The Wisdom Connection Inc
THE WISDOM CONNECTION INC is a private foundation based in Greensboro, Vermont. Its 2024 filing reports 16 grants totaling $174,900, all to recipients in Vermont, including support for community, childcare, family, and learning organizations.
Key facts about The Wisdom Connection Inc
In short: The Wisdom Connection Inc gave $175K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $11K), mostly in Vermont. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 20-0288195
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $174,900
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $10,931
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,625,767
- Primary geography
- Vermont (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.6M
-3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$175K
-32.9% YoY
Grant Count
16
-27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
-7.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Wisdom Connection Inc reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Wisdom Connection Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 16 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 217% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support, childcare, community leadership, food pantry, family support, library programming, and accessibility initiatives.
The supported organizations describe a range of missions. WholeHeart says it cultivates deep listening and solidarity for collective wellbeing and convenes gatherings to strengthen reflective leadership practices. The Vermont Council on Rural Development says it helps Vermont citizens build prosperous and resilient communities through democratic engagement and collective action. Craftsbury Saplings says it provides childcare, emphasizing community collaboration and exploration of the natural world. Lund Family Center says it helps children thrive by supporting families through education, treatment, family support, and adoption. AWARE describes its mission as preventing and healing domestic and sexual violence in the greater Hardwick area. The Greensboro Free Library says it provides community resources and programs for lifelong learning and enrichment.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $174,900. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $22,500, with a median grant of $10,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $173K (2020) to $261K (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $175K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Up for Learning (Unleashing the Power of Partnership for Learning Inc) ($23K). Together the top 10 received $145K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 86 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up for Learning (Unleashing the Power of Partnership for Learning Inc) Montpelier, VT | General Operating Support | $22,500 |
| Center for an Agricultural Economy Hardwick, VT | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Wholeheart Inc Richmond, VT | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Vermont Council on Rural Development Montpelier, VT | Community visits, climate economy and Vermont community leadership network | $17,500 |
| Craftsbury Saplings Craftsbury, VT | General Operating Support and Equipment/Materials | $15,000 |
| Aware Hardwick, VT | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Craftsbury Community Care Center Craftsbury, VT | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Hardwick Area Food Pantry Hardwick, VT | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Lund Family Center South Burlington, VT | Kids-a-Part Program | $10,000 |
| Greensboro Community Childcare Center (DBA Four Seasons of Early Learning) Greensboro Bend, VT | General Operating Support | $9,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,625,767 | $124,141 | $235,843 | $174,900 | 16 |
| 2023 | $1,692,506 | -$16,801 | $316,498 | $260,500 | 22 |
| 2022 | $1,787,324 | $208,111 | $261,100 | $209,378 | 17 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,625,767 | $1,692,506 | $1,787,324 |
| Revenue | $124,141 | $-16,801 | $208,111 |
| Expenses | $235,843 | $316,498 | $261,100 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $174,900 | $260,500 | $209,378 |
| Net Investment Income | $113,608 | $27,650 | $194,691 |
| Distributable Amount | $80,521 | $84,944 | $97,247 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patricia Passmore Alley as president; Lincoln Lande as treasurer; Mary Parke Meyer as secretary; and Becky Arnold, Eric Erwin, Paul Costello, and Sarah Lammert as directors.
The Wisdom Connection Inc is led by Patricia Passmore Alley, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Patricia Passmore Alley
President
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Becky Arnold
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Eric Erwin
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Costello
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Lammert
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lincoln Lande
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Parke Meyer
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Emily Maclure (2023) — Director
- Former: Ceilidh Galloway-Kane (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: F. William Alley (2020–2022) — Treasurer
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 333 Atherton Way, Greensboro, VT 05841
Phone: (802) 533-2478
Frequently asked questions about The Wisdom Connection Inc
How much does The Wisdom Connection Inc give each year?
The Wisdom Connection Inc gave $175K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $261K across 22 grants.
What is The Wisdom Connection Inc's typical grant size?
The Wisdom Connection Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,931, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Wisdom Connection Inc that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Wisdom Connection Inc give grants?
The Wisdom Connection Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Montpelier, VT (3 grants), Hardwick, VT (3 grants), Greensboro, VT (3 grants) and Craftsbury, VT (2 grants).
Does The Wisdom Connection Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 63% of The Wisdom Connection Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Wisdom Connection Inc's largest grantees?
The Wisdom Connection Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Up for Learning (Unleashing the Power of Partnership for Learning Inc) ($22,500), Center for an Agricultural Economy ($20,000) and Wholeheart Inc ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Wisdom Connection Inc?
The Wisdom Connection Inc reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $175K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $81K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Wisdom Connection Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included general operating support, childcare, community leadership, food pantry, family support, library programming, and accessibility initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Wisdom Connection Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Wisdom Connection Inc's EIN?
The Wisdom Connection Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0288195. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Wisdom Connection Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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