The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family is a private foundation based in Simsbury, Connecticut. Its primary mission is to support established 501(c)(3) charities that help people help themselves, as well as organizations with which its trustees have a personal connection.
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family at a glance
In short: The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family gave $393K across 68 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Connecticut. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $392,930
- -4.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 68
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,778
- -28.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $8,316,733
- +3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (17 of 63, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (33% 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 Robert and Judith Sturgis Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Submit the completed application described on its website. Awards are determined by the board based on the proposal and its fit with the foundation’s mission.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert Judith Sturgis Family Fdn
Mailing address: 4 Erins Way, Simsbury, CT 06070
Phone: (860) 658-0566
Website: https://sturgisfamilyfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Village for Families & Children Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $325K.
Grant Size Distribution
239 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 228 grants of 239 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its local community as including Greater Hartford, Boise, Boston, and Philadelphia, and says it also supports national and international charitable organizations in areas of importance to the family. In 2025, grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Connecticut (33%), Idaho (18%), New York (13%), Michigan (13%), and New Hampshire (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 17 of 63 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 66% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $23K (2020) to $413K (2024). In 2025 it made 68 grants totaling $393K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Village for Families & Children Inc Hartford, CT | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Eversight Ann Arbor, MI | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Marc Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Uniondale, NY | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| The Young Mens Christian Association of Boise City Boise, ID | the Downtown Capital Development Fund | $40,000 |
| University of Maine Foundation Orono, ME | General & Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Underground NE Bloomfield, CT | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Upper Valley Snowsports Foundation Enfield, NH | to purchase used snow cat | $20,500 |
| Gifts of Love Inc Avon, CT | General & Unrestricted | $12,880 |
| Jannus Inc Boise, ID | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| California Fire Foundation Sacramento, CA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family?
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 | $8,316,733 | $756,309 | $476,727 | $392,930 | 68 | $429,497 | $699,792 | $444,559 |
| 2024 | $8,037,151 | $1,360,231 | $463,275 | $412,979 | 51 | $423,179 | $594,422 | $414,113 |
| 2023 | $7,140,195 | $772,363 | $367,532 | $317,963 | 49 | $331,181 | $146,816 | $322,968 |
| 2022 | $6,735,364 | $1,490,142 | $303,964 | $236,126 | 37 | $236,126 | $39,550 | $256,111 |
| 2021 | $5,513,702 | $5,179,860 | $175,322 | $152,600 | 34 | $152,600 | $605,734 | $124,109 |
| 2020 | $489,924 | $110,107 | $25,217 | $23,200 | 30 | — | $54,877 | $22,581 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family reported a distributable amount of $445K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to support established 501(c)(3) charities focused on helping people help themselves. Its website identifies environment, education and arts, and people in need as areas of support. Its selection criteria include mission fit, potential for significant impact and replication, and an organization’s record of fiscal responsibility and community impact.
Examples of 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Eversight says its mission is to restore sight and prevent blindness through donation, transplantation, and research. Underground New England describes its work as addressing human trafficking through awareness, prevention, and survivor support. Gifts of Love says it helps individuals and families facing short-term financial crises return to self-sufficiency. Jannus says it works in community health, public policy, and economic opportunity.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 68 grants totaling $392,930. Grants ranged from $500 to $75,000, with a median of $1,000. The largest awards included $75,000 to The Village for Families & Children for general and unrestricted purposes; $50,000 each to Eversight and the Marc Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, both for general and unrestricted purposes; and $40,000 to the YMCA of Boise City for its Downtown Capital Development Fund. Other notable awards included $30,000 to the University of Maine Foundation for general and unrestricted purposes and $25,000 to Underground NE for general and unrestricted purposes.
The foundation’s website instructs applicants to review its support criteria, complete the grant application, and submit it by email. A grant review committee reviews applications and may request clarification before presenting them to the board. The board may request a site visit; approved grants are covered by a contract specifying intended results, targets, milestones, reporting requirements, and a payment schedule. The foundation does not fund lobbying or political activities, commercial business purposes, or direct grants to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Tamitha L. Gordon, James P. Lilliendahl, Guy R. Sturgis, and Robert Sturgis as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Robert W. Sturgis as trustee chair, Gordon as responsible for accounting and taxes, Lilliendahl for grant administration, and Guy Sturgis for investments.
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Guy R Sturgis
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James P Lilliendahl
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Sturgis
Trustee
Trustee & Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamitha L Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Judith Sturgis (2020–2021) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Robert and Judith Sturgis Family
How much does The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family give each year?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family gave $393K across 68 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $413K across 51 grants.
What is The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's typical grant size?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $5,778, across 68 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family give grants?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's top state is Connecticut, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Idaho (18%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boise, ID (16 grants), Philadelphia, PA (8 grants), Hartford, CT (5 grants) and Simsbury, CT (5 grants).
Does The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (58 of 68) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's largest grantees?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's largest 2025 grantees include The Village for Families & Children Inc ($75,000), Eversight ($50,000) and Marc Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family reported $8.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $429K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $445K (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 Robert and Judith Sturgis Family fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support established 501(c)(3) charities focused on helping people help themselves. Its website identifies environment, education and arts, and people in need as areas of support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's EIN?
The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-6090117. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 2, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-judith-sturgis-family-morg_3a54ce31cb5a48f39c7e4de4d3b4fc36
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_036090117_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Robert and Judith Sturgis Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-judith-sturgis-family-morg_3a54ce31cb5a48f39c7e4de4d3b4fc36},
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 Robert and Judith Sturgis 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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