The William and Alice Mortensen
The William and Alice Mortensen Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1982 and based in West Hartford, Connecticut. The foundation operates as a non-operating foundation, making grants to preselected charitable organizations rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.6M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$696K
-11.2% YoY
Grant Count
53
-26.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+20.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The William and Alice Mortensen reported a distributable amount of $799K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to provide grants using excise tax refunds. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantee basis, meaning it typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Average Grant
$15,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, with some grants distributed to organizations in the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9,693,588
- Total Giving: $783,507–$865,000
- Total Revenue: $468,330
- Total Expenses: $946,741
The foundation has experienced a decline in total assets from $12.1 million in 2011 to $9.7 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,564,044 | $9,693,588 | $10,164,054 |
| Revenue | $742,682 | $468,330 | $499,051 |
| Expenses | $872,226 | $946,741 | $1,139,230 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $782,706 | $864,733 | $1,019,524 |
| Net Investment Income | $663,301 | $395,553 | $391,580 |
| Distributable Amount | $798,892 | $737,171 | $735,842 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Charter Oak Cultural Center ($50,000), Ct Museum of Culture & History ($50,000), Mark Twain House ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CT CHAPTER FARMINGTON, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF WEST HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF CONNECTICUT HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $14,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF HARTFORD HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $27,482 |
| CHARTER OAK CULTURAL CENTER HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $50,000 |
| CONNECTICUT CHORAL ARTISTS INC DBA CONCORA NEW BRITAIN, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $2,500 |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $10,150 |
| CONNECTICUT TROLLEY EAST WINDSOR, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $5,317 |
| CONNECTICUT VETERANS LEGAL CENTER WEST HAVEN, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $10,000 |
| CONNECTIKIDS INC HARTFORD, CT | PROGRAM ASSISTANCE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Tim Covello, President
- Suzanne Giuffrida, Vice President
- Dr. Ellen W. Solek, Secretary
- Rodney Mortensen, Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIM COVELLO | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| SUZANNE GIUFFRIDA | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| DR ELLEN W SOLEK | SECRETARY | 2 | $600 |
| RODNEY MORTENSEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported 63 unique organizations across Connecticut and the District of Columbia. Recent beneficiaries include cultural institutions, educational organizations, and healthcare programs in the Hartford area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The William and Alice Mortensen fund?
The foundation's purpose is to provide grants using excise tax refunds. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The William and Alice Mortensen?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $2,000–$100,000 • Median grant: $7,300–$10,000 • Average grant: $15,000 • Recent grant activity: 72 grants distributed in the most recent filing period **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantee basis, meaning it typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts: $100,000 • The Mark Twain House and Museum: $50,000 • University…
Where does The William and Alice Mortensen make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Connecticut, with some grants distributed to organizations in the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The William and Alice Mortensen award?
In 2024, The William and Alice Mortensen awarded 53 grants totaling $696K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The William and Alice Mortensen required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The William and Alice Mortensen reported a distributable amount of $799K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The William and Alice Mortensen's EIN?
The William and Alice Mortensen's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1064150. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The William and Alice Mortensen's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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