2 grants) and New Haven, CT (2 grants).
Does Swedish Aid Society give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Swedish Aid Society's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Food for Needy" (8 grants).
Who are Swedish Aid Society's largest grantees?
Swedish Aid Society's largest 2025 grantees include Connecticut Foodshare ($6,600), Branford Food Pantry ($3,000) and Community Dining Room ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Swedish Aid Society?
Swedish Aid Society reported $4K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $31K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $169 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Swedish Aid Society fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for food banks, food pantries, and organizations serving people experiencing hunger. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Swedish Aid Society?
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 Swedish Aid Society's EIN?
Swedish Aid Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0188188. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Swedish Aid Society 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 May 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
Live grants for the work Swedish Aid Society funds
Health Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Figures come from Swedish Aid Society'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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