The Edith S Wheeler Trust
The Edith S Wheeler Trust is a private foundation based in Trumbull, Connecticut. The trust was established in 1997 and operates as an independent foundation with a focused mission supporting specific institutions and scholarship programs in Connecticut.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+11.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$139K
+15.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+23.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edith S Wheeler Trust reported a distributable amount of $163K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's purpose is to provide support exclusively for:
- Monroe Public Library
- Monroe Town scholarship funds
- Stratford Town scholarship funds
Primary funding interests include education, health care, and philanthropy/voluntarism.
Grantmaking
The trust provided $750,000 toward construction of the Monroe Public Library's new $6.5 million building on Monroe Turnpike. Beyond the initial construction support, the trust continues to defray costs of some of the library's equipment and programs.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, with particular emphasis on Monroe and Stratford, Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,536,153 |
| Total Annual Giving | $138,782 |
| EIN | 06-6386858 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,536,153 | $3,170,882 | $2,954,564 |
| Revenue | $170,878 | $81,917 | $138,580 |
| Expenses | $193,868 | $185,357 | $207,094 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $138,782 | $120,017 | $158,545 |
| Net Investment Income | $161,318 | $74,340 | $130,919 |
| Distributable Amount | $162,919 | $149,789 | $156,270 |
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
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Connecticut ($28,850), Boston College ($10,000), Quinnipiac University ($8,700).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT STORRS, CT | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $28,850 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, MD | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,000 |
| VARIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PASSTHRU TRUMBULL, CT | CHARITY | $32 |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON, MA | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $2,600 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE CHESTNUT HILL, MA | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $7,000 |
| BRYANT UNIVERSITY SMITHFIELD, RI | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $4,600 |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NY | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $3,100 |
| DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HANOVER, NH | EDUCATION/SCHOLARSHIPS | $6,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John Chiota, Esq. is listed as the trust contact.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN P CHIOTA ESQ | TRUSTEE | 2 | $23,772 |
| ROBERT F BURNASKA | TRUSTEE | 2 | $23,772 |
Contact Information
Address: 35 Iron Gate Road, Trumbull, CT 06611-2077
Telephone: 203-268-7755
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Edith S Wheeler Trust fund?
The trust's purpose is to provide support exclusively for: • Monroe Public Library • Monroe Town scholarship funds • Stratford Town scholarship funds Primary funding interests include education, health care, and philanthropy/voluntarism.
How do I apply for a grant from The Edith S Wheeler Trust?
**Financial Activity:** • Total assets: $3,536,153 • Total giving: $138,782 • Typical grant awards range from $17 to $32,500 **Notable Grant:** The trust provided $750,000 toward construction of the Monroe Public Library's new $6.5 million building on Monroe Turnpike. Beyond the initial construction support, the trust continues to defray costs of some of the library's equipment and programs.
Where does The Edith S Wheeler Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, with particular emphasis on Monroe and Stratford, Connecticut.
What size grants does The Edith S Wheeler Trust award?
In 2024, The Edith S Wheeler Trust awarded 21 grants totaling $139K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Edith S Wheeler Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Edith S Wheeler Trust reported a distributable amount of $163K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Edith S Wheeler Trust's EIN?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6386858. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Edith S Wheeler Trust'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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