The Wenden Foundation concentrates its philanthropic support on international relief and emergency assistance, directing unrestricted funding to organizations that respond to crises and deliver medical and humanitarian aid. Its giving is focused and program-agnostic—providing general operating support rather than project-specific grants—so grantees can deploy funds flexibly in emergencies. Although based in Connecticut, the foundation’s grants flow to large, well-established global relief intermediaries and platforms that can rapidly scale responses.
Concentrated and repeat: few, relatively large unrestricted grants to established international relief organizations; repeat funding to the same core grantee (Direct Relief) rather than many small or local grants.
The Wenden Foundation’s recent giving is defined by unrestricted support to crisis-response organizations, with its largest listed grant going to Direct Relief for $77,500 in 2025. That pattern points to a funder that backs emergency medical aid and humanitarian relief through organizations that can move quickly and flexibly. The foundation also uses that approach with GlobalGiving, sending $26,000 in 2024 after a $23,000 grant in 2023. Those grants fit a broader record of general charitable support rather than project-specific funding. Alongside large relief intermediaries, the foundation supports organizations that connect resources to immediate needs in the United States. Recent examples include World Central Kitchen Incorporated at $16,000 in 2025 and the International Rescue Committee at $12,500 in 2023. The grant list also shows repeated support for Connecticut-based community organizations, including Washington Ambulance Association and Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, suggesting a portfolio that mixes international relief platforms with local nonprofits. Across the available records, the foundation’s grants are consistently labeled unrestricted, indicating that recipients can allocate the funds within their own operating priorities.
A central theme in The Wenden Foundation’s giving is emergency medical relief. In 2025, it awarded $77,500 to Direct Relief as an unrestricted charitable grant, and the same organization received $49,000 in 2024 and $52,500 in 2023. That repeated support aligns with aid that can be deployed quickly in health and disaster settings. The foundation also backs donor platforms and response intermediaries. It gave $26,000 in 2024 to GlobalGiving and $23,000 in 2023, both unrestricted. That pattern suggests interest in organizations that channel funds to crisis-affected communities. Its portfolio also includes food and humanitarian response. World Central Kitchen Incorporated received $16,000 in 2025, while the International Rescue Committee received $12,500 in 2023. These grants sit alongside support for local Connecticut organizations, showing a mix of global relief and community-based philanthropy.
The Wenden Foundation’s typical grant size is small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. The recent list also includes larger awards, but the center of gravity is well below those peak amounts. The record shows recurring support rather than one-off gifts. Direct Relief appears in three different years, and GlobalGiving and Washington Ambulance Association also recur across multiple years. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments. Grants are consistently described as unrestricted or unrestricted charitable grants, indicating flexible support rather than tightly designated project funding.
$336K
$7M
$916K
$413K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 31% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Direct Relief, GlobalGiving, Other international emergency/disaster relief organizations (Q - Relief & Emergency Assistance)
The Wenden Foundation gives most often in Massachusetts, while 31% of its grants go to recipients in Connecticut, its headquarters state. The recent grants list is concentrated in U.S. recipients, with 172 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipient countries shown. Within the U.S., recipient locations include Santa Barbara, Washington, Washington Depot, New York, and Wallingford. Washington Depot appears more than once in the grant list, alongside other Connecticut locations such as Torrington and Kent, indicating a meaningful in-state presence even as Massachusetts ranks first by grant count.
Its recent grants go to nonprofit organizations working in emergency medical relief, humanitarian aid, disaster response, food assistance, and community support. The list also includes donor platforms and local Connecticut institutions, all funded through unrestricted grants.
Yes. Direct Relief appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; GlobalGiving appears in 2023 and 2024; Washington Ambulance Association appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern shows recurring support across years.
Its grant-size distribution is modest overall: the 25th percentile is $1,000, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $5,000. The recent list also includes larger awards, but most grants cluster below those top amounts.
Massachusetts is the top state by grant count. Connecticut, the headquarters state, receives 31% of grants, and the recent grant list also includes recipients in Santa Barbara, Washington, Washington Depot, New York, Wallingford, Torrington, and Kent.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECT RELIEF | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $77,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| A BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION | CLARKSBURG, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $16,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ASAP MINISTRIES | BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI | $12,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK | WALLINGFORD, CT | $12,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NORTHWEST CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | TORRINGTON, CT | $10,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| THE DALTON SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| GUNN MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, CT | $9,850 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| STEEP ROCK ASSOCIATION INC | WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT | $8,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY FUND | PALM COAST, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| PUBLICOLOR | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| FRESH AIR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $7,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT | WATERBURY, VT | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| FERRODONNA FEATURES | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CITY MEALS ON WHEELS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| FOUR FREEDOMS PARK CONSERVANCY | ROOSEVELT ISLAND, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CITY HARVEST | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS | COLUMBIA, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| GREENWOODS CONSULTING REFERRALS INC | LITCHFIELD, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NEW YORK TIMES COMMUNITIES FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| JASA | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CURE ALZEHIMER'S FUND | WELLESLEY HILLS, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| GLOBALGIVING | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| TEAM RUBICON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND | WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT | $4,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| SAINT JUDES CHILDRENS HOSPITAL | MEMPHIS, TN | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON PARK FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, CT | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | WASHINGTON DT, CT | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH CENTER | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NEW MILFORD REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT | NEW MILFORD, CT | $3,600 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON ART ASSOCIATION | WASHINGTON DEPOT, CT | $3,250 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| ACKERMAN INSTITUTE FOR THE FAMILY | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | KENNESAW, GA | $3,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN | WASHINGTON, CT | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| MACKOOL EYE INSTITUTE RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC | SARASOTA, FL | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER | MONTGOMERY, AL | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| FOUNDATION OF HEALTH | EVANSTON, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FUND | WASHINGTON, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HOUSATONIC VALLEY ASSOCIATION | CORNWALL BRIDGE, CT | $1,650 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| NATIONAL BREAST CANCER RESEARCH | HOUSTON, TX | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| LAKE WARAMAUG TASK FORCE | WARREN, CT | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| CARNEGIE HILL NEIGHBORS | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
| HOLLISTER HOUSE GARDEN | WASHINGTON, CT | $750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT |
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCORPORATED
$16,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK
$12,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
THE DALTON SCHOOL
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
GUNN MEMORIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM
$9,850UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
STEEP ROCK ASSOCIATION INC
$8,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
EMPLOYEE HOLIDAY FUND
$7,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
FRESH AIR FUND
$7,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CURE BLINDNESS PROJECT
$6,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
FERRODONNA FEATURES
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE FUND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
GREENWOODS CONSULTING REFