The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation is a private foundation based in North Franklin, Connecticut. It supports programs and capital projects of local nonprofit organizations serving people in New London County, as well as local arts and cultural organizations and community colleges.
Key facts about The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation
In short: The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation gave $933K across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), mostly in Connecticut. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 27-0785866
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $933,482
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- Average grant
- $31,116
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (4 of 30, 2025)
- Total assets
- $18,471,958
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.5M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$933K
-8.6% YoY
Grant Count
30
+66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-45.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 30 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 27% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it supports services for elderly people and children, community health care, and the local arts and cultural community. It also provides endowment and scholarship funding to local community colleges.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and purposes. Safe Futures, which received $80,000, describes its mission as stopping abuse, restoring hope, and saving lives for people affected by domestic violence and other forms of abuse. Madonna Place, which received $75,000, says it works to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. The Arc Eastern Connecticut, which received $60,820, says it provides programs designed to integrate people with intellectual disabilities into the community. Other 2025 grantees included a land conservancy, a therapeutic riding organization, and a college foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $933,482. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $136,274, with a median grant of $20,000. Its largest listed grants included $136,274 to the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut for the Lord Foundation Donor Advised Fund; $100,000 to Ocean Community YMCA for assistance with a new building at Mystic YMCA; and $80,000 to Safe Futures for domestic violence programs and a capital campaign to construct a new facility. Other substantial grants included $75,000 to Madonna Place for three programs and $60,820 to The Arc Eastern Connecticut for a landscaping truck.
The foundation provides an application form and instructions. Applicants are asked for a written proposal describing project objectives, plans, location, duration, expected beneficiaries, and budget; a governing-board list or organizational-structure description; recent financial statements and a program brochure; proof of 501(c)(3) classification; and information about other foundations supporting the applicant or program. The application also requests a profile of the organization and all funding sources for the proposed project. Applicants certify that funds will be used for the stated purpose, agree to notify the foundation one month before the program’s completion, and agree to submit a program summary when it is complete.
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its application materials are available from the foundation, and completed applications and supporting documents are to be sent to it.
Ready to take the next step with The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission focuses on local nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 11% to recipients in Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $895K (2020) to $1.0M (2023). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $933K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Foundation of Eastern CT ($136K). Together the top 10 received $653K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 118 (80%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation of Eastern CT New London, CT | To Lord Foundation Donor Advised Fund | $136,274 |
| Ocean Community YMCA Westerly, RI | Assistance for New Building at Mystic YMCA | $100,000 |
| Safe Futures Inc New London, CT | Support of domestic violence programs & capital campaign to construct new facility | $80,000 |
| Madonna Place Inc Norwich, CT | Support for Three Programs | $75,000 |
| The Arc Eastern Connecticut Inc Norwich, CT | Support for Purchase of Landscaping Truck | $60,820 |
| Avalonia Land Conservancy Inc Old Mystic, CT | Support for Purchase of Land for Conservation | $54,000 |
| St Edmund's Retreat Inc Mystic, CT | Support of the Recovery Program | $45,000 |
| New England Science & Sailing Foundation Stonington, CT | Support of stem education programs for norwich elementary students | $42,000 |
| High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Old Lyme, CT | Programs for Therapeutic Riding 24-25 & 25-26 | $30,000 |
| Operation Fuel Inc Hartford, CT | Support for Low Income Norwich Families | $30,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $933,482 | 30 |
| 2024 | $1,021,334 | 18 |
| 2023 | $1,026,080 | 31 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,471,958 | $18,362,382 | $18,498,530 |
| Revenue | $1,357,874 | $1,174,533 | $725,895 |
| Expenses | $1,248,298 | $1,310,681 | $1,299,295 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,058,874 | $1,144,016 | $1,137,946 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,182,850 | $1,007,774 | $566,346 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,210,652 | $1,130,126 | $1,069,238 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathryn Lord, Joel Suisman, and Jeffrey Lord as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Kathryn F. Lord as its Director and Trustee, Jeffrey V. Lord as a Trustee, and S. Joel Suisman as a Trustee.
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey Lord
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Joel Suisman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2025)
Kathryn Lord
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$48K (2020) → $48K (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 $48K, to Kathryn Lord (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 55 Town Line Blvd, North Franklin, CT 06254
Phone: (860) 884-3866
Website: https://theedwardandmarylordfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation
How much does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation give each year?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation gave $933K across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 18 grants.
What is The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's typical grant size?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $31,116, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation that year got $31K on average.
Where does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation give grants?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New London, CT (7 grants), Norwich, CT (7 grants) and Mystic, CT (3 grants).
Does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's largest grantees?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Community Foundation of Eastern CT ($136,274), Ocean Community YMCA ($100,000) and Safe Futures Inc ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation reported $18.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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 Edward and Mary Lord Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it supports services for elderly people and children, community health care, and the local arts and cultural community. It also provides endowment and scholarship funding to local community colleges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation?
The foundation 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 Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's EIN?
The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0785866. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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