The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family is a private foundation based in Stamford, Connecticut. In 2025, it gave $57,888 through 36 grants, supporting charitable organizations including arts and cultural institutions, a university, community organizations, and organizations working in health and human services.
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family at a glance
In short: The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family gave $58K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Connecticut. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $57,888
- -37.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,608
- -30.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $459
- Total assets
- $122,714
- -13.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (6 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (86% 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 James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Day Pitney Llp 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford, CT 06901
Phone: (203) 977-7300
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Westport Country Playhouse ($12K). Together the top 10 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 191 grants of 193 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 9% to recipients in Washington, DC. Recipients in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New York each received 1% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 36 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $115; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $508 repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 746% 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 $58K (2025) to $194K (2022). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $58K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Westport Country Playhouse Westport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $11,711 |
| Orchestra Lumos Stamford, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $11,000 |
| Greens Farms Church Westport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $8,200 |
| Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Bottoms up) Washington, DC | Unrestricted Grant | $5,000 |
| Near and Far Aid Association Southport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $4,500 |
| Fairfield University Fairfield, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $3,000 |
| Westport Parks & Recreationwakeman Town Farm Westport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $2,500 |
| Westport Rotary Club Foundation Westport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $2,250 |
| Westport Library Association Westport, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $2,000 |
| Our Companions Animal Rescue Manchester, CT | Unrestricted Grant | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $122,714 | $43,955 | $63,883 | $57,888 | 36 | $59,204 | $39,776 | $7,932 |
| 2024 | $142,599 | $48,489 | $97,917 | $92,275 | 40 | $93,446 | $44,018 | $11,216 |
| 2023 | $192,017 | $34,833 | $109,294 | $101,603 | 51 | $103,272 | $28,811 | $14,177 |
| 2022 | $266,160 | $23,570 | $202,992 | $194,167 | 39 | $195,442 | $18,212 | $19,486 |
| 2021 | $445,531 | $106,986 | $75,111 | $64,955 | 27 | $66,176 | $98,939 | $27,523 |
| 2020 | $413,550 | $51,873 | $97,059 | $87,079 | 28 | — | $44,490 | $27,049 |
| 2019 | $458,605 | $44,095 | $70,693 | $61,281 | 38 | — | $34,529 | $30,078 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family reported a distributable amount of $8K 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 mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Westport Country Playhouse describes its work as enriching and engaging the community through professional theater; Orchestra Lumos says it brings audiences great music through performances, programming, and educational initiatives. Fairfield University describes its purpose as providing secondary, undergraduate, and graduate education, among other educational, charitable, and religious works.
Other 2025 grantees include Westport Library Association, which says it maintains a public library and aims to empower individuals and strengthen the community; CLASP Homes, which provides services and support for people with developmental disabilities; and Builders Beyond Borders, which engages teenagers in community-improvement projects, personal growth, and cultural exchange. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the funder awarded 36 grants totaling $57,888. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $11,711, with a median of $459. Its largest 2025 grants included Westport Country Playhouse ($11,711), Orchestra Lumos ($11,000), Greens Farms Church ($8,200), Colorectal Cancer Alliance (Bottoms Up) ($5,000), and Near and Far Aid Association ($4,500). These grants were listed as unrestricted.
Other 2025 grants included Fairfield University ($3,000), Westport Parks & Recreation/Wakeman Town Farm ($2,500), Westport Rotary Club Foundation ($2,250), Westport Library Association ($2,000), and Our Companions Animal Rescue ($1,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James Marpe and Mary Ellen Marpe as trustees.
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James Marpe
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ellen Marpe
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 James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family
How much does The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family give each year?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family gave $58K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $92K across 40 grants.
What is The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's typical grant size?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's median grant in 2025 was $459, and its average grant was $1,608, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family that year got $115 on average.
Where does The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family give grants?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family gives mostly in Connecticut: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Westport, CT (17 grants), Southport, CT (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Norwalk, CT (2 grants).
Does The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's largest grantees?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's largest 2025 grantees include Westport Country Playhouse ($11,711), Orchestra Lumos ($11,000) and Greens Farms Church ($8,200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family reported $123K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $59K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family fund?
No mission statement for the funder is provided. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family?
The foundation 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 James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's EIN?
The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1663665. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family 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 April 7, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-james-and-mary-ellen-marpe-family-morg_d9325273e46240d1a60903070c4a50ba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_061663665_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The James \& Mary Ellen Marpe Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-james-and-mary-ellen-marpe-family-morg_d9325273e46240d1a60903070c4a50ba},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-26. 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 James & Mary Ellen Marpe Family'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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