Zoe's Best Friend Inc
Zoe's Best Friend Inc is a private foundation, based in Cheshire, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $812K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $51K. Net investment income was $38K.
Zoe's Best Friend Inc at a glance
In short: Zoe's Best Friend Inc gave $51K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,182
- +101.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +250.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,312
- -42.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $812,320
- -1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (61% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Zoe's Best Friend Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ball & Socket Arts ($20K). Together the top 7 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 21 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Zoe's Best Friend Inc gives
- Giving fell 51% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2023) to $105K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ball & Socket Arts Cheshire, CT | Generalprogram | $20,000 |
| Immigrant Hope Park City Park City, UT | Generalprogram | $10,000 |
| Limitless Horizonz Ixil Rolindale, MA | Generalprogram | $5,182 |
| Friends of CPFA Arts Place Cheshire, CT | Generalprogram | $5,000 |
| Best Friends Animal Society Kanab, UT | Generalprogram | $5,000 |
| Open Doors Outdoors South Glastonbury, CT | Generalprogram | $5,000 |
| Guilford Parks and Recreation Guilford, CT | Generalprogram | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $812,320 | $48,215 | $61,229 | $51,182 | 7 | $51,182 | $38,173 | $58,933 |
| 2024 | $825,334 | $20,574 | $34,461 | $25,350 | 2 | $25,350 | $54,254 | $55,239 |
| 2023 | $796,441 | $30,331 | $34,220 | $25,000 | 3 | $25,000 | $21,468 | $51,483 |
| 2022 | $800,330 | $28,446 | $112,634 | $104,500 | 3 | $104,500 | $29,948 | $46,306 |
| 2021 | $874,978 | $56,958 | $59,195 | $49,500 | 6 | $49,500 | $53,306 | $56,814 |
| 2020 | $871,473 | $14,666 | $56,254 | $46,219 | 7 | — | $13,803 | $46,276 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zoe's Best Friend Inc reported a distributable amount of $59K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Zoe's Best Friend Inc is led by Kathryn Smith, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Smith
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keri Watkins
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Shannon Smith
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Stephen Smith
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Zoe's Best Friend Inc
How much does Zoe's Best Friend Inc give each year?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc gave $51K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 2 grants.
What is Zoe's Best Friend Inc's typical grant size?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,312, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Zoe's Best Friend Inc give grants?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc gives mostly in Connecticut: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Utah (29%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cheshire, CT (2 grants).
Does Zoe's Best Friend Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Zoe's Best Friend Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Generalprogram" (7 grants).
Who are Zoe's Best Friend Inc's largest grantees?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Ball & Socket Arts ($20,000), Immigrant Hope Park City ($10,000) and Limitless Horizonz Ixil ($5,182), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Zoe's Best Friend Inc?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc reported $812K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $59K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Zoe's Best Friend Inc's EIN?
Zoe's Best Friend Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4409296. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 5, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Zoe's Best Friend Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Zoe's Best Friend Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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