The Rockfall Foundation
The Rockfall Foundation is a private foundation based in Middletown, Connecticut. It supports environmental education and conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley through grants and educational programs, and it maintains and operates the deKoven House Community Center.
The Rockfall Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rockfall Foundation gave $33K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Connecticut. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $33,200
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,018
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,500
- Total assets
- $5,251,920
- +6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% 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 Rockfall Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Eligible nonprofits, municipalities, and schools may apply through the foundation’s application process. Applicants who are not eligible on their own may apply with an eligible co-applicant.
- Review Cycle
- November 11, 2026, at 12:00 noon for the 2027 Annual Environmental Grant Program.
- Deadline
- November 11, 2026, at 12:00 noon for the 2027 Annual Environmental Grant Program.
- Next open deadline
- November 11, 2026 (Annual Environmental Grants)
- Contact
Application contact: The Rockfall Foundation Inc
Mailing address: 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: (860) 347-0340
Website: https://www.rockfallfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Rockfall Foundation
Who The Rockfall Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wesleyan University ($5K). Together the top 10 received $32K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated grant focus is the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Its listed focus towns are Chester, Clinton, Cromwell, Deep River, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Middlefield, Middletown, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook. Projects focused on the Connecticut River corridor or Long Island Sound may be considered if they demonstrate impact in at least one focus town.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Rockfall Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $26K (2021) to $37K (2020). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wesleyan University Middletown, CT | Environmental | $4,900 |
| Connecticut Forest & Park Assoc Middlefield, CT | Environmental | $4,000 |
| Fountain Hill Cemetary Associatio Deep River, CT | Environmental | $3,600 |
| Valley Shore YMCA Westbrook, CT | Environmental | $3,500 |
| Everyone Outside Inc Durham, CT | Environmental | $3,500 |
| Bushy Hill Nature Center Deep River, CT | Environmental | $3,500 |
| Two Coyotes Wildnerness School Newtown, CT | Environmental | $3,500 |
| Connecticut River Museum Essex, CT | Environmental | $2,950 |
| Brownstone Quorum Portland, CT | Environmental | $1,800 |
| Old Saybrook Middle School Old Saybrook, CT | Environmental | $1,050 |
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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 | $5,251,920 | $492,538 | $470,576 | $33,200 | 11 | $304,588 | $188,384 | — |
| 2024 | $4,941,128 | $670,828 | $381,336 | $30,539 | 11 | $295,252 | $518,073 | — |
| 2023 | $4,711,882 | $198,735 | $355,600 | $35,919 | 15 | $276,148 | $74,667 | $205,880 |
| 2022 | $4,587,029 | $262,687 | $289,424 | $29,900 | 12 | $208,869 | $127,713 | $220,020 |
| 2021 | $5,359,802 | $241,884 | $288,256 | $26,250 | 11 | — | $119,296 | $220,167 |
| 2020 | $4,607,717 | $261,983 | $322,580 | $36,515 | 13 | — | $134,484 | $203,073 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote and support environmental education and conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Its annual grant priorities are preservation, conservation, restoration, and education. The program supports ongoing and start-up projects, programs, and capacity-building initiatives.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, towns, and schools. Applicants who do not meet those requirements may partner with an eligible entity. Among its 2025 grantees, Wesleyan University received $4,900; the university describes its mission as providing a liberal arts education. Valley Shore YMCA received $3,500; it describes its mission as supporting individual growth in spirit, mind, and body, with a focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $33,200. Grant amounts ranged from $900 to $4,900, with a median of $3,500. Its Annual Environmental Grants program lists awards of $1,000–$5,000.
The largest 2025 awards included $4,900 to Wesleyan University; $4,000 to Connecticut Forest & Park Association; $3,600 to Fountain Hill Cemetery Association; and $3,500 each to Valley Shore YMCA, Everyone Outside, Bushy Hill Nature Center, and Two Coyotes Wilderness School. The filing lists environmental purposes for all 11 grants.
Applications for the 2027 Annual Environmental Grant Program are submitted through the foundation’s online application form. The 2027 application requests organizational and project information and supporting financial documents, including a recent Form 990 or, where applicable, financial statements, plus a board list. A co-applicant must provide a letter agreeing to be equally responsible for grant requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anthony P. Marino as executive director; Marilyn Ozols as president; and Jen Huddleston as vice president. Directors listed are Charlie Renshaw, Anthony Zemba, Brian McCarthy, Sharon Lewis, David Hess, Yasemin Ugurlu, and Matt Willis.
The Rockfall Foundation is led by Anthony P. Marino, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anthony P. Marino
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $95K (2025)
Marilyn Ozols
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Zemba
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian McCarthy
Director
Secretary → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlie Renshaw
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Willis
Director
Director → Vice President, 2021
Vice President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Lewis
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yasemin Ugurlu
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hess
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jen Huddleston
Vice President
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catie Griffin
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Vance
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Christina Heckart (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Farrar (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Paul Gionfriddo (2022–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Rachel Decavage (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Jo Ann Woickelman (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Robert Block (2020) — Vice President
- Former: William Holder (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $95K, to Anthony P Marino (Exec DIR).
Frequently asked questions about The Rockfall Foundation
How much does The Rockfall Foundation give each year?
The Rockfall Foundation gave $33K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $31K across 11 grants.
What is The Rockfall Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rockfall Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,500, and its average grant was $3,018, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rockfall Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Rockfall Foundation give grants?
The Rockfall Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Deep River, CT (2 grants).
Does The Rockfall Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Rockfall Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental" (11 grants).
Who are The Rockfall Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rockfall Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Wesleyan University ($4,900), Connecticut Forest & Park Assoc ($4,000) and Fountain Hill Cemetary Associatio ($3,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Rockfall Foundation?
The Rockfall Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $493K.
What does The Rockfall Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote and support environmental education and conservation in the Lower Connecticut River Valley. Its annual grant priorities are preservation, conservation, restoration, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rockfall Foundation?
Eligible nonprofits, municipalities, and schools may apply through the foundation’s application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Rockfall Foundation's EIN?
The Rockfall Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6000700. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Figures come from The Rockfall 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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