The Ensign-Bickford Foundation concentrates its giving on student financial aid and community scholarship programs, primarily channeling funds through Scholarship America. It also supports formal STEM public-engagement institutions such as the Connecticut Science Center, suggesting an interest in science education alongside direct scholarships. Overall the foundation favors programmatic community assistance that increases access to education.
Highly concentrated: a small number of comparatively large grants, repeated funding to a primary intermediary (Scholarship America) and occasional support for specific local/state STEM institutions.
The Ensign-bickford Foundation Inc. centers much of its giving on scholarships and student financial aid, with Scholarship America appearing as a recurring recipient across multiple years. That pattern sits alongside support for STEM education and community-facing science programming, including grants to the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. The foundation also backs employee-linked community support, showing up in matching-gift and volunteer-time programs tied to organizations where Ensign-Bickford employees are active. Recent grants show a mix of institutional and community beneficiaries. Scholarship America received $80,000 in 2025, continuing a series of awards in prior years, while the Connecticut Science Center received $50,000 in 2023 and additional support in later years. The portfolio also reaches beyond those two anchors to education and public-service organizations such as Tuskegee University, World Central Kitchen, and Food Bank of the Rockies. With annual grants of $1,367,957 and a latest 990 year on file of 2025, the foundation’s giving reads as organized, programmatic support for education access, science engagement, and local assistance.
Education is the clearest thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Scholarship America received $65,000 in 2023, $56,000 in 2024, and $80,000 in 2025 for community assistance, indicating repeated support for scholarship administration and financial aid. STEM and science education are another recurring area. The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford received $50,000 in 2023 and $30,000 in 2024, pointing to support for public science programming. The foundation also funds student-oriented organizations and campuses. Tuskegee University received $30,000 in 2024, while the Society of Women Engineers received $20,000 in 2024 and $30,000 in 2025, showing attention to engineering participation and professional advancement. Community assistance extends to emergency and nutrition-related work as well, including a $25,000 grant to World Central Kitchen in 2024 and a $20,000 grant to Food Bank of the Rockies in 2024.
Typical grants are modest, with a p25 of $352, a median of $2,000, and a p75 of $5,000. The recent grant list also shows larger institutional awards above that range, including multiple five-figure grants. Several recipients appear across multiple years, especially in scholarship and science education. The foundation uses both organization grants and employee-linked matching programs, and multiple active programs accept unsolicited requests. Matching-gift programs specify annual per-donor limits from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the program and circumstances.
$215K
$5.1M
$77K
$232K
Most grants fall between $353 and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$353
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 8% of grants go to recipients in CT.
Top 4 recipient countries by grant volume for Ensign-Bickford Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 328 | $1.5M | 97.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom |
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Notable grantees: Scholarship America (Scholarship administration / student aid), Connecticut Science Center, Other community assistance/scholarship program recipients
Most grants go to U.S. recipients, with 97.9% of grants in the United States. Ohio is the top state by grant count, while 8% of grants go to Colorado recipients. Recent city-level recipients include Saint Peter, Minnesota; Hartford, Connecticut; Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Maine; and Madisonville, Kentucky. The country distribution also includes a small number of grants outside the U.S., with recipients in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Gambia.
Its grantmaking is heavily oriented toward education and student financial aid, especially through Scholarship America. It also supports STEM education and public science programming, along with community assistance and local civic projects through organization grants and employee-linked programs.
Yes, but rarely. The recipient-country data shows 280 grants in the U.S. and small numbers elsewhere: 4 in the U.K., 1 in Switzerland, and 1 in Gambia.
Yes. Scholarship America appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Connecticut Science Center and the Foundation for Portland Public Schools also each received multiple grants across different years.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small on the low end, with a p25 of $352, a median of $2,000, and a p75 of $5,000. Several employee matching programs also cap annual matches at $2,000, with some special cases reaching $5,000.
Yes for several programs. The active programs list shows unsolicited applications are accepted for the Monetary Match for Volunteer Work, Matching Gifts programs, Employee Matching Gifts & Volunteer Time Match, Employee Matching Gifts Program, Organization Grant Request, and Volunteer Time Monetary Matching.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 5 |
| $70K |
1.5% |
| 3 | Germany | 1 | $16K | 0.3% |
| 4 | Switzerland | 1 | $14K | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Current and upcoming funding from Ensign-Bickford Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Recipient organization must be a 501(c)(3). Matching gifts are for donations by directors, officers, employees, and retirees. Minimum gift per match is $100. Standard match cap is $2,000 per donor per year; in special situations (employee serving on board) matches up to $5,000 may be approved.
