Widows Society
Widows Society was a private foundation based in Avon, Connecticut. Its 2021 filing reports 14 grants totaling $4,821,058. The organization’s 2020 filing is marked as its final return and states that it dissolved as of August 31, 2021, with funds and assets disbursed during its final year; it therefore appears to have wound down and is not an active grantmaking prospect.
Widows Society at a glance
In short: Widows Society gave $4.8M across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $344K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $4,821,058
- +4593.8% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 14
- -12.5% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $344,361
- +5264.3% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (98% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Widows Society
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. This policy is not presented as current because the organization’s filing states that it dissolved in 2021.
- Contact
Mailing address: 10 Canterbury Lane, Avon, CT 06001
Phone: (860) 244-4878
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Widows Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Uconn Women's Health ($2.1M). Together the top 10 received $4.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($100,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 30 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 grant dollars were reported as 98% for Connecticut recipients, 2% for Massachusetts, and 0% for Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Widows Society gives
- 8% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $103K (2020) to $4.8M (2021). In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uconn Women's Health Farmington, CT | General Grant | $2,100,000 |
| Hartford Interval House Hartford, CT | Endowment | $1,688,358 |
| CRT Hartford, CT | General Grant | $300,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $100,000 |
| Veterans Inc Worcester, MA | Grant for Clients | $100,000 |
| Connecticut Community Care Bristol, CT | General Grant | $100,000 |
| Capital Community College Foundation Hartford, CT | Grant for Education | $100,000 |
| Foodshare Bloomfield, CT | General Grant | $100,000 |
| Aurora Women and Girls Foundation West Hartford, CT | General Grant | $100,000 |
| Universalist Church of West Hartford West Hartford, CT | Outreach Grant | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Widows Society?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $559,261 | $4,834,144 | $4,821,058 | 14 | $549,394 | $27,579 |
| 2020 | $4,274,883 | $93,245 | $147,225 | $102,712 | 16 | $112,506 | $210,501 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Widows Society reported a distributable amount of $28K for 2021 — 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 available filings do not state a mission for Widows Society. Its 2021 grants went to organizations working in areas including domestic-violence services, education, veterans’ homelessness, care coordination for elders and people with disabilities, and hunger relief. For example, Hartford Interval House describes its mission as ending domestic violence and providing services to prevent and break cycles of abuse. Foodshare describes its work as coordinating a response to hunger and poverty in Hartford and Tolland Counties.
Grantmaking
In 2021, Widows Society gave 14 grants totaling $4,821,058. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $2,100,000, with a median of $100,000.
Notable 2021 grants included $2,100,000 to UCONN WOMEN'S HEALTH for a general grant and $1,688,358 to Hartford Interval House for an endowment. Other grants included $300,000 to CRT; $100,000 each to an individual recipient State College, Veterans Inc, Connecticut Community Care, Capital Community College Foundation, Foodshare, and Aurora Women and Girls Foundation; and $40,000 to Grace Academy.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2021 filing were Joan Thomas, president; Mary Luciano, vice president and treasurer; Janet Henderson, secretary; and board directors Carol Mumford, Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, and Jeanne Goldbach.
Widows Society is led by Joan Thomas, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Joan Thomas
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Mumford
Board Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick
Board Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne Goldbach
Board Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Henderson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Luciano
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Widows Society
How much does Widows Society give each year?
Widows Society gave $4.8M across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $103K across 16 grants.
What is Widows Society's typical grant size?
Widows Society's median grant in 2021 was $100,000, and its average grant was $344,361, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Widows Society give grants?
Widows Society gives mostly in Connecticut: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hartford, CT (6 grants) and West Hartford, CT (2 grants).
Does Widows Society give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of Widows Society's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Widows Society's largest grantees?
Widows Society's largest 2021 grantees include Uconn Women's Health ($2,100,000), Hartford Interval House ($1,688,358) and CRT ($300,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Widows Society fund?
The available filings do not state a mission for Widows Society. Its 2021 grants went to organizations working in areas including domestic-violence services, education, veterans’ homelessness, care coordination for elders and people with disabilities, and hunger relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Widows Society?
The foundation stated that it made 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 ↑
How much is Widows Society required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Widows Society reported a distributable amount of $28K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Widows Society's EIN?
Widows Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-6026060. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does Widows Society 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 2020–2021
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Widows Society's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Connecticut
Liberty Bank Foundation Inc
Middletown, CT
Liberty Bank Foundation funds education, workforce readiness, small-business support, affordable housing, and food security, primarily in communities served by Liberty Bank, especially Connecticut and Greater Springfield, Massachusetts. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000; its Local Impact Grants typically provide $2,500–$5,000. The foundation’s filing says it funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$46.8M
Grants
144
Total Given
$2.3M
The William and Alice Mortensen
West Hartford, CT
The foundation supports program assistance for arts and cultural, educational and science, library, conservation, housing, and social-service organizations, primarily in Connecticut, with a small share of giving in Massachusetts. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,500 to $60,000, with a median of $10,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.5M
Grants
57
Total Given
$716K
Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Hartford, CT
The Greater Hartford Gives Foundation funds nonprofits, agencies, and scholarships, with priorities including equity, social and economic mobility, community wellbeing, civic engagement, and arts and culture. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of about $21,600, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.48 million, and it primarily serves 29 towns in Greater Hartford. It offers annual, priority-aligned grant opportunities; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
613
Total Given
$52.0M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Farmington Bank Community
Newington, CT
The foundation funds nonprofits addressing economic opportunity, health, and basic needs in its 16-community Central Connecticut service area, prioritizing organizations with deep local roots. Grants average about $8,000, with a stated maximum of $20,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not specified.
Assets
$19.2M
Grants
101
Total Given
$615K
Americares Foundation Inc
Stamford, CT
Americares funds health care organizations and programs focused on disaster preparedness and recovery, access to medicines and medical supplies, and community health services. In 2025, its grants ranged from $5,073 to $3.86 million, with a median of about $58,700; it works in the United States and internationally, reaching an average of 80 countries each year. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$372.5M
Grants
635
Total Given
$113.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Connecticut
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Widows Society's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Widows Society down — hundreds of funders to go?