The Darien Foundation Inc
The Darien Foundation's mission is to provide grant funding for technology and capital projects that create opportunity for darien's youth, support town safety and security services, enhance the overall quality of life in darien, and otherwise benefit the citizens of darien, Connecticut. The goal is to offer a central location for residents and corporate donors who wish to support worthy town projects. The foundation is committed to supporting technology and capital initiatives for the public schools, emergency services, and other local or town organizations. The foundation's broad and diverse board of directors strives to apply a consistent methodology in reviewing grant requests and holding grant recipients accountable. The majority of the foundation's revenues come from contributions from the public.
The Darien Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Darien Foundation Inc gave $601K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $120K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $600,604
- -8.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $120,121
- +9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $60,815
- Total assets
- $3,520,201
- +9.3% 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 Darien Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Darien Library Teentween Center ($314K). Together the top 5 received $601K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 27 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Darien Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 324% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $142K (2022) to $658K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $601K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Darien Library Teentween Center Darien, CT | Funding for architectural concept plans and the darien library teen/tween center capital project | $314,185 |
| Mather Homestead Foundation Darien, CT | For the installation of a new high-velocity ducted air conditioning | $161,600 |
| Darien Library Darien, CT | To fund the purchase and installation of meeting rooms and pods | $60,815 |
| At Home in Darien Darien, CT | To purchase 4-door toyota camry sedan for transportation of darien senior residents | $38,500 |
| Darien Senior Center Darien, CT | To fund the purchase and installation of two ceil-mounted projectors | $25,504 |
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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 | $3,520,201 | $681,735 | $782,007 | $600,604 | 5 | $164,829 |
| 2024 | $3,219,596 | $708,571 | $522,303 | $658,014 | 6 | $88,326 |
| 2023 | $3,121,882 | $540,052 | $834,979 | $657,053 | 5 | $34,092 |
| 2022 | $2,910,132 | $913,501 | $288,361 | $141,620 | 3 | $129,065 |
| 2021 | $2,911,759 | $689,555 | $710,876 | $586,800 | 8 | $112,372 |
| 2020 | $2,493,839 | $664,103 | $713,977 | $579,859 | 8 | $119,769 |
About The Darien Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Darien Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Darien, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $601K. Net investment income was $165K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Darien Foundation Inc is led by Courtney Galligan, Officer & Nom Com Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2020); none of the 26 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Courtney Galligan
Officer & Nom Com Chair
Director & Nom Com Co Chair → Director & Nom Com Chair, 2024
Director & Nom Com Chair → Officer & Nom Com Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Knapp
Director & Investment Chair
Director & Investment Chair → Director, Investment Chair & Da Committee Chair, 2024
Director, Investment Chair & Da Committee Chair → Director & Investment Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Thompson
Director & Benefit Chair
Director & Outreach Chair → Director & Outreach Co Char, 2023
Director & Outreach Co Char → Director & Benefit Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Castellani
Director & Chair Police Grants
Director → Director & Char Police Grants, 2023
Director & Char Police Grants → Director & Chair Police Grants, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Harder
Officer & Daf Media Chair
Director → Director & Daf Media Chair, 2024
Director & Daf Media Chair → Officer & Daf Media Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ward Glassmeyer
Director & Chairman
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rob Farley
Officer & Teacher Chair
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Byrne Pozzi
Director & Schools Co-Char
Director → Director & Benefit Chair, 2022
Director & Benefit Chair → Director & Schools Co-Char, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keri Maccoll
Director
Officer → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Medora Westcott
Director & Outreach Co-Chair
Director → Director & Outreach Co Chair, 2022
Director & Outreach Co Chair → Director & Outreach Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Gaaserud
Director
Officer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Kyle
Director & Fundraising Co-Chair
Director → Director & Nom Com Vice Char, 2023
Director & Nom Com Vice Char → Director & Fundraising Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Gromelski
Director
Officer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stefani Desai
Director
Officer → Director & Appeal Chair, 2023
Director & Appeal Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Zak
Director
Officer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Holly Mitchell
Director & Fundraising Co-Chair
Officer → Director & Fundraising Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Hunsberger
Director & Lawyer
Officer & Attorney → Director & Lawyer, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kinsey Sale
Director
Officer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa O'Brien
Director
Officer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Bremer
Director & Daf Media Co-Chair
Officer & Daf Media Co-Chair → Director & Daf Media Co-Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Summers
Director & Treasurer
Officer & Co-Treasurer → Director & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerry Coppola
Officer & Treasurer
Director & Treasurer → Officer & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Craig
Officer & Gov Committee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lara Port
Officer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lexie Maruszewski
Officer & Appeal Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally Merwin
Officer & Outreach Committee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Brett Wein (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Brooke Gies (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Sean Calvillo (2020–2024) — Officer & Tech Chair
- Former: Tara Leclerc (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Kerrie Kelley (2020–2023) — Officer & Media Chair
- Former: Lindsay Odonnell (2020–2023) — Officer & Lawyer
- Former: Robin Nelson (2020–2023) — Officer, Schools Chair & Dps
- Former: Sarah Woodberry (2020–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Vail W. Vasisht (2020–2023) — Officer, Appeal Chair & Tech
- Former: Sarah Lyden (2020–2022) — Officer
- Former: Tiernan Cavanna (2020–2022) — Director & Nom Com Co Chair
- Former: Guy Winsinski (2020–2021) — Officer
- Former: Laurie Orem (2020–2021) — Officer
- Former: Richard L. Chilton Jr. (2020–2021) — Chairman Emeritus
- Former: Kristin Peterson Edwards (2020) — Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Darien Foundation Inc
How much does The Darien Foundation Inc give each year?
The Darien Foundation Inc gave $601K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $658K across 6 grants.
What is The Darien Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Darien Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $60,815, and its average grant was $120,121, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Darien Foundation Inc give grants?
The Darien Foundation 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 Darien, CT (5 grants).
Does The Darien Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The Darien Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Darien Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Darien Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include The Darien Library Teentween Center ($314,185), Mather Homestead Foundation ($161,600) and Darien Library ($60,815), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Darien Foundation Inc?
The Darien Foundation Inc reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $682K.
What is The Darien Foundation Inc?
The Darien Foundation Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Darien, CT. It holds $3.5M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Darien Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Darien Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1949730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Darien Foundation Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Creative Impact Grants $500 - $2,500 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Darien Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Darien Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?