The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation logo

The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation

NORTH FRANKLIN, CT EIN: 27-0785866 Website

The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation is a private family foundation based in North Franklin, Connecticut. Established in 1997 as part of the estate plan of Edward and Mary Lord, the foundation was funded in 2009 upon their deaths. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and provides charitable grants to nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$18.4M

-0.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.0M

-0.5% YoY

Grant Count

18

-41.9% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$57K

+71.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The mission of The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation is to financially support programs and capital projects of local nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut populations, with particular emphasis on:

  • Elderly persons
  • Children
  • Community health care programs
  • Local arts and cultural community
  • Local community colleges (endowment and scholarship funding)

The foundation aims to improve the immediate welfare of target populations while making a worthwhile impact on their future welfare and that of the community.

Grantmaking

The foundation made grants totaling $1,021,334 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include:

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation focuses its grantmaking on nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Cities

BalticBozrahEast LymeGrotonHartfordJewett CityMysticNew LondonNew YorkNianticNorwichOld LymeOld MysticOld SaybrookPawcatuckQuaker HillRocky HillSouth WindhamStoningtonWaterford

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year Ending October 2024:

  • Total Assets: $18,362,382
  • Total Revenues: $1,174,533
  • Total Expenses: $1,310,681
  • Total Giving: $1,021,334
  • Number of Employees: 0
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$635K$1M$2M$3M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$18,362,382$18,498,530$19,072,145
Revenue$1,174,533$725,895$1,295,529
Expenses$1,310,681$1,299,295$1,323,311
Qualifying Distributions$1,144,016$1,137,946$1,121,107
Net Investment Income$1,007,774$566,346$1,130,461
Distributable Amount$1,130,126$1,069,238$1,131,332

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$257K$513K$770K$1M33 grants202017 grants202122 grants202231 grants202318 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MITCHELL COLLEGE$400KUNITED COMMUNITY AND FAM…$150KEASTERN CT HOUSING OPPOR…$100KST JUDE HOUSING CORPORAT…$59KFRACTURED ATLAS INC$55KST EDMUND'S RETREAT INC$45KNEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SA…$42KSAFE FUTURES INC$30KTHE RIVERFRONT CHILDREN'…$30KTHREE RIVERS COLLEGE FOU…$30K

Grant Size Distribution

121 grants across all recorded years

98<$50K11$50–100K10$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mitchell College ($400,000), United Community and Family Services Inc ($150,000), Eastern Ct Housing Opportunities ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
EASTERN CT COMMUNITY GARDEN ASSOCIATION NEW LONDON, CTEDUCATE, PLANT AND MAINTAIN COMMUNITY GARDENS IN EASTERN CT$10,000
EASTERN CT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES NEW LONDON, CTREHAB OF 14 LOW-INCOME HOUSING UNITS IN NORWICH$100,000
ESTUARY COUNCIL OF SENIORS INC OLD SAYBROOK, CTPURCHASE FREEZER AND MEAT SLICER FOR FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY$7,834
EUGENE ONEILL MEMORIAL THEATER CENTER INC WATERFORD, CTSUPPORT YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS PROGRAM$5,000
FRACTURED ATLAS INC NEW YORK, NYNORWICH ROSE ARTS FESTIVAL$55,000
JAMES MERRILL HOUSE STONINGTON, CTELECTRICAL UPGRADES TO WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE FACILITY$5,000
MITCHELL COLLEGE NEW LONDON, CTBUILD OUT OF SIMULATION LAB FOR NEW NURSING PROGRAM$400,000
MITCHELL COLLEGE NEW LONDON, CTSCHOLARSHIPS FOR NORWICH STUDENTS$20,000
NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION STONINGTON, CTSUPPORT OF STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR NORWICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS$42,000
NEW LONDON HOMELESS HOSPITALITY CENTER INC NEW LONDON, CTRENOVATIONS FOR HOUSING COUNSELING FACILITY$20,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Kathryn F. Lord serves as Director and Trustee of the foundation. She is compensated at $48,000 annually.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

KATHRYN LORDTRUSTEE$48KJOEL SUISMANTRUSTEE$36KJEFFREY LORDTRUSTEE$5K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KATHRYN LORDTRUSTEE20$48,000
JOEL SUISMANTRUSTEE10$36,000
JEFFREY LORDTRUSTEE2$5,366

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2017

The foundation has demonstrated significant philanthropic activity in recent years. In 2017, the foundation donated $900,000 to Cure Alzheimer's Fund. By 2019, the foundation had distributed $5.5 million in grants since its inception. The foundation continues to support regional organizations addressing health, social services, education, and cultural needs in New London County.

Cure Alzheimer's Fund Receives $900,000 Donation from the Edward and Mary

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation fund?

The mission of The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation is to financially support programs and capital projects of local nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut populations, with particular emphasis on: • Elderly persons • Children • Community health care programs • Local arts and cultural community • Local community colleges (endowment and scholarship funding) The foundation aims to improve the immediate welfare of target populations while making a worthwhile impact on their …

How do I apply for a grant from The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation?

**Recent Grant Activity (2024)** The foundation made grants totaling $1,021,334 in its most recent fiscal year. Recent grants include: • Mitchell College: $400,000 (Build Out of Simulation Lab for New Nursing Program) • United Community and Family Services (UCFS): $150,000 (Repairs to Facility Damaged by Weather-Related Flooding) • St Jude Common: $59,000 (Purchase Generator for Facility) The foundation made 15 grants in the 2024 fiscal year. **Application Process** Grant application forms and …

Where does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation make grants?

The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation focuses its grantmaking on nonprofit organizations serving New London County, Connecticut.

What size grants does The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation award?

In 2024, The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $1.0M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Edward and Mary Lord Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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 2020–2024.

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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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