The O'Donnell Iselin Foundation concentrates giving in the New York–Connecticut region, repeatedly supporting independent/private schools, land and conservation groups, and cultural/science institutions alongside reproductive health and humanitarian organizations. Grants are typically unrestricted “for general purposes,” indicating trust-based support for operating needs; many recipients receive multiple, modest-to-medium sized awards. The foundation shows an interest in local place-based stewardship (land trusts, botanical and marine science institutions) while also funding health and emergency relief organizations.
O'Donnell Iselin Foundation Inc repeatedly backs private and independent schools, land trusts, and regional institutions with unrestricted grants, and its recent giving includes several awards of $25,000 and $20,000. The foundation’s pattern shows support for organizations that operate in the New York–Connecticut corridor, with recurring gifts to education and conservation groups as well as science and cultural institutions. Among the largest recent grants were $25,000 to New York Botanical Garden in Bronx and $25,000 to St Timothy's School in Stevenson, Maryland, each listed for general purposes. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Woods Hole, Massachusetts also received $20,000 in both 2023 and 2024, again for general purposes. That mix points to a funder that favors flexible support rather than project-specific awards, and it does so across multiple years for some recipients. The foundation also appears comfortable funding institutions outside its immediate area when they fit its interests, including schools, marine science, and conservation. Its recent grants show a broad but consistent charitable profile centered on education, environment, and community institutions.
Education is a major theme in the foundation’s giving. St Hilda's & St Hugh's School in New York received $10,000 in both 2023 and 2024, while The Montessori School in Wilton, Connecticut also received $10,000 in both years. Another education-linked recipient, North Country School Scholarship in Lake Placid, New York, received $5,000 in 2023 and 2024. Conservation and land stewardship are another clear thread: Greenwich Land Trust Inc received $20,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023, and Redding Land Trust received $5,000 in both 2023 and 2024. Health-related grants also appear, including Planned Parenthood of Greater New York for $15,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024, plus Planned Parenthood of Southern New England for $15,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024. The foundation also funds community support groups such as Connecticut Food Bank and All Hands and Hearts.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized: the p25 is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the p75 is $10,000. Recent awards cluster around general-purpose support, and several recipients appear in consecutive years, which suggests repeat giving rather than one-time gifts. The foundation is a private foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Its latest 990 is on file for 2024, and the annual grant total is $409,500 against $1,103,055 in assets.
$197K
$935K
$141K
$223K
Most grants fall between $2K and $10K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 33% of grants go to recipients in CT.
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A mix of concentrated and distributed giving: multiple repeat grants to a set of core regional grantees alongside many smaller one-off grants. Grants tend to be unrestricted general operating support, typically in the small-to-mid range (several $3k–$50k awards), suggesting relationship-based, flexible funding rather than project-restricted gifts.
Notable grantees: New York Botanical Garden, St. Timothy's School, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Greenwich Land Trust, Planned Parenthood (Southern New England / Greater New York)
Grantmaking is regional, with most giving in Connecticut and a substantial share in New York. Connecticut is the top state by grant count, and 33% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of New York. Recent recipient cities include Greenwich, Wilton, New Haven, Darien, Redding, Norwalk, Wallingford, and Bronx. Outside the New York–Connecticut area, the foundation also made grants to Stevenson, Maryland; Woods Hole and Mattapoisett, Massachusetts; and Lake Placid, New York.
Recent grants show a recurring mix of independent and private schools, land and conservation groups, botanical and marine science institutions, reproductive health providers, and community cultural organizations. Examples include schools in New York and Connecticut, land trusts in Greenwich and Redding, and science institutions in Bronx and Woods Hole.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is relatively modest: the 25th percentile is $2,000, the median is $3,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Recent awards also include larger gifts of $20,000 and $25,000 to some institutions.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including St Timothy's School, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Greenwich Land Trust Inc, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, The Montessori School, The Montessori School Endowment Fund, Spence Chapin, Redding Land Trust, and North Country School Scholarship.
Its grantmaking is regional, with Connecticut as the top state by grant count. New York is also a major recipient state, and 33% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state of New York.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST TIMOTHY'S SCHOOL | STEVENSON, MD | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN | BRONX, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE | WOODS HOLE, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL | WILTON, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ST HILDA'S & ST HUGH'S SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND | WILTON, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| SPENCE CHAPIN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ASPCA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP | LAKE PLACID, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| UNITED CHURCH OF ROWAYTON | NORWALK, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK | WALLINGFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| REDDING LAND TRUST | REDDING, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PERSON TO PERSON | DARIEN, CT | $3,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| KISMA PRESERVE | MT DESERT, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ST BARTHOLEMEW'S CHURCH | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| MARK TWAIN LIBRARY | WEST REDDING, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANISON MUSEUM | NORWALK, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ALL HANDS AND HEARTS | MATTAPOISETT, MA | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| DOROTHY DAY HOSPITALITY HOUSE | DANBURY, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY | HOHENWALD, TN | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION | STAMFORD, CT | $2,500 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| STAMFORD HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | STAMFORD, CT | $2,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| CONNECTICUT FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| KIEVE-WAVUS EDUCATION INC | NOBLEBORO, ME | $2,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ROWAYTON ARTS CENTER | NORWALK, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| WOODLAWN CONSERVANCY | BRONX, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF CRAFTS | DEER ISLE, ME | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| SALVATION ARMY GREATER NEW YORK DIVISION | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN | BRONX, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ST TIMOTHY'S SCHOOL | STEVENSON, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE | WOODS HOLE, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ST HILDA'S & ST HUGH'S SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND | WILTON, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| SPENCE CHAPIN | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL | WILTON, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK | WALLINGFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| REDDING LAND TRUST | REDDING, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| UNITED CHURCH OF ROWAYTON | NORWALK, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP | LAKE PLACID, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| PERSON TO PERSON | DARIEN, CT | $3,000 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANISON MUSEUM | NORWALK, CT | $2,500 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
| ALL HANDS AND HEARTS | MATTAPOISETT, MA | $2,500 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES |
ST TIMOTHY'S SCHOOL
$25,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ST HILDA'S & ST HUGH'S SCHOOL
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
UNITED CHURCH OF ROWAYTON
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
REDDING LAND TRUST
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
KISMA PRESERVE
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ST BARTHOLEMEW'S CHURCH
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
MARK TWAIN LIBRARY
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANISON MUSEUM
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ALL HANDS AND HEARTS
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
DOROTHY DAY HOSPITALITY HOUSE
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
STAMFORD HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$2,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
CONNECTICUT FUND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
$2,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ROWAYTON ARTS CENTER
$1,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN SCHOOL OF CRAFTS
$1,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
SALVATION ARMY GREATER NEW YORK DIVISION
$1,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ST HILDA'S & ST HUGH'S SCHOOL
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER NEW YORK
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL ENDOWMENT FUND
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
$10,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
REDDING LAND TRUST
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
UNITED CHURCH OF ROWAYTON
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP
$5,000FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANISON MUSEUM
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES
ALL HANDS AND HEARTS
$2,500FOR GENERAL PURPOSES OF RECIPIENT CHARITIES