The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It reported 12 grants totaling $260,000 in filing year 2025, supporting charitable organizations including animal-welfare, conservation, and environmental organizations.
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation at a glance
In short: The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation gave $260K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Connecticut. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $260,000
- +13.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,667
- +31.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $5,137,538
- +5.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (77% 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 Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Connecticut Zoological Society Inc ($45K). Together the top 10 received $240K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 57 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (77%), Washington, DC (10%), California (8%), and Virginia (6%), as reported in the filing.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (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 $33K (2021) to $260K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $260K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut Zoological Society Inc Bridgeport, CT | General & Unrestricted | $45,000 |
| Sea Research Foundation Inc Mystic, CT | General & Unrestricted | $45,000 |
| Connecticut Humane Society Newington, CT | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk Inc South Norwalk, CT | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Guide Dogs for the Blind Inc San Rafael, CA | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Bartlett Arboretum Association Inc Stamford, CT | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Feral Care Inc Stratford, CT | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Greenpeace Fund Inc Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Inc Norfolk, VA | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Save the Sound Inc New Haven, CT | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Janice Spencer Calkin 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 | $5,137,538 | $626,670 | $358,482 | $260,000 | 12 | $305,785 | $580,007 | $325,557 |
| 2024 | $4,869,350 | $317,118 | $322,907 | $230,000 | 14 | $275,319 | $275,802 | $301,312 |
| 2023 | $4,875,139 | $189,896 | $318,824 | $230,000 | 12 | $274,863 | $184,961 | $266,351 |
| 2022 | $5,004,067 | $261,856 | $336,653 | $243,500 | 15 | $290,331 | $199,813 | $272,564 |
| 2021 | $5,078,864 | $614,252 | $129,366 | $33,200 | 4 | $83,710 | $242,466 | $287,290 |
| 2020 | $4,593,978 | $3,361,646 | $66,614 | — | — | — | $134,985 | $202,546 |
| 2019 | $1,298,946 | $908,848 | $63,876 | $48,975 | 36 | — | $33,301 | $26,456 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $326K 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 foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose own missions address animal welfare, environmental education, conservation, and research. For example, the Connecticut Zoological Society says it works to acquaint the public with the balance between living things and their environment; the Sea Research Foundation says it aims to inspire people to care for and protect the ocean through education and research; and the Connecticut Humane Society describes its work in companion-animal welfare, adoption, medical care, education, and cruelty prevention.
Other supported organizations describe work on Long Island Sound and ocean protection, guide-dog partnerships, environmental research and advocacy, and tree and garden collections, education, and stewardship. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $260,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $45,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest grants were $45,000 each to the Connecticut Zoological Society and the Sea Research Foundation, followed by $30,000 to the Connecticut Humane Society and $25,000 to The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Other recipients included Guide Dogs for the Blind ($20,000); Bartlett Arboretum Association, Feral Care, Greenpeace Fund, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and Save the Sound ($15,000 each); and Little Britches Therapeutic Riding and World Wildlife Fund ($10,000 each). The listed grants were designated for general and unrestricted purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists William W Wilson as director, president, secretary, and treasurer.
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation is led by William W Wilson, Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William W Wilson
Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$6K (2019) → $22K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Janice S Calkin (2019) — President, Director, Secretary & Treasurer
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $22K, to William W Wilson (Dir, Pres, Sec, Treas).
Frequently asked questions about The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation
How much does The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation give each year?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation gave $260K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $230K across 14 grants.
What is The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's typical grant size?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $21,667, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation give grants?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (10%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's largest grantees?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Connecticut Zoological Society Inc ($45,000), Sea Research Foundation Inc ($45,000) and Connecticut Humane Society ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $306K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $326K (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 Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose own missions address animal welfare, environmental education, conservation, and research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's EIN?
The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4976162. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Janice Spencer Calkin 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 June 11, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-janice-spencer-calkin-foundation-morg_0145cb6b674f428c85384c513d1a9f32
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_474976162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Janice Spencer Calkin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-janice-spencer-calkin-foundation-morg_0145cb6b674f428c85384c513d1a9f32},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Janice Spencer Calkin 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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