The Connection Inc
Building safe, healthy, caring communities and inspiring people to reach their full potential as productive and valued citizens.
The Connection Inc at a glance
In short: The Connection Inc gave $1.8M across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $263K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,839,301
- +0.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $262,757
- +43.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $252,475
- Total assets
- $11,571,006
- +41.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Connection Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Family and Children's Agency ($415K). Together the top 7 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 10 grants of 27 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2021) to $8.7M (2023). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $1.8M.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Family and Children's Agency Norwalk, CT | Program Assistance | $414,781 |
| Wheeler Clinic Plainville, CT | Program Assistance | $328,404 |
| Fellowship Place Inc New Haven, CT | Program Assistance | $280,024 |
| The Access Agency Willimantic, CT | Program Assistance | $252,475 |
| BH Care North Haven, CT | Program Assistance | $247,236 |
| Wellmore Inc Waterbury, CT | Program Assistance | $246,381 |
| Liberty Community Services Inc New Haven, CT | Program Assistance | $70,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,571,006 | $53,488,954 | $50,769,159 | $1,839,301 | 7 | $162,307 |
| 2024 | $8,164,139 | $47,192,654 | $46,819,088 | $1,832,584 | 10 | $127,359 |
| 2023 | $7,986,712 | $45,103,206 | $45,171,940 | $8,695,410 | Total only | $42,490 |
| 2022 | $7,501,686 | $46,242,308 | $43,123,644 | — | — | $15,924 |
| 2021 | $7,357,877 | $41,021,166 | $40,860,912 | $1,772,766 | 10 | $18,469 |
| 2020 | $7,075,788 | $41,232,844 | $41,998,466 | $1,897,912 | 11 | $15,652 |
| 2019 | $6,188,996 | $42,877,489 | $43,726,282 | $2,250,837 | 10 | $16,278 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Connection Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Connection Inc is a public charity focused on Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, based in Middletown, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $11.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.8M. Net investment income was $162K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Connection Inc is led by Lisa Dematteis-Lepore, CEO & President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Dematteis-Lepore
CEO & President
CEO → CEO & President, 2021
On filings since 2019
27 hrs/week
$385K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Karen Buckley
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Larosa
Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond Bovich
Director
Director → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beverley Henry
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yardley Messeroux
Director
On filings since 2024
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Camboulives
Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
27 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Slayton
Senior Director Information Services
New on the 2025 filing
27 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beth Connor
Chief Business Development Officer
Chief Strategy Officer → Chief Administrative Officer, 2020
Chief Administrative Officer → Chief Business Development Officer, 2025
On filings since 2019
27 hrs/week
$252K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Jessica Smith
Senior Vice President Strategy & Innovation
Dupty Chief of Clinical De → Dupty Chief of Business Development, 2024
Dupty Chief of Business Development → Senior Vice President Strategy & Innovation, 2025
On filings since 2019
27 hrs/week
$165K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Kathy Savino
Chief Operating Officer
Chief of Staff → Chief Program Officer, 2020
Chief Program Officer → Chief Operating Officer, 2025
On filings since 2019
46 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $258K (2025)
Alison Friar
Vice President Family Support Services
Director of Clinical Development → Vice President Family Support Services, 2025
On filings since 2020
27 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $131K (2025)
Stephen Abshire
Chief Financial Officer
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2020
27 hrs/week
$274K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Susan Phillips
Vice President Risk
Director of Quality Insura → Director of Quality, Informaion & Risk, 2024
Director of Quality, Informaion & Risk → Vice President Risk, 2025
On filings since 2022
27 hrs/week
$123K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Teresa Ferraro
Senior Vice President Programs
Director of Clinical Operations → Senior Vice President Programs, 2025
On filings since 2023
27 hrs/week
$122K (2023) → $138K (2025)
Christine A. Cappiello
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Jordan Addo
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Carbone
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Eileen O'Neil (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: John Gorcynski (2024) — Director of Finance
- Former: Jonn Ivimey (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Patrick Fallon (2019–2023) — Director of Community Just
- Former: Anne Ventimiglia (2023) — Program Director
- Former: Michele Klimczak (2023) — Assistant Vice President of Training & Grant Management
- Former: Thomas Slayton (2019–2022) — Director of Management Inf
- Former: Daryl McGraw (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ruthanne Barrett (2019–2021) — Director of Human Resource
- Former: Tom Forschner (2020) — Former CFO
- Former: Charles Barber (2019) — Director of Special Projects
- Former: Elizabeth Cronin (2019) — Director of Strategic Partnerships
- Former: Gloster Aaron (2019) — Chair
- Former: Grady Faulkner (2019) — Director
- Former: Reverend Mary Klaaren (2019) — Director
- Former: Thomas Forschner (2019) — Former CFO
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $258K, to Kathy Savino (Chief Operating Officer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Connection Inc
How much does The Connection Inc give each year?
The Connection Inc gave $1.8M across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 10 grants.
What is The Connection Inc's typical grant size?
The Connection Inc's median grant in 2025 was $252,475, and its average grant was $262,757, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Connection Inc give grants?
The Connection Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Haven, CT (2 grants).
Does The Connection Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Connection Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Assistance" (7 grants).
Who are The Connection Inc's largest grantees?
The Connection Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Family and Children's Agency ($414,781), Wheeler Clinic ($328,404) and Fellowship Place Inc ($280,024), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Connection Inc?
The Connection Inc reported $11.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $53.5M.
What is The Connection Inc?
The Connection Inc is a public charity focused on Mental Health & Crisis Intervention, based in Middletown, CT. It holds $11.6M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Connection Inc's EIN?
The Connection Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-0886125. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Connection Inc funds
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Connection Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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