The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. It supports organizations that offer children and young adults opportunities for education, personal growth, and achievement.
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 24 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), mostly in Connecticut. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,153,000
- +15.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 24
- +84.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $48,042
- -37.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $22,500
- Total assets
- $21,872,102
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (11 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc
- 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: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://serenbetzfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Waterside School Inc ($215K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 80 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 62% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut, 23% to New York, 10% to California, and 4% to Missouri. The filing also reports a 0% share for South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 24 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $87K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 54% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $616K (2020) to $1.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 24 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Waterside School Inc Stamford, CT | to support the General fund and the Angel Scholarship Fund | $215,000 |
| Reach Prep Inc Stamford, CT | General & Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| Horizons Student Enrichment Program New Canaan, CT | General & Unrestricted | $120,000 |
| First Graduate San Francisco, CA | General & Unrestricted | $110,000 |
| Harlem Academy New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $110,000 |
| St Vincents Services Inc Brooklyn, NY | American Dreams Program | $80,000 |
| Family & Childrens Agency Inc Norwalk, CT | ASPIRE program | $75,000 |
| The Carver Inc Norwalk, CT | General & Unrestricted | $75,000 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | to support Kinderboost and Head Start programs | $70,000 |
| Cottey College Nevada, MO | Serenbetz Institute Global Immersion Program | $45,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,872,102 | $1,319,843 | $1,299,371 | $1,153,000 | 24 | $1,189,340 | $1,329,626 | $1,252,453 |
| 2023 | $21,851,630 | $601,202 | $1,110,182 | $1,000,000 | 13 | $1,035,841 | $744,804 | $1,188,581 |
| 2022 | $22,360,610 | $4,167,054 | $1,064,107 | $950,000 | 13 | $995,991 | $408,330 | $1,049,151 |
| 2021 | $19,257,663 | $1,674,873 | $1,002,752 | $885,000 | 17 | $932,567 | $1,467,305 | $1,136,151 |
| 2020 | $18,585,542 | $10,305,335 | $651,246 | $616,000 | 13 | — | $384,415 | $870,656 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — 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 mission is to enrich the lives of children and young adults by supporting organizations that offer opportunities for education, personal growth, and achievement. Its stated interests include academic, spiritual, artistic, athletic, and entrepreneurial achievement.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of youth-serving work. Waterside School describes its mission as providing a well-rounded early educational foundation for motivated, disadvantaged children. First Graduate works to help students become the first in their families to graduate from college, while Harlem Academy describes its work as advancing opportunity for promising children. Other 2024 recipients include organizations serving children and families, offering student programs, and providing higher education.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $1,153,000. Individual grants ranged from $1,000 to $215,000, with a median of $22,500. The largest awards included $215,000 to Waterside School for its General Fund and Angel Scholarship Fund; $150,000 to Reach Prep for general and unrestricted support; $120,000 to Horizons Student Enrichment Program for general and unrestricted support; and $110,000 each to First Graduate and Harlem Academy for general and unrestricted support. Other grants included $80,000 to St. Vincent’s Services for its American Dreams Program and $75,000 each to Family & Children’s Agency for its ASPIRE program and The Carver for general and unrestricted support.
The foundation says it seeks long-term relationships with organizations whose goals align with its mission. Its stated criteria include personal involvement by a foundation board or committee member, meaningful gifts that contribute a measurable portion of an organization’s annual or program budget, and details about the accomplishments of the young people served.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Cynthia L. Serenbetz as trustee and vice president; Jean B. Serenbetz as treasurer and trustee; Paul H. Serenbetz as trustee and president; and George Hunter Serenbetz, Margaret Skyler Serenbetz, Robert C. Serenbetz, Stuart W. Serenbetz, William Tucker Serenbetz, Warren L. Serenbetz III, and Warren L. Serenbetz Jr as trustees.
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc is led by Paul H Serenbetz, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Paul H Serenbetz
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christin E Weberman
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia L Serenbetz
Trustee & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Hunter Serenbetz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean B Serenbetz
Treasurer & Trustee
Treasurer, Trustee & Sec* → Treasurer & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Skyler Serenbetz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C Serenbetz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stuart W Serenbetz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Warren L Serenbetz III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Warren L Serenbetz Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Tucker Serenbetz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc gave $1.2M across 24 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 13 grants.
What is The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $22,500, and its average grant was $48,042, across 24 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (23%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), San Francisco, CA (3 grants), Stamford, CT (2 grants) and Norwalk, CT (2 grants).
Does The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Waterside School Inc ($215,000), Reach Prep Inc ($150,000) and Horizons Student Enrichment Program ($120,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc reported $21.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (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 Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of children and young adults by supporting organizations that offer opportunities for education, personal growth, and achievement. Its stated interests include academic, spiritual, artistic, athletic, and entrepreneurial achievement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc?
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 Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3993644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Mbia Foundation
Purchase, NY
MBIA Foundation made grants to preselected 501(c)(3) organizations, with no specific funding areas stated; its two reported 2024 grants were for general operating support to New York organizations. Recent grants were $20,800 each, and the foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests; it also appears to have dissolved during 2024.
Assets
—
Grants
2
Total Given
$42K
The Tudor Foundation Inc
Stamford, CT
The Tudor Foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including basic needs, housing, education, health care, and youth support, with the largest shares of its 2025 grants going to Connecticut, Virginia, New York, and Florida. Its 87 grants ranged from $750 to $1,125,000, with a median of $10,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.2M
Grants
87
Total Given
$4.2M
Hartong Family Foundation
Greenwich, CT
The foundation supports scholarships, education, healthcare, substance-abuse treatment, and community organizations, with most 2025 funding going to Connecticut recipients and additional grants in several other states. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $7,500; it does not limit giving to preselected organizations, and the filing lists no deadline.
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
27
Total Given
$223K
Winokur Family Foundation Inc
Greenwich, CT
Assets
$11K
Grants
40
Total Given
$40K
The Goergen Foundation Inc
North Palm Beach, FL
The Goergen Foundation supports a range of organizations, including universities, schools, arts and cultural institutions, and groups working in conservation, health care, and community support. In 2024, grants ranged from $200 to $200,000, with a median of $3,000, and the largest shares went to organizations in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$37.2M
Grants
66
Total Given
$1.1M
Altman Foundation
New York, NY
The Altman Foundation funds education, health, community strengthening, cultural engagement, youth development, arts, and nonprofit services in New York City’s five boroughs, with particular interest in underserved communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $150 to $250,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry on a rolling basis only for its Health portfolio; it is not accepting full proposals from organizations that are not current grantees.
Assets
$286.5M
Grants
216
Total Given
$12.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-serenbetz-family-foundation-inc-morg_c5d76e29507c4c65a7758d435a3e2299
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133993644_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-serenbetz-family-foundation-inc-morg_c5d76e29507c4c65a7758d435a3e2299},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc'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.
The Serenbetz Family Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?