Who can apply: Organizations designated as 501(c)(3) by the IRS. Programs should align with stated focus areas; local hospitals and organizations serving company employees/dependents are of special interest. The Foundation will not consider grants to individuals or to religious organizations whose programs benefit only members of one religious group; political organizations; or organizations that violate laws or regulations.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | SAINT PETER, MN | $60,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARFORD, CT | $30,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| FOUNDATION FOR PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS | PORTLAND, ME | $17,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| SOUTHSIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE OZARKS | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| SOUTH WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL | SOUTH WINDSOR, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | SAINT PETER, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE VILLAGE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN | HARTFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC | SAINT PETER, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| COLCHESTER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL-AGE TOTAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE INC CASTLE INC | COLCHESTER, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST NEW ENGLAND | HARTFORD, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| HEALING MEALS FOUNDATION CORP | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $3,500 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT |
| PEDIGREE FOUNDATION | FRANKLIN, TN | $3,150 | 2026 | ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE |
| DREW FOUNDATION INC DBA PROJECT RISE AURORA | AURORA, MO | $3,000 | 2026 | BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES |
| ALPHA KAPPA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | ROLLA, MO | $3,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| 3D VISION BASKETBALL ACADEMY | OFALLEN, MO | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| KENWAY'S CAUSE | WINDSOR, CT | $2,000 | 2026 | ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE |
| DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER | OLIVETTE, MO | $2,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| CITY OF AURORA | AURORA, MO | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| HEALING MEALS FOUNDATION CORP | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $1,500 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT |
| PAUSE FOR PARENTS PLAY FOR KIDS INC | LIBERTY TWP, OH | $1,018 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC | WALLINGFORD, CT | $1,000 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT |
| FIRST FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | MANCHESTER, NH | $1,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| HELPING HANDS CHORE SERVICE INC | WINSTED, CT | $900 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT |
| DOG STAR RESCUE INC | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $840 | 2026 | ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE |
| MID COAST HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAM INC | BRUNSWICK, ME | $518 | 2026 | FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT |
| FIRST FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | MANCHESTER, NH | $500 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| TRIUMPH FOUNDATION | SANTA CLARITA, CA | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | WALLINGFORD, CT | $500 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| COLORADO WOMENS EDUCATION FOUNDATION | BOULDER, CO | $500 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| TRIUMPH FOUNDATION | SANTA CLARITA, CA | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| GIFTS OF LOVE | AVON, CT | $500 | 2026 | BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE |
| MAINE ROLLER DERBY | PORTLAND, ME | $385 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| DELTA DELTA DELTA FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $364 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $352 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $312 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| LIVE LIKE BECCA SCHOLARSHIP FUND | MALDEN, MA | $300 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MORTAR BOARD NATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBUS, OH | $250 | 2026 | FELLOWSHIP ASSISTANCE |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARFORD, CT | $125 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| LEVO INTERNATIONAL INC | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $108 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| DIGNITY GROWS INC | HARTFORD, CT | $103 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT |
| BLOOD CANCER UNITED INC | RYE BROOK, NY | $100 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $100 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| NAMI NATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $100 | 2026 | BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES |
| DOG STAR RESCUE INC | BLOOMFIELD, CT | $100 | 2026 | ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE |
| ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $100 | 2026 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER | HARTFORD, CT | $100 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHICO, CA | $100 | 2026 | EDUCATION SUPPORT |
| SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA | SAINT PETER, MN | $80,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE |
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$60,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
SOCIETY OF WOMEN ENGINEERS
$30,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
SOUTH WINDSOR HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$5,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA INC
$5,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
COLCHESTER ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL-AGE TOTAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE INC CASTLE INC
$5,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWEST NEW ENGLAND
$5,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
PEDIGREE FOUNDATION
$3,150ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE
DREW FOUNDATION INC DBA PROJECT RISE AURORA
$3,000BEHAVIOR HEALTH SERVICES
ALPHA KAPPA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$3,000EDUCATION SUPPORT
3D VISION BASKETBALL ACADEMY
$2,000GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
KENWAY'S CAUSE
$2,000ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE
CITY OF AURORA
$2,000GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
PAUSE FOR PARENTS PLAY FOR KIDS INC
$1,018GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
EDUCATION SUPPORT
HELPING HANDS CHORE SERVICE INC
$900FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT
DOG STAR RESCUE INC
$840ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE
MID COAST HUNGER PREVENTION PROGRAM INC
$518FOOD PANTRY SUPPORT
EDUCATION SUPPORT
TRIUMPH FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
$500MEDICAL RESEARCH
TRIUMPH FOUNDATION
$500GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
GIFTS OF LOVE
$500BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCE
MAINE ROLLER DERBY
$385GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$312EDUCATION SUPPORT
LIVE LIKE BECCA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$300COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
MORTAR BOARD NATIONAL FOUNDATION
$250FELLOWSHIP ASSISTANCE
LEVO INTERNATIONAL INC
$108GENERAL OPERATION SUPPORT
DOG STAR RESCUE INC
$100ANIMAL RESCUE ASSISTANCE
CHICO UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
$100EDUCATION SUPPORT
SCHOLARSHIP AMERICA
$80,000COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
