The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Connecticut. In its 2024 filing, it reported giving to a wide range of programs, with priority given to charitable organizations in the surrounding an individual recipient area and occasional support outside the region.
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation gave $183K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Connecticut. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $182,650
- -0.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +23.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,698
- -19.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Total assets
- $3,677,005
- +4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (6 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says to contact Robert Nicholas by letter stating the requested amount and purpose, and to include the organization’s IRS exemption letter. The filing lists no deadline and says the foundation supports a wide range of programs, prioritizing charitable organizations in the surrounding an individual recipient area and occasionally organizations outside that region.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert Nicholas
Mailing address: PO Box 1897, New Milford, CT 06776
Phone: (860) 354-9301
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was John Pettibone Scholarship Fund ($40K). Together the top 10 received $138K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 96 grants of 97 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that priority is given to charitable organizations in the surrounding an individual recipient area, with occasional support outside the region. Reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (96%), Kentucky (4%), and Vermont (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 21 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $177K (2020) to $213K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $183K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| John Pettibone Scholarship Fund New Milford, CT | Support for Student Scholarship Program | $40,000 |
| Northville Volunteer Fire Department New Milford, CT | Equipment Grant | $22,000 |
| The Children's Center Inc New Milford, CT | Facilities Improvement Grant | $20,000 |
| Connecticut Community Foundation Waterbury, CT | Program Support for Give Local Project | $10,000 |
| Bridgewater Land Trust Bridgewater, CT | Program Support | $9,250 |
| CT Antique Machinery Association Kent, CT | Program Support | $8,500 |
| Susan B Anthony Project Torrington, CT | Program Support | $7,500 |
| New Milford Historical Society New Milford, CT | Facility Improvements | $7,000 |
| University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY | Support for Student Scholarships | $7,000 |
| Fish of Northwestern Connecticut Inc Torrington, CT | Program Support | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,677,005 | $380,808 | $237,070 | $182,650 | 21 | $201,860 | $347,454 | $221,625 |
| 2023 | $3,534,586 | $452,571 | $232,553 | $183,175 | 17 | $201,083 | $420,844 | $200,146 |
| 2022 | $3,315,312 | $125,265 | $267,779 | $212,900 | 18 | $230,223 | $83,321 | $201,172 |
| 2021 | $3,457,826 | $377,053 | $231,636 | $177,150 | 21 | $194,417 | $345,983 | $230,761 |
| 2020 | $3,312,409 | $332,468 | $219,435 | $176,500 | 20 | — | $304,903 | $189,261 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $222K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for student scholarships, fire department equipment, facility improvements, social services for low-income residents, and program support.
The grantees describe a range of activities: Bridgewater Land Trust says it works to preserve open space and natural resources; the Susan B. Anthony Project says it promotes safety, healing, and growth for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse; and an individual recipient Historical Society says it provides exhibitions and education about an individual recipient history. Other supported organizations describe work in areas including therapeutic riding for children, arts opportunities, and food access.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $182,650. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $40,000, with a median grant of $6,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $40,000 to the John Pettibone Scholarship Fund for its student scholarship program; $22,000 to Northville Volunteer Fire Department for equipment; $20,000 to The Children’s Center for facilities improvements; and $10,000 to Connecticut Community Foundation for program support for its Give Local project. Other grants included $9,250 to Bridgewater Land Trust for program support, $7,500 to the Susan B. Anthony Project for program support, and $7,000 to an individual recipient Historical Society for facility improvements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert Nicholas as president; Roger Chace as secretary/treasurer; Nancy Miller as assistant secretary; Susan Kustosz as assistant treasurer; and Mark Altermatt and Timothy Lee as directors.
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation is led by Robert Nicholas, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Robert Nicholas
President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$350 (2020) → $500 (2024)
Mark Altermatt
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$350 (2020) → $0 (2024)
Timothy Lee
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$250 (2023) → $500 (2024)
Nancy Miller
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$250 (2020) → $500 (2024)
Roger Chace
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$350 (2020) → $0 (2024)
Susan Kustosz
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$350 (2020) → $550 (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $550, to Susan Kustosz (Assistant Treasurer). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation
How much does The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation give each year?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation gave $183K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $183K across 17 grants.
What is The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,500, and its average grant was $8,698, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation give grants?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Milford, CT (9 grants) and Torrington, CT (2 grants).
Does The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (11 grants).
Who are The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include John Pettibone Scholarship Fund ($40,000), Northville Volunteer Fire Department ($22,000) and The Children's Center Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $222K (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 Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for student scholarships, fire department equipment, facility improvements, social services for low-income residents, and program support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation?
The 2024 filing says to contact Robert Nicholas by letter stating the requested amount and purpose, and to include the organization’s IRS exemption letter. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's EIN?
The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1068025. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ellen-knowles-harcourt-foundation-morg_87bef88fe67d467f8b575a9a7b40d11c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061068025_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ellen-knowles-harcourt-foundation-morg_87bef88fe67d467f8b575a9a7b40d11c},
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 Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation'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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