The Common Sense Fund Inc
The Common Sense Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Greenwich, Connecticut, established in 1983. Operating as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation promotes action in the environment and the arts that is practical, creative, and addresses social needs. The organization operates with a volunteer leadership team and limited paid staffing.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.8M
-3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+27.4% YoY
Grant Count
39
-2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
+30.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Common Sense Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Common Sense Fund was incorporated in 1983 through the philanthropic vision of Seymour Schwartz (Sy). The foundation's environmental mission reflects Sy's career as a real estate developer who understood each project within its environmental context and applied creative and practical techniques to preserve land and resources. The foundation supports environmental change through education, policy initiatives, promotion of carbon-free energy sources, and stewardship of natural resources. The theory of action includes the belief that lessening dependence on fossil fuels will contribute to peace in the world.
The arts mission honors Sybil Schwartz, whose love of the arts and commitment to optimizing every child's potential is expressed in the foundation's funding of arts programs for the underserved.
Primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Environment and climate change
- Natural resources, water resources, and energy resources
- Education (including elementary and secondary education)
- Philanthropy and nonprofits
- Religion and Judaism
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 41 grants in 2024 with total giving of $3,790,000. Grant sizes range from $25,000 to $1,018,000, with a median grant of $75,000.
Grant Range
s range from $25,000 to $1,018,000, with a median grant of $75,000.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington. International funding extends to Tel Aviv.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $22,819,304
- Total Revenues: $3,371,191
- Total Expenses: $4,151,351
- Total Giving: $3,790,000
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $23.6 million
- Total Revenues: $2.12 million
- Total Expenses: $3.42 million
The foundation has no reported liabilities and operates with zero paid employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,819,304 | $23,599,464 | $24,896,502 |
| Revenue | $3,371,191 | $2,122,032 | $1,175,366 |
| Expenses | $4,151,351 | $3,419,070 | $3,230,399 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,999,058 | $3,200,469 | $2,917,419 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,651,056 | $1,436,541 | $611,276 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,376,271 | $1,377,407 | $1,400,228 |
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
199 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pef Israel Endowment Fund ($1,018,000), Schwab Charitable Fund ($150,000), Acadia Center ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADIA CENTER HARTFORD, CT | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITTMENT TO BUILD CLEAN, LOW CARBON AND CONSUMER FRIENDLY ECONOMIES. CHARACTERIZED BY RELIABLE INFORMATION, COMPREHENSIVE ADVOCACY AND PROBLEM SOLVING THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION. | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YEDIDIM ENCINO, CA | TO SUPPORT AMERICAN FRIENDS OF YEDIDIM'S MISSION TO INCREASE AWARENESS & RAISE FUNDS FOR YEDIDIM IS ISRAEL. | $75,000 |
| ARTS IGNITE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE IN DISCOVERING THE JOY AND POWER OF MAKING ARTTO SHARE THEIR VOICES, TELL THEIR STORIES, AND TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES. | $50,000 |
| CAMBODIAN LIVING ARTS MARION, MA | TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF CAMBODIAN LIVING ARTS TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFORMATION OF CAMBODIA THROUGH THE ARTS. THE ORGANIZATION WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE CAMBODIAN ARTS EMPOWER AND TRANSFORM INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES. ENCOURAGING THE GROWTH OF ARTISTS AND THE ARTS COMMUNITY, BY PROMOTING AWARENESS OF THE ARTS, AND BY ADVOCATING FOR THE ARTS WITH CULTURAL POLICYMAKERS AND MAJOR INSTITUTIONS. IN DOING SO, WE AIM TO CREATE VALUE AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CAMBODIAN AND TO CREATE A SENSE OF UNITY AND SHARED CULTURE. WE BELIEVE THAT THROUGH CREATIVITY WE CAN EACH EXPAND OUR POTENTIAL AS HUMAN BEINGS. | $75,000 |
| CLAY ART CENTER PORT CHESTER, NY | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION IN ADVANCING ITS MISSION OF GROWING THE EDUCATION, EXHIBITIONS, ARTIST RESIDENCY AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE ALL FOCUSED "TO KINDLE A PASSION FOR THE CERAMIC ARTS AND TO PROVIDE A SHARING COMMUNITY FOR THAT PASSION TO FLOURISH." | $60,000 |
| CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE SCIENCE LEGAL DEFENSE FUND'S (CSLDF)MISSION TO PROTECT THE SCIENTIFIC ENDEAVOR BY PROVIDING SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO SCIENTISTS WHO ARE THREATENED, HARASSED OR ATTACKED FOR DOING THEIR JOB. | $60,000 |
| COLAB THEATER GROUP NEW YORK, NY | TO ENABLE THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES A CREATIVE AND SOCIAL OUTLET THROUGH THEATER ARTS. | $75,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN ACTION HARTFORD, CT | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE, US GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE FUNDERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESSES, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF ADULTS AND YOUTH THROUGHOUT CONNECTICUT. | $75,000 |
| CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING HARTFORD, CT | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S EFFORTS TO SERVE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES WITH A MIX OF EDUCATIONAL, NEW, PUBLIC AFFAIRS, CHILDREN'S, AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMING AND SERVICES. | $50,000 |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO USE LAW, ECONOMICS AND SCIENCE TO SOLVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT THREATEN THE PEOPLE, NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES OF NEW ENGLAND. | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation operates with a volunteer board and leadership team, all serving without compensation:
- Adlyn S. Loewenthal – President
- Eric Schwartz – VP/Treasurer
- Ted Loewenthal – Secretary
- David Schwartz – Trustee
- Carolyn Schwartz – Trustee
- Debra Fram – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TED LOEWENTHAL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ADLYN S LOEWENTHAL | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ERIC SCHWARTZ | VP/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DAVID SCHWARTZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN SCHWARTZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DEBRA FRAM | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Common Sense Fund Inc fund?
The Common Sense Fund was incorporated in 1983 through the philanthropic vision of Seymour Schwartz (Sy). The foundation's environmental mission reflects Sy's career as a real estate developer who understood each project within its environmental context and applied creative and practical techniques to preserve land and resources. The foundation supports environmental change through education, policy initiatives, promotion of carbon-free energy sources, and stewardship of natural resources. The …
How do I apply for a grant from The Common Sense Fund Inc?
The foundation made 41 grants in 2024 with total giving of $3,790,000. Grant sizes range from $25,000 to $1,018,000, with a median grant of $75,000. Recent grants include: • Pef Israel Endowment Funds: $1,018,000 (to enable direct distribution of funds to selected charitable organizations in Israel) • Inside Climate News: $100,000 (to support production of objective stories on climate and energy debates) • DAFgiving360: $150,000 (contribution to a donor-advised fund account) The foundation indi…
Where does The Common Sense Fund Inc make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington. International funding extends to Tel Aviv.
What size grants does The Common Sense Fund Inc award?
In 2024, The Common Sense Fund Inc awarded 39 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Common Sense Fund Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Common Sense Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Common Sense Fund Inc's EIN?
The Common Sense Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3157570. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Common Sense Fund Inc'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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