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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
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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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