The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 2002 and based in Simsbury, Connecticut. The foundation was created by Robert and Judith Sturgis as a charitable resource for organizations aligned with their values and interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.0M
+12.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$413K
+29.9% YoY
Grant Count
51
+4.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
+24.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to "bettering our world by helping others help themselves along their own path."
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Human Services and poverty alleviation
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
- Early childhood learning and development
- Community development and parks/recreation
Grantmaking
From 2002 to 2020, Robert and Judith Sturgis made annual donations totaling approximately $173,000 to about 30 charities. Following Judith Sturgis's estate gift in 2021, the foundation significantly expanded its grantmaking capacity and shifted emphasis toward soliciting grant requests for specific projects aligned with its mission.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in multiple regions:
- Greater Hartford, Connecticut area (primary local focus)
- Boise, Idaho
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- National and international charitable organizations in areas of particular importance to the family
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $8,037,151
- Total Giving: $412,979
- Total Revenues: $1,360,231
- Total Expenses: $463,275
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $7.14 million
- Total Revenues: $772,000
- Total Expenses: $368,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,037,151 | $7,140,195 | $6,735,364 |
| Revenue | $1,360,231 | $772,363 | $1,490,142 |
| Expenses | $463,275 | $367,532 | $303,964 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $423,179 | $331,181 | $236,126 |
| Net Investment Income | $594,422 | $146,816 | $39,550 |
| Distributable Amount | $414,113 | $322,968 | $256,111 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Robert W. Sturgis, Trustee Chair
- Guy Sturgis, Investments
- Tamitha L. Gordon, Accounting and Taxes
- James P. Lilliendahl, Grant Administration
The board was expanded in 2020 when three family members—Guy Sturgis, Tamitha Gordon, and James Lilliendahl—were added as trustees.
Founder: Judith Sturgis, a longtime educator and Simsbury Auxiliary Member, passed away in April 2021 from pancreatic cancer. Her estate made a substantial gift to the foundation, significantly increasing its assets and grantmaking capacity.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tamitha L Gordon | Trustee | 1 | — |
| James P Lilliendahl | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Guy R Sturgis | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Robert Sturgis | Trustee | 4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported several notable projects in recent years:
**Global Gardens:** Provided funding for facility improvements, including concrete pouring and a new walk-in freezer
**Children's Park of Chestnut Hill:** Funded new playground equipment including swings
**Pilots Return to the Sky Program:** Supported a program helping Afghan allies become commercial pilots in the United States
**The Village's Early Childhood Learning Center:** Judy Sturgis took a special interest in this program, and her estate gift continues to support early childhood education and family services
Sturgis Trust Continues Longtime Support of Little Rock Public Radio withSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Assets
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Total Given
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Nancy a Larson Foundation Inc
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Assets
$9K
Grants
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Total Given
$12K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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