Travelers Foundation
The Travelers Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. As the philanthropic arm of the Travelers Companies, Inc., the foundation supports community initiatives across the United States through grants and donations to charitable organizations. The foundation does not engage in direct charitable activities but rather makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) public charities and equivalent organizations.
Key facts about Travelers Foundation
- EIN
- 41-1924256
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,018,663
- Grants made (2024)
- 94
- Average grant
- $53,390
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation accepts applications and is possibly open to new applicants. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Travelers Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Travelers Foundation's 94 itemized 2024 grants were Connecticut (47%), Louisiana (20%) and Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hartford, CT (32 grants), Saint Paul, MN (11 grants), Minneapolis, MN (9 grants) and New York, NY (6 grants). 40% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How Travelers Foundation gives
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (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 Travelers Foundation
- How to evaluate Travelers Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Travelers Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.0M
-15.6% YoY
Grant Count
94
+6.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
-21.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Employment
- Housing
- Youth development
- Community development
- Leadership development
- Support for economically disadvantaged people
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$25,000
Average Grant
amount: $227
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Travelers Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with primary focus areas including Connecticut, Minnesota, and New York. Geographic service areas include: AL, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, NJ, NY, TN, TX, and VA.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 94 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024
- Total assets: $1,159,578
- Total revenue: $5,028,999
- Total expenses: $5,018,663
- Net income: $1
- Number of employees: 0
Historical Giving Trends
| Year | Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.2M | $4.9M | 93 | $25K |
| 2023 | $94K | $5.8M | 87 | $25K |
| 2022 | $1.5M | $6.1M | 87 | $25K |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
341 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Travelers Foundation
Academic & Career Success Grant
Travelers Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Culturally Enriched Communities Grant
Travelers Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Thriving Neighborhoods Grant
Travelers Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St Bernard Project Inc ($1,000,000), Habitat for Humanity International ($525,000 across 2 grants), The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Bernard Project Inc New Orleans, LA | Operating support 350000 and program support for SBPs Building FORTIFIED Communities 400k and continuing to scale SBPs Disaster Assistance Program for national implementation 250000 | $1,000,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Americus, GA | Project support for the 2025 Habitat for Humanity Field office Team Volunteer Builds | $425,000 |
| The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp New Haven, CT | The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps Hospital Outreach Program and Parent Programming | $300,000 |
| Connecticut Science Center Inc Hartford, CT | Operating support for the Connecticut Science Centers mission fulfillment activities in 2024 | $225,000 |
| Greater Hartford Arts Council Hartford, CT | Operating Support for GHACs 2024 programs including the summer music series on Travelers Plaza Theater Week 2024 and the Re-Envision Arts Celebration | $150,000 |
| Hartford Promise Inc Hartford, CT | Operating support for the Hartford Promise Integrated College Success Program 50000 and program support for the Hartford Promise Scholarship Fund 75000 | $125,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Hartford Inc Hartford, CT | Operating support for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford | $120,000 |
| Junior Achievement of Southwest New England Hartford, CT | Operating support to enable JA to deliver programming to Hartford students | $105,000 |
| American Corporate Partners Inc New York, NY | Operating support for ACP Veteran Mentoring Program | $100,000 |
| The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts Hartford, CT | Program support for PARTNERS Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Andy F. Bessette – Chairman and Director (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Marlene M. Ibsen – President & CEO (10 hours/week, no compensation)
- Tara Spain – Vice President & COO (10 hours/week, no compensation)
- Erin L. Haberman – Second Vice President (10 hours/week, no compensation)
- Scott W. Rynda – Treasurer (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Wendy C. Skjerven – Corporate Secretary (0.2 hours/week, no compensation)
- Lisa Caputo – Director (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Daniel S. Frey – Director (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
- Christine K. Kalla – Director (0.5 hours/week, no compensation)
All board members and key staff serve on a voluntary basis with no compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy F Bessette | Chairman | 0.5 | — |
| Andy F Bessette | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Marlene M Ibsen | President & CEO | 10 | — |
| Tara Spain | Vice President & COO | 10 | — |
| Scott W Rynda | Treasurer | 0.5 | — |
| Wendy C Skjerven | Corporate Secretary | 0.2 | — |
| Lisa Caputo | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Daniel S Frey | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Erin L Haberman | Second Vice President | 10 | — |
| Christine K Kalla | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Michael F Klein | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Diane Kurtzman | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Rita R Ortiz | Second Vice President | 10 | — |
| Sean a Ramalho | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Nicholas Seminara | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Kevin C Smith | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Joan K Woodward | Director | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported significant community initiatives including:
A $1 million grant to the Wadsworth to restore Wednesday hours
The Wadsworth Announces $1 Million Grant from Travelers to Restore Wednesday\Grants to the Greater Hartford Arts Council to amplify impact on the arts
Greater Hartford Arts Council Amplifies Travelers' Impact on the ArtsParticipation in the "Travelers Across America" initiative to restore historic landmarks in honor of the nation's 250th anniversary, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation
Travelers Across America to Restore Historic Landmarks - ProgramBusinessA $50,000 grant to the American Indian College Fund to continue scholarship programs
Travelers Foundation Grants $50,000 to American Indian College Fund to ContinueContact Information
Address: 385 Washington Street, St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-310-7911
Website: www.travelers.com/about-travelers/community
EIN: 41-1924256
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) since January 1999
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Travelers Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Arts and culture • Education • Employment • Housing • Youth development • Community development • Leadership development • Support for economically disadvantaged people
How do I apply for a grant from Travelers Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications and is possibly open to new applicants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Travelers Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, with primary focus areas including Connecticut, Minnesota, and New York. Geographic service areas include: AL, CA, CO, CT, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MD, MN, MO, NJ, NY, TN, TX, and VA.
What size grants does Travelers Foundation award?
In 2024, Travelers Foundation awarded 94 grants totaling $5.0M — an average of about $53K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Travelers Foundation's EIN?
Travelers Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1924256. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Travelers Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.