The Edith S Wheeler Trust
The Edith S Wheeler Trust is a private foundation based in Trumbull, Connecticut. Its stated purpose is to provide funds for the Monroe Public Library and the Monroe and Stratford town scholarship funds.
The Edith S Wheeler Trust at a glance
In short: The Edith S Wheeler Trust gave $136K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Connecticut. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $136,483
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,687
- -13.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,050
- Total assets
- $4,007,178
- +13.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (10 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Edith S Wheeler Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 35 Iron Gate Road, Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: (203) 268-7755
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Edith S Wheeler Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Connecticut ($26K). Together the top 10 received $93K.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 102 grants of 102 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust’s stated purpose names the Monroe Public Library and the Monroe and Stratford town scholarship funds. In 2025, 37% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut, 20% to Massachusetts, and 13% to New York. Smaller shares went to recipients in Florida and Georgia (4% each).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Edith S Wheeler Trust open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 24 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 46% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2023) to $159K (2022). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $136K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut Storrs, CT | Education/Scholarships | $26,300 |
| Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | Education/Scholarships | $12,000 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | Education/Scholarships | $10,600 |
| Quinnipiac University Hamden, CT | Education/Scholarships | $9,700 |
| University of Florida Gainesville, FL | Education/Scholarships | $6,000 |
| University of Georgia Athens, GA | Education/Scholarships | $6,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Education/Scholarships | $6,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Education/Scholarships | $5,880 |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | Education/Scholarships | $5,100 |
| Bunnell High School Stratford, CT | Education/Scholarships | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Edith S Wheeler Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,007,178 | $536,239 | $203,767 | $136,483 | 24 | $136,483 | $523,393 | $178,480 |
| 2024 | $3,536,153 | $170,878 | $193,868 | $138,782 | 21 | $138,782 | $161,318 | $162,919 |
| 2023 | $3,170,882 | $81,917 | $185,357 | $120,017 | 17 | $120,017 | $74,340 | $149,789 |
| 2022 | $2,954,564 | $138,580 | $207,094 | $158,545 | 20 | $158,545 | $130,919 | $156,270 |
| 2021 | $3,466,546 | $187,975 | $207,279 | $153,329 | 20 | $153,329 | $180,437 | $160,377 |
| 2020 | $3,148,079 | $139,624 | $184,878 | $123,988 | 18 | — | $135,501 | $151,869 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edith S Wheeler Trust reported a distributable amount of $178K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust’s stated purpose is to support the Monroe Public Library and the Monroe and Stratford town scholarship funds. Its 2025 grants also included awards to universities, colleges, and a high school; the listed larger awards were designated for education and scholarships.
Among its 2025 grantees, Quinnipiac University describes its mission as preparing graduates to be global citizens and for future careers. Berklee College of Music says it fosters the study and teaching of music, theater, dance, and related arts. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the trust’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust made 24 grants totaling $136,483. Grant amounts ranged from $4 to $26,300, with a median of $4,050. Its largest listed awards included $26,300 to the University of Connecticut, $12,000 to Boston College, $10,600 to Cornell University, and $9,700 to Quinnipiac University; each was designated for education and scholarships.
Other 2025 recipients included Georgetown University ($4,500), Berklee College of Music ($3,500), the University of South Carolina ($3,500), Wagner College ($3,000), and Sacred Heart University ($3,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John P Chiota, Esq. and Robert F Burnaska as trustees.
The Edith S Wheeler Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John P. Chiota Esq.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $27K (2025)
Robert F. Burnaska
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$23K (2020) → $27K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $27K, to John P Chiota ESQ (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Edith S Wheeler Trust
How much does The Edith S Wheeler Trust give each year?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust gave $136K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $139K across 21 grants.
What is The Edith S Wheeler Trust's typical grant size?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust's median grant in 2025 was $4,050, and its average grant was $5,687, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Edith S Wheeler Trust that year got $4K on average.
Where does The Edith S Wheeler Trust give grants?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust's top state is Connecticut, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (20%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does The Edith S Wheeler Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Edith S Wheeler Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education/Scholarships" (23 grants).
Who are The Edith S Wheeler Trust's largest grantees?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust's largest 2025 grantees include University of Connecticut ($26,300), Boston College ($12,000) and Cornell University ($10,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Edith S Wheeler Trust?
The Edith S Wheeler Trust reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $136K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $178K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Edith S Wheeler Trust fund?
The trust’s stated purpose is to support the Monroe Public Library and the Monroe and Stratford town scholarship funds. Its 2025 grants also included awards to universities, colleges, and a high school; the listed larger awards were designated for education and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Edith S Wheeler Trust?
The trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2025.
Does The Edith S Wheeler Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Edith S Wheeler Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-edith-s-wheeler-trust-morg_6c9069d8dc374928a98f441e79dce523
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_066386858_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Edith S Wheeler Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-edith-s-wheeler-trust-morg_6c9069d8dc374928a98f441e79dce523},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Edith S Wheeler Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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