The Ward Foundation Inc
The Ward Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New Canaan, Connecticut. Its 2024 filing says it maintains investments and distributes contributions to selected charitable organizations.
The Ward Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Ward Foundation Inc gave $23K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state Connecticut. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,715
- +22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,262
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $483,796
- -5.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (40% 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 Ward Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 77 Winfield Lane, New Canaan, CT 06840
Phone: (203) 966-7885
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ward Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was International College ($5K). Together the top 10 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 68 grants of 68 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states. Connecticut accounted for 40%, New York 22%, California 11%, Maryland 9%, and Louisiana 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Ward Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 18 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $500 repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 153% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 76% 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 (2021–2024). 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $9K (2021) to $23K (2024). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $23K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| International College New York, NY | Educational Support | $5,000 |
| Staying Put in New Canaan New Canaan, CT | Social and Community Support | $5,000 |
| Coastal Aspirations San Francisco, CA | Environmental Support | $2,486 |
| National World War II Museum New Orleans, LA | Historical/Societal Support | $1,500 |
| Americares Stamford, CT | International Relief | $1,040 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Research Clarksburg, MD | Medical Research | $1,000 |
| Disabled Veterans National Foundation Lanham, MD | Community Support | $1,000 |
| Moose Charities Mooseheart, IL | Social Relief and Community Support | $1,000 |
| New Canaan High School Scholarship Foundation Inc New Canaan, CT | Educational Support | $1,000 |
| Vista Life Innovations Westbrook, CT | Community Support | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $483,796 | $8,249 | $36,808 | $22,715 | 18 | $23,790 | $8,832 | $31,408 |
| 2023 | $512,355 | $28,274 | $30,830 | $18,547 | 15 | $19,622 | $17,066 | $29,029 |
| 2022 | $514,911 | $34,650 | $34,054 | $21,065 | 17 | $22,165 | $22,761 | $30,241 |
| 2021 | $514,552 | $27,696 | $21,800 | $8,970 | 18 | $10,020 | $16,016 | $30,017 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ward Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $31K 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 filing describes its direct charitable activity as maintaining investments and distributing contributions to selected charitable organizations. Its 2024 grants included support identified as educational, social and community, environmental, historical/societal, international relief, and medical research.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Staying Put in New Canaan says it helps older New Canaan residents live confidently at home and remain engaged in the community through practical services and social connections. International College—identified in its own mission statement as International College - Beirut—says it aims to inspire and challenge learners and nurture the whole child. Vista Life Innovations says it provides training, support, and resources to empower people with disabilities. Disabled Veterans National Foundation says it seeks to change the lives of veterans who returned wounded or sick.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 18 grants totaling $22,715. Grant amounts ranged from $35 to $5,000, with a median of $1,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $5,000 to International College for educational support and $5,000 to Staying Put in New Canaan for social and community support. Other notable grants included $2,486 to Coastal Aspirations for environmental support, $1,500 to the National World War II Museum for historical/societal support, and $1,040 to Americares for international relief. The foundation also gave $1,000 each to Alzheimer’s Disease Research, Disabled Veterans National Foundation, Moose Charities, New Canaan High School Scholarship Foundation, and Vista Life Innovations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard S Ward as president and John Ward as chairman.
The Ward Foundation Inc is led by Richard S. Ward, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard S. Ward
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Ward
Chairman
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anne S. Ward (2021–2023) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 Ward Foundation Inc
How much does The Ward Foundation Inc give each year?
The Ward Foundation Inc gave $23K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19K across 15 grants.
What is The Ward Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Ward Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,262, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ward Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Ward Foundation Inc give grants?
The Ward Foundation Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (22%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Canaan, CT (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Ward Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on The Ward Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (5 grants) and "Educational Support" (3 grants).
Who are The Ward Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Ward Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include International College ($5,000), Staying Put in New Canaan ($5,000) and Coastal Aspirations ($2,486), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ward Foundation Inc?
The Ward Foundation Inc reported $484K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $24K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $31K (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 Ward Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its direct charitable activity as maintaining investments and distributing contributions to selected charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ward Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ward Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Ward Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1519409. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does The Ward 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 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Ward Foundation Inc funds
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