The Ward Foundation Inc
The Ward Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in New Canaan, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $484K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 18 grants totaling $23K. Net investment income was $9K.
Key facts about The Ward Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 06-1519409
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $22,715
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $1,262
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $483,796
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Ward Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Ward Foundation Inc's 18 itemized 2024 grants were Connecticut (40%), New York (22%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New Canaan, CT (4 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 18 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (5 grants) and "Educational Support" (3 grants).
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. 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Ward Foundation Inc
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$484K
-5.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$23K
+22.5% YoY
Grant Count
18
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+2.1% YoY
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.
About The Ward Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Ward Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in New Canaan, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $484K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 18 grants totaling $23K. Net investment income was $9K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 18 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $483,796 | $512,355 | $514,911 |
| Revenue | $8,249 | $28,274 | $34,650 |
| Expenses | $36,808 | $30,830 | $34,054 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $23,790 | $19,622 | $22,165 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,832 | $17,066 | $22,761 |
| Distributable Amount | $31,408 | $29,029 | $30,241 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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
68 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include International College ($5,000), Staying Put in New Canaan ($5,000), Coastal Aspirations ($2,486).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richard S Ward | President | 1 | — |
| John Ward | Chairman | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Ward Foundation Inc?
The Ward Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in New Canaan, CT. It holds $484K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Ward Foundation Inc?
As of 2024, The Ward Foundation Inc holds $484K in total assets with $8K in annual revenue. It awarded 18 grants totaling $23K in 2024.
Where does The Ward Foundation Inc operate?
The Ward Foundation Inc has awarded grants in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
What size grants does The Ward Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Ward Foundation Inc awarded 18 grants totaling $23K — an average of about $1K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ward Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ward Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.