To connect donors to the causes they care about most to make Madison a better place to live today and in the future. To provide grants to organizations that serve our community’s social, cultural, environmental, educational, and recreational needs.
A large 2024 grant to The Rendon Group in Boston, Massachusetts stands out in The Madison Foundation’s recent record, but most of the foundation’s giving is closer to home and centered on Madison residents. The Madison Foundation supports organizations and public agencies that serve the Town of Madison through community grantmaking, scholarship funds, and partnership-based programs. Its recent grants show a mix of direct support for local needs and targeted awards tied to schools and community services. In 2024, Daniel Hand High School received support for scholarships, while Madison Community Services received funding to stock the food pantry. Another major line of work is helping Madison Youth & Family Services support needy Madison residents, alongside other place-based assistance for food, shelter, and basic needs. The foundation also administers scholarship and scholastic award funds for students in Madison Public Schools and Daniel Hand High School, making education support a recurring part of its portfolio. Across these programs, the foundation combines discretionary grants, donor-directed funds, and named scholarship funds.
Basic needs and emergency assistance are a visible part of The Madison Foundation’s work. In 2024, Madison Youth & Family Services received $25,000 to support needy Madison residents, following a $12,000 grant in 2023 for the same purpose. Food security also appears in the recent record: Madison Community Services received $39,700 in 2024 to stock the food pantry, after a $38,350 award in 2023 for the same need. Education support is another core area. Daniel Hand High School received $41,100 in 2024 for scholarships, and the same school received $32,600 in 2023 for scholarships. The foundation also gives to school-based prevention work, including a $10,000 grant to the Treasurer City of New Haven for drug free schools in Madison.
The Madison Foundation’s typical grants cluster around a modest local-giving range: the 25th percentile is $10,500, the median is $28,800, and the 75th percentile is $39,362. Recent awards also show repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Madison Community Services, Madison Youth & Family Services, and Daniel Hand High School. That pattern fits a foundation with ongoing local programs rather than one-off project-only giving. The foundation uses several channels: discretionary and town partnership grants, donor-directed grants, scholarship funds, and a general community grant program. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, including the community grant program and town partnership grants, while donor-advised scholarship-related funds do not.
$214K
$2.2M
$483K
$390K
Most grants fall between $11K and $39K, with a median of $29K.
25th Percentile
$11K
Median
$29K
75th Percentile
$39K
About 90% of grants go to recipients in MA.
PETER ROOS
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grantmaking is strongly concentrated in Madison, Connecticut, with 90% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Recent grants also reached Boston, Massachusetts, through The Rendon Group, and New Haven, Connecticut, through the Treasurer City of New Haven for drug free schools in Madison. Most of the named local recipients are in Madison itself, including Madison Community Services, Madison Youth & Family Services, and Daniel Hand High School.
The foundation funds arts and culture, children and families, education and scholarships, civic and environmental benefit, health and human services, and basic needs and emergency assistance. Recent grants also show support for food security, drug-free schools, and scholarship programs for local students.
Typical grants fall in a middle range rather than at very small or very large amounts. The 25th percentile is $10,500, the median is $28,800, and the 75th percentile is $39,362.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat support across years for Madison Community Services, Madison Youth & Family Services, and Daniel Hand High School, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
Food assistance and emergency support appear repeatedly. Madison Community Services received grants in both 2023 and 2024 to stock the food pantry, and Madison Youth & Family Services received grants in both years to support needy Madison residents.
It uses several structures: a community grant program, discretionary and town partnership grants, donor-directed grants, and scholarship funds. Some of these accept unsolicited applications, including the community grant program and town partnership grants, while donor-advised scholarship-related funds do not.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE RENDON GROUP | BOSTON, MA | $98,500 | 2024 | — |
| DANIEL HAND HIGH SCHOOL | MADISON, CT | $41,100 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MADISON COMMUNITY SERVICES | MADISON, CT | $39,700 | 2024 | STOCKED THE FOOD PANTRY |
| MADISON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVIC | MADISON, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT NEEDY MADISON RESIDENTS |
| TREASURER CITY OF NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | DRUG FREE SCHOOLS IN MADISON |
| MADISON COMMUNITY SERVICES | MADISON, CT | $38,350 | 2023 | STOCKED THE FOOD PANTRY |
| DANIEL HAND HIGH SCHOOL | MADISON, CT | $32,600 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| MADISON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVIC | MADISON, CT | $12,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT NEEDY MADISON RESIDENTS |
| BLACK ROCK CANINES LLC | NAUGATUCK, CT | $9,500 | 2023 | — |
| TREASURER CITY OF NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,500 | 2023 | DRUG FREE SCHOOLS IN MADISON |
THE RENDON GROUP
$98,500DANIEL HAND HIGH SCHOOL
$41,100SCHOLARSHIPS
MADISON COMMUNITY SERVICES
$39,700STOCKED THE FOOD PANTRY
MADISON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVIC
$25,000SUPPORT NEEDY MADISON RESIDENTS
TREASURER CITY OF NEW HAVEN
$10,000DRUG FREE SCHOOLS IN MADISON
MADISON COMMUNITY SERVICES
$38,350STOCKED THE FOOD PANTRY
DANIEL HAND HIGH SCHOOL
SCHOLARSHIPS
MADISON YOUTH & FAMILY SERVIC
$12,000SUPPORT NEEDY MADISON RESIDENTS
BLACK ROCK CANINES LLC
$9,500TREASURER CITY OF NEW HAVEN
$5,500DRUG FREE SCHOOLS IN MADISON
Current and upcoming funding from Madison Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations providing services to the Town of Madison and its residents; specific eligibility and priorities described in the Foundation's grant guidelines (applicants should consult Grant Guidelines page).
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round; considered on a monthly basis (rolling)
Who can apply: Varies by fund. Many funds support nonprofit organizations or scholarships that benefit Madison residents; individual scholarships have donor‑specified criteria. Some endowed funds have specific thematic or beneficiary restrictions.
Deadline: Varies by fund; general applications accepted year‑round via the grant portal. Individual endowed funds may have separate timelines or donor approval processes.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
