The Sassafras Foundation
The Sassafras Foundation is a private foundation based in Branford, Connecticut. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations in Connecticut, including organizations working in social services, legal assistance, children’s advocacy, environmental protection, and education.
The Sassafras Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sassafras Foundation gave $540K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in Connecticut. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $540,000
- -23.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -41.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $54,000
- +30.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $42,500
- Total assets
- $12,083,089
- +6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 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 Sassafras Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3004, Branford, CT 06405
Phone: (203) 481-4923
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sassafras Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership ($125K). Together the top 10 received $540K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 63 grants of 95 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Sassafras Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $48K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 62% 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 $540K (2025) to $837K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $540K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership New Haven, CT | General Support | $125,000 |
| Christian Community Action New Haven, CT | General Support | $115,000 |
| New Haven Legal Assistance Inc New Haven, CT | General Support | $80,000 |
| Connecticut Voices for Children New Haven, CT | General Support | $50,000 |
| Save the Sound New Haven, CT | General Support | $45,000 |
| Open Communities Alliance Inc Hartford, CT | Fellows Program | $40,000 |
| Center for Children's Advocacy Inc Co U of CT School of Law Hartford, CT | General Support | $25,000 |
| United Way of Connecticut Rocky Hill, CT | Redwood Fellows Program | $25,000 |
| Urban Resources Initiativeyale School of the Environment New Haven, CT | General Support | $20,000 |
| Horizons at the Foote School New Haven, CT | General Support | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sassafras 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 | $12,083,089 | $1,358,840 | $582,993 | $540,000 | 10 | $547,746 | $1,345,818 | $877,171 |
| 2024 | $11,307,242 | $1,567,032 | $732,041 | $704,000 | 17 | $711,079 | $1,046,428 | $741,586 |
| 2023 | $10,472,251 | $507,661 | $805,114 | $783,000 | 23 | $790,513 | $493,060 | $672,189 |
| 2022 | $10,769,704 | $608,732 | $855,347 | $837,000 | 25 | $841,958 | $595,343 | $686,809 |
| 2021 | $11,016,319 | $1,054,238 | $840,343 | $822,000 | 20 | $825,994 | $1,043,890 | $773,097 |
| 2020 | $10,802,424 | $171,635 | $834,843 | $756,800 | 25 | — | $161,413 | $679,509 |
| 2019 | $11,465,632 | $2,304,498 | $745,950 | $730,500 | 21 | — | $2,291,763 | $528,371 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sassafras Foundation reported a distributable amount of $877K 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 listed 2025 grants include general support for organizations such as Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership, Christian Community Action, New Haven Legal Assistance, Connecticut Voices for Children, and Save the Sound. Christian Community Action describes its mission as providing help, housing, and hope to people with low incomes in New Haven. Connecticut Voices for Children says it advances public policy and investment to improve the well-being of children and families, particularly those historically disadvantaged. Save the Sound describes its work as protecting and improving the land, air, and water of the Long Island Sound region.
Other 2025 awards included support for a fellows program at Open Communities Alliance and the Redwood Fellows Program at United Way of Connecticut. Open Communities Alliance describes itself as a civil rights organization promoting access to opportunity through education, organizing, advocacy, research, and partnerships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $540,000. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $125,000, with a median of $42,500. Its largest awards were $125,000 to Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership and $115,000 to Christian Community Action, both for general support. Other notable awards included $80,000 to New Haven Legal Assistance, $50,000 to Connecticut Voices for Children, and $45,000 to Save the Sound, each for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gordon T Geballe as president and director; Shelley D Geballe as secretary, treasurer, and director; and Joshua G Geballe, Benjamin D Geballe, and Daniel W Geballe as directors.
The Sassafras Foundation is led by Gordon T. Geballe, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gordon T. Geballe
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin D. Geballe
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel W. Geballe
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joshua G. Geballe
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelley D. Geballe
Sect'y, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Sassafras Foundation
How much does The Sassafras Foundation give each year?
The Sassafras Foundation gave $540K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $704K across 17 grants.
What is The Sassafras Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sassafras Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $42,500, and its average grant was $54,000, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sassafras Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does The Sassafras Foundation give grants?
The Sassafras 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 New Haven, CT (7 grants) and Hartford, CT (2 grants).
Does The Sassafras Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of The Sassafras Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sassafras Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sassafras Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership ($125,000), Christian Community Action ($115,000) and New Haven Legal Assistance Inc ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sassafras Foundation?
The Sassafras Foundation reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $548K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $877K (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 Sassafras Foundation fund?
The foundation’s listed 2025 grants include general support for organizations such as Leadership Education Athletics in Partnership, Christian Community Action, New Haven Legal Assistance, Connecticut Voices for Children, and Save the Sound. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sassafras Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sassafras Foundation's EIN?
The Sassafras Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3082522. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Sassafras 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 May 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sassafras Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sassafras Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sassafras-foundation-morg_ee7c6e5ca4a74d428bf442442eb28930
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203082522_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sassafras Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sassafras-foundation-morg_ee7c6e5ca4a74d428bf442442eb28930},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Sassafras 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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