The Brightwater Fund is a private, non-operating foundation established in 2009 and located in Darien, Connecticut. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with a single staff member.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$563K
-30.1% YoY
Grant Count
30
-18.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-13.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Brightwater Fund reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide passive income earned solely to continue to fund charitable purposes. The organization makes grants primarily for general use across multiple cause areas, including education, human services, health and medical support, community health, school health, and wildlife.
Grantmaking
The Brightwater Fund distributes grants across a diverse range of recipients and causes. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
**: $250 to $270,000
Average Grant
Amount**: Approximately $18,860
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in New York, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Fiscal Year Data (2024-2025):
- Total Assets: $2,333,539
- Total Giving: $805,102 to $877,409
- Total Revenue: $807,778
- Total Expenses: $666,615
- Giving Rate: 37.5%
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,333,539 | $2,201,514 | $2,482,952 |
| Revenue | $807,778 | $561,546 | $80,230 |
| Expenses | $666,615 | $904,993 | $594,905 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $634,758 | $877,409 | $567,240 |
| Net Investment Income | $145,806 | $133,962 | $41,652 |
| Distributable Amount | $103,590 | $108,405 | $117,981 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Global Impact ($100,000), New York Presbyterian Hospital ($50,000), Weill Cornell Medical College ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU New York, NY | General Use | $40,000 |
| Bigger Picture Community Fund Waitsfield, VT | General Use | $30,000 |
| Boston MedFlight Bedford, MA | General Use | $2,500 |
| Carver Center Port Chester, NY | General Use | $15,000 |
| Center for Study of Responsive Law Washington, DC | General Use | $10,000 |
| ChildFund International Richmond, VA | General Use | $1,500 |
| Coalition for the Homeless New York, NY | General Use | $10,000 |
| CT Public Broadcasting Hartford, CT | General Use | $200 |
| Drug Policy Alliance New York, NY | General Use | $5,000 |
| Environmental Work Group Washington, DC | General Use | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gloria Jarecki - President/Director
- Donna M C Jarecki - Director
- Ellen B Chandler - Director
- Nancy Jarecki - Director
- AnnChristine Gormley - Secretary/Treasurer (25 hours/week, $56,240 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloria Jarecki | President / Director | — | — |
| Donna M C Jarecki | Director | — | — |
| Ellen B Chandler | Director | — | — |
| Nancy Jarecki | Director | — | — |
| AnnChristine Gormley | Secretary / Treasurer | 25 | $56,240 |
Contact Information
- Address: Co LMC 685 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 (also listed as Rye, NY 10580)
- Phone: 203-655-2200
- Website: https://brightwaterfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Brightwater Fund fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to provide passive income earned solely to continue to fund charitable purposes. The organization makes grants primarily for general use across multiple cause areas, including education, human services, health and medical support, community health, school health, and wildlife.
How do I apply for a grant from The Brightwater Fund?
The Brightwater Fund distributes grants across a diverse range of recipients and causes. Recent grant activity shows: • **Grant Range**: $250 to $270,000 • **Median Grant Amount**: $18,860 • **Average Grant Amount**: Approximately $18,860 • **Recent Grant Volume**: Made 35-41 grants in recent fiscal years • **Grant Type**: Primarily general use grants Recent grantees have included Global Impact ($100,000), White Plains Hospital ($45,000), New Yorkers for Children ($40,000), and Robin Hood, amon…
Where does The Brightwater Fund make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple states, with documented giving in New York, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and Maryland.
What size grants does The Brightwater Fund award?
In 2025, The Brightwater Fund awarded 30 grants totaling $563K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Brightwater Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Brightwater Fund reported a distributable amount of $104K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Brightwater Fund's EIN?
The Brightwater Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1041109. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Brightwater Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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