The Sassafras Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 and based in Branford, Connecticut. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving to support various charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.3M
+8.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$704K
-10.1% YoY
Grant Count
17
-26.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
+21.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- After School Programs
- Mentoring Programs
- Tutoring and Academic Success Enrichment
- General Support
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$4,000–$150,000
Average Grant
amount: $35,829 (general support)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $11,307,242
- Total Revenue: $1,567,032
- Total Expenses: $732,041
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Giving Rate: 6.5%
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Grants, contributions, etc.: $504,405
- Investment income and dividends: $568,039
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $494,588
Staffing:
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,307,242 | $10,472,251 | $10,769,704 |
| Revenue | $1,567,032 | $507,661 | $608,732 |
| Expenses | $732,041 | $805,114 | $855,347 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $711,079 | $790,513 | $841,958 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,046,428 | $493,060 | $595,343 |
| Distributable Amount | $741,586 | $672,189 | $686,809 |
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
110 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
- Gordon T Geballe – President, Director
- Shelley D Geballe – Secretary/Treasurer, Director
- Joshua G Geballe – Director
- Benjamin D Geballe – Director
- Daniel W Geballe – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GORDON T GEBALLE | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHELLEY D GEBALLE | SECT'Y/TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOSHUA G GEBALLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BENJAMIN D GEBALLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DANIEL W GEBALLE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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NEW BRITAIN, CT
Assets
$767K
Grants
7
Total Given
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Assets
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Total Given
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Alderman Family Foundation
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Assets
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Grants
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Total Given
$650
Calf Island Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$172K
Grants
1
Total Given
$10K
Russel R Taylor Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
3
Total Given
$224K
Nancy a Larson Foundation Inc
OLD LYME, CT
Assets
$9K
Grants
8
Total Given
$12K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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