The Kestrel Foundation
The Kestrel Foundation is a private foundation located in Washington, Connecticut. It supports charitable organizations through grants; in 2024, it reported 56 grants totaling $967,100, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Virginia and Connecticut.
The Kestrel Foundation at a glance
In short: The Kestrel Foundation gave $967K across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Virginia. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $967,100
- +150.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- -8.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,270
- +172.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $13,670,245
- -1.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (9 of 56, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (69% 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 Kestrel Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1500, Washington, CT 06793
Phone: (212) 254-3424
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Kestrel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cloudbreak Inc ($665K). Together the top 10 received $824K.
Grant Size Distribution
316 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 303 grants of 316 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in Virginia received 69% of grant dollars, those in Connecticut received 19%, those in New York received 10%, and those in Washington, DC received 2%. Vermont accounted for 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Kestrel Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 56 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 147% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $387K (2023) to $967K (2024). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $967K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cloudbreak Inc McLean, VA | General Support | $665,000 |
| Northwest CT Land Concervancy Kent, CT | General Support | $42,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund New York, NY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Unhcr Washington, DC | General Support | $20,000 |
| Steep Rock Association Washington Depot, CT | General Support | $15,000 |
| Washington Park Foundation Washington Depot, CT | General Support | $12,000 |
| After School Arts Program Washington Depot, CT | General Support | $10,000 |
| Friendly Hands Torrington, CT | General Support | $10,000 |
| Greenwoods Counseling Litchfield, CT | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Kestrel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,670,245 | $807,876 | $1,099,614 | $967,100 | 56 | $980,818 | $672,447 | $668,675 |
| 2023 | $13,855,671 | $240,888 | $798,654 | $386,900 | 61 | $407,739 | $124,780 | $640,409 |
| 2022 | $13,759,493 | $83,595 | $731,737 | $468,906 | 73 | $530,506 | $461,616 | $649,687 |
| 2021 | $14,408,753 | $7,320,183 | $1,145,141 | $947,262 | 64 | $947,637 | $6,639,196 | $526,942 |
| 2020 | $8,631,491 | $244,750 | $729,841 | $621,100 | 62 | — | $212,942 | $554,688 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kestrel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $669K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including environmental protection and land conservation, arts and education, humanitarian aid, housing, survivor services, and community resources.
These are grantees’ missions, not stated priorities of the foundation. For example, Steep Rock Association describes its work as conserving significant landscapes and riparian corridors around Washington, Connecticut, and connecting the community with nature. The After School Arts Program says it provides artistic opportunities, particularly for people in Northwest Connecticut. Jericho Project describes its mission as ending homelessness at its roots, while Susan B. Anthony Project works with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocates for the autonomy of women. Environmental Defense Fund describes work addressing climate change, pollution, and environmental protection.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $967,100. Grants ranged from $200 to $665,000, with a median grant of $2,500. The largest listed grant was $665,000 to Cloudbreak Inc. in McLean, Virginia, for general support. Other notable grants included $42,000 to Northwest CT Land Conservancy; $20,000 each to Doctors Without Borders, Environmental Defense Fund, and UNHCR; and $15,000 to Steep Rock Association. The listed grants were for general support.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Benjamin E. Nickoll and Christine M. Armstrong as trustees.
The Kestrel Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Benjamin E. Nickoll
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine M. Armstrong
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Kestrel Foundation
How much does The Kestrel Foundation give each year?
The Kestrel Foundation gave $967K across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $387K across 61 grants.
What is The Kestrel Foundation's typical grant size?
The Kestrel Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $17,270, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Kestrel Foundation that year got $75K on average.
Where does The Kestrel Foundation give grants?
The Kestrel Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Connecticut (19%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (14 grants), Washington Depot, CT (7 grants), Washington, CT (4 grants) and Kent, CT (3 grants).
Does The Kestrel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Kestrel Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Kestrel Foundation's largest grantees?
The Kestrel Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cloudbreak Inc ($665,000), Northwest CT Land Concervancy ($42,000) and Doctors Without Borders ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Kestrel Foundation?
The Kestrel Foundation reported $13.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $981K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $669K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Kestrel Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including environmental protection and land conservation, arts and education, humanitarian aid, housing, survivor services, and community resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Kestrel Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Kestrel Foundation's EIN?
The Kestrel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4007198. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Kestrel 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kestrel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Murray & Susan Haber Charitable
Charlottesville, VA
The foundation supports organizations working in community services, arts education, emergency medical services, mental health care, and land conservation, primarily in New York and Connecticut. In 2024, its 33 grants ranged from $395 to $100,000, with a median of $1,030. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$804K
Grants
33
Total Given
$191K
The Wenden Foundation
Washington Depot, CT
The Wenden Foundation supports charitable work including humanitarian aid, emergency food, community welfare, emergency medical services, land conservation, and youth education. Its 2024 grants ranged from $230 to $77,500, with a median of $4,250, and recipients were mainly in California, Connecticut, and New York. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.0M
Grants
56
Total Given
$336K
The Connecticut Community Foundation
Waterbury, CT
The Connecticut Community Foundation funds nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations working in arts and culture, education and economic opportunity, health, environmental justice, older adults’ services, grassroots leadership, and nonprofit strengthening. It serves 21 towns in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills; its 2025 grants had a median of $15,000, within a range of about $5,000 to $993,000. The profile describes an online application process, so it accepts applications.
Assets
$200.1M
Grants
240
Total Given
$8.6M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
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
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Kestrel Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-kestrel-foundation-morg_e883026c50ae49328d599bab30292a2c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134007198_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Kestrel Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-kestrel-foundation-morg_e883026c50ae49328d599bab30292a2c},
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 Kestrel 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 Kestrel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?