The Betsy and Jesse Fink Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1999 and based in Fairfield, Connecticut. The foundation is dedicated to moving communities toward a more balanced, sustainable relationship with the environment through strategic philanthropic investments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.7M
-0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
-26.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+35.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Betsy and Jesse Fink reported a distributable amount of $619K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary giving focuses on:
- Environmental conservation and farmland trusts
- Sustainable communities
- Sustainable food systems
- Resilient habitats
- Education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$25,000–$28,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, with broader national reach in the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $14.7 million
- Total revenue: $1.73 million
- Total expenses: $1.97 million
- Total liabilities: $0
- Annual giving rate: approximately 11.1% of assets
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $14.7 million
- Total giving: $1.6 million
- Total revenues: $3.1 million
- Total expenses: $1.9 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,719,128 | $14,723,260 | $13,949,044 |
| Revenue | $1,731,582 | $3,108,668 | $285,996 |
| Expenses | $1,966,654 | $1,899,238 | $1,959,384 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,982,889 | $1,913,756 | $2,173,356 |
| Net Investment Income | $714,919 | $2,081,725 | $219,352 |
| Distributable Amount | $619,400 | $614,078 | $809,321 |
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
156 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc ($250,000), Denver Film Society ($250,000), Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc ($230,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| REFED INC LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | GRANT AREA: SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (MULTI-YEAR GIFT) | $100,000 |
| REFED INC LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | GRANT AREA: SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS (SUMMIT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EDF FELLOWS) | $25,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GRANT AREA: HUMAN RIGHTS (GENERAL OPERATIONS) | $10,000 |
| HARVARD FOOD LAW AND POLICY CLINIC CAMBRIDGE, MA | GRANT AREA: SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS & FOOD WASTE (GENERAL SUPPORT TOWARD FOOD WASTE SOLUTIONS) | $5,000 |
| WALKING MOUNTAINS SCIENCE CENTER AVON, CO | GRANT AREA: ENVIRONMENTAL (GENERAL SUPPORT) | $15,000 |
| RENAISSANCE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION TO FUND RENAISSANCE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION DAF | $250,000 |
| BIODIVERSITYWORKS INC VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | GRANT AREA: RESILIENT HABITATS: MV ATLAS OF LIFE EXPENSES (STAFF SALARY, PROGRAM ADMIN; JAN. - JUNE 2024) | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY THE PLAINS, VA | GRANT AREA: RESILIENT HABITATS (GENERAL SUPPORT) | $10,000 |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY NEW YORK, NY | GRANT AREA: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES & CLIMATE (IAIN NICHOLSON CENTER AT ROWE SANCTUARY, GIBBON, NE) | $5,000 |
| MASS AUDUBON SOCIETY LINCOLN, MA | GRANT AREA: RESILIENT HABITATS (FELIX NECK WILDLIFE SANCTUARY) | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Betsy Fink – Trustee
- Jesse Fink – Co-founder (referenced as "Fink Jesse Et Al Ttee")
- G. William Haas – Listed in care of name on foundation records
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JESSE FINK | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
| BETSY FINK | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting innovative environmental and food systems initiatives:
Committed $2 million to the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) campaign
ESF Alumni Jesse and Betsy Fink Commit $2 Million to Campaign ...Participated in a $100 million funding platform announced by ReFED and Closed Loop Partners to scale food waste solutions, alongside funding from Google
ReFED and Closed Loop Partners Announce $100M Funding Platform to Scale FoodSupported the production and distribution of "Braiding Sweetgrass," a documentary film addressing environmental themes
Contact Information
- Website: www.thefinkfamilyfoundation.org
- Phone: 203-286-0400
- Address: 857 Post Road, Suite 399, Fairfield, CT 06824-6041
- EIN: 13-7219308
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Betsy and Jesse Fink fund?
The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **Environmental conservation** and farmland trusts • **Sustainable communities** • **Sustainable food systems** • **Resilient habitats** • **Education**
How do I apply for a grant from The Betsy and Jesse Fink?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $1.6–$1.97 million • Number of grants: 34–39 grants annually (recent years) • Median grant size: $25,000–$28,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$250,000 • Application policy: Does not accept unsolicited applications; invite-only basis **Recent Grants (2023):** • Denver Film Society: $250,000 (for Exposure Labs' "Braiding Sweetgrass" film) • ESF College Foundation: $125,000 (Sustainable Communities - Restoration Science Center Pollinator Ecologist Positi…
Where does The Betsy and Jesse Fink make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in New York, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia, with broader national reach in the United States.
What size grants does The Betsy and Jesse Fink award?
In 2024, The Betsy and Jesse Fink awarded 30 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Betsy and Jesse Fink required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Betsy and Jesse Fink reported a distributable amount of $619K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Betsy and Jesse Fink's EIN?
The Betsy and Jesse Fink's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7219308. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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