The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in New Canaan, Connecticut. Its 2025 filing reports $1,134,152 in grants to 10 charitable organizations.
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $113K), top state New York. 70% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,134,152
- -0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $113,415
- -10.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $29,576
- Total assets
- $5,282,406
- -14.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (7 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (47% 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 Heineman-Russell Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states in its 2024 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 83 Turning Mill Lane, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (212) 773-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($475K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 44 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were reported as going to recipients in New York (47%), Massachusetts (26%), Connecticut (22%), Illinois (4%), and Wisconsin (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 10 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $88K; repeat grants $173K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $34K repeat.
- 30% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 313% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $575K (2019) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | To support the mission of the organization | $475,000 |
| Northern University Massachusetts, MA | To support the mission of the organization | $255,000 |
| Yale Law School New Haven, CT | To support the mission of the organization | $250,000 |
| Smart Love Center Chicago, IL | To support the mission of the organization | $40,000 |
| Partners for Justice New York, NY | To support the mission of the organization | $34,152 |
| Island Autism West Tisbury, MA | To support the mission of the organization | $25,000 |
| Museum of Modern Art New York City, NY | To support the mission of the organization | $25,000 |
| President & Fellows of Harvard College Cambridge, MA | To support the mission of the organization | $10,000 |
| Stillpoint Sinsinawa, WI | To support the mission of the organization | $10,000 |
| Impact Assets Sacramento, CA | To support the mission of the organization | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation?
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 | $5,282,406 | $228,566 | $1,149,830 | $1,134,152 | 10 | $1,134,152 | $212,888 | $362,539 |
| 2024 | $6,203,670 | $240,436 | $1,214,481 | $1,142,349 | 9 | $1,142,349 | $223,304 | $383,717 |
| 2023 | $7,177,715 | $1,594,867 | $1,001,376 | $972,546 | 7 | $972,546 | $1,576,037 | $453,821 |
| 2022 | $6,584,224 | $662,380 | $765,726 | $740,000 | 9 | $740,000 | $636,654 | $540,930 |
| 2021 | $6,687,570 | $323,735 | $785,242 | $750,000 | 9 | — | $288,493 | $548,100 |
| 2020 | $7,149,077 | $-47,633 | $622,730 | $584,000 | 7 | — | $168,096 | $440,812 |
| 2019 | $7,819,440 | $233,960 | $598,592 | $575,000 | 5 | — | $216,868 | $457,788 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $363K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a cancer center, universities, a law school, a museum, and organizations working in areas such as justice and autism services. Partners for Justice describes its mission as improving the lives of low-income people by empowering and supporting them to maintain homes, livelihoods, family bonds, property, and access to the social safety net. The Museum of Modern Art describes its mission as fostering public awareness of modern and contemporary art.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $1,134,152. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $475,000, with a median of $29,576. The largest grants were $475,000 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, $255,000 to Northern University, and $250,000 to Yale Law School. Other grants included $40,000 to Smart Love Center and $34,152 to Partners for Justice.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Benjamin W Heineman and Cristine Russel Heineman as trustees.
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin W Heineman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cristine Russel Heineman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation
How much does The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation give each year?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 9 grants.
What is The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $29,576, and its average grant was $113,415, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation that year got $88K on average.
Where does The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation give grants?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's top state is New York, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (26%) and Connecticut (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To support the mission of the organization" (10 grants).
Who are The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($475,000), Northern University ($255,000) and Yale Law School ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation reported $5.3M 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 $363K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including a cancer center, universities, a law school, a museum, and organizations working in areas such as justice and autism services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation?
The foundation states in its 2024 filing 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 Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's EIN?
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0961125. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
The Rockefeller Foundation
New York, NY
The Rockefeller Foundation funds initiatives in energy access, sustainable food systems, health, climate, economic opportunity, and finance in the United States and around the world. In 2024, it made 381 grants, with a median grant of about $171,000, though awards ranged widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$6.4B
Grants
381
Total Given
$233.2M
The Commonwealth Fund
New York, NY
The Commonwealth Fund supports health care research, policy, and projects that improve access, care quality, affordability, and equity, primarily through grants to health care-focused organizations. In 2025, grants ranged from $75 to $2.35 million, with a median of $15,000; it funds work in the United States and supports international learning and exchange. It accepts letters of inquiry through its online portal on a rolling basis and responds to unsolicited proposals, generally from tax-exempt charities.
Assets
$922.7M
Grants
534
Total Given
$31.3M
The Joyce Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Joyce Foundation funds policy research, development, and advocacy advancing racial equity and economic mobility, across areas including education, the environment, democracy, culture, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism. Its grants primarily support work in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; the 2024 median grant was $80,000, with awards ranging from $685 to $1 million. It accepts online letters of inquiry year-round, but formal proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
470
Total Given
$52.2M
Carnegie Corporation of New York
New York, NY
Carnegie Corporation of New York funds education, civic participation and opportunity, democracy, and international peacebuilding, with work in the United States and internationally. Its 2025 grants had a median of $225,000, and it says it does not accept unsolicited funding requests; program staff identify and contact nearly all grantees.
Assets
$4.8B
Grants
591
Total Given
$174.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-heineman-russell-family-foundation-morg_b8a85fa3e24c40729eaa83549a415e7c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270961125_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-heineman-russell-family-foundation-morg_b8a85fa3e24c40729eaa83549a415e7c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Heineman-Russell Family 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.
The Heineman-Russell Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?