The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Bridgeport, CT EIN: 30-0069581

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Its 2024 filing records grants to charitable organizations, including recipients in Connecticut and other states, and states that the foundation gives only to preselected organizations.

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Ohio. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,015,050
+2.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
58
-1.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$17,501
+4.1% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,750
Total assets
$21,609,246
+3.0% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
33% first-time grantees (19 of 57, 2024)
Primary geography
Ohio (61% 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 The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 323 North Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06606
Phone: (203) 333-0206

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Fidelity Charitable Giving Account: $620KFidelity Charitable GivingAccount$620KNorwalk Hospital: $100KNorwalk Hospital$100KThe Maritime Aquarium: $25KThe Maritime Aquarium$25KCouncil of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport: $17KCouncil of Italian-AmericanSocieties of Greater…$17KBJ Ryan's Foundation Inc: $15KBJ Ryan's Foundation Inc$15KFairfield Country Day School: $15KFairfield Country Day School$15KSt Luke's School: $15KSt Luke's School$15KConnecticut College: $10KConnecticut College$10KFairfield University: $10KFairfield University$10KGriffin Hospital: $10KGriffin Hospital$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Fidelity Charitable Giving Account ($620K). Together the top 10 received $837K.

Grant Size Distribution

327 grants across all recorded years

312<$50K5$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K5$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 312 grants of 327 (95%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to recipients in Ohio and 33% to recipients in Connecticut. The remaining reported shares were New York (4%), Georgia (1%), and Illinois (0%).

Grant Distribution by State

16states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.

Cities

BridgeportFairfieldNorwalkNew YorkNew HavenMilfordTrumbullHamdenNew CanaanEastonDarienCincinnatiDerbyNew LondonPurchaseAtlantaDes MoinesMemphisPittsburghSouthport

Is The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

33%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 19 of 57 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $25K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M69 grants2020 70 grants2021 71 grants2022 59 grants2023 58 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $970K (2022) to $1.1M (2020). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $1.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Fidelity Charitable Giving Account Cincinnati, OHDonor Advised Fund$620,000
Norwalk Hospital Norwalk, CTUnrestricted$100,000
The Maritime Aquarium Norwalk, CTUnrestricted$25,000
Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Bridgeport, CTUnrestricted$16,750
BJ Ryan's Foundation Inc Norwalk, CTUnrestricted$15,000
Fairfield Country Day School Fairfield, CTUnrestricted$15,000
St Luke's School New Canaan, CTUnrestricted$15,000
Connecticut College New London, CTUnrestricted$10,000
Fairfield University Fairfield, CTUnrestricted$10,000
Griffin Hospital Derby, CTUnrestricted$10,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$21,609,246$1,349,223$1,024,555$1,015,05058$1,015,050$1,339,848$1,040,595
2023$20,976,018$549,360$1,077,020$991,55059$1,055,810$599,015$1,026,019
2022$21,501,525$641,446$990,138$970,05071$970,180$625,988$1,034,396
2021$21,860,217$721,891$1,117,567$1,087,60070$1,092,310$712,287$998,254
2020$22,256,171$501,894$1,116,314$1,105,90069—$595,677$1,073,183

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.0M 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 include support for educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and other charitable organizations. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Fairfield University says it conducts education, charity, and religious work; Griffin Hospital describes its commitment to healthcare and community health; and Operation Hope of Fairfield says it works to address hunger and homelessness and help people build stability.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 58 grants totaling $1,015,050. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $620,000, with a median of $2,750. The largest listed grant was $620,000 to Fidelity Charitable Giving Account in Cincinnati, Ohio, for a donor-advised fund. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Norwalk Hospital, $25,000 to The Maritime Aquarium, and $16,750 to the Council of Italian-American Societies of Greater Bridgeport. The listed grants to Fairfield Country Day School and Fairfield University were $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists David Lehn as a member of the governing council; Leonard DiNardo as president, assistant secretary, and assistant treasurer; Peter DiNardo as vice president, assistant secretary, and treasurer; and Melissa DiNardo as executive vice president, secretary, and assistant treasurer.

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc is led by Leonard Dinardo, President, Assistant Secretary & Assistant on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Leonard Dinardo

    President, Assistant Secretary & Assistant

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Lehn

    Member of Governing Counci

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa Dinardo

    Executive Vice President, Secretary & Assistant T

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Dinardo

    Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/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 The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc

How much does The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $992K across 59 grants.

What is The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,750, and its average grant was $17,501, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $3K on average.

Where does The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in Ohio: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fairfield, CT (9 grants), Norwalk, CT (7 grants), New York, NY (7 grants) and Bridgeport, CT (6 grants).

Does The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Yes: 97% of The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 58) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Fidelity Charitable Giving Account ($620,000), Norwalk Hospital ($100,000) and The Maritime Aquarium ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc reported $21.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc?

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0069581. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Aiello Charitable 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

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-aiello-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_fc4fe61ca5f049d3b0c2af3eb3b7e95f

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_300069581_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Aiello Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-aiello-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_fc4fe61ca5f049d3b0c2af3eb3b7e95f},
  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 The Aiello Charitable 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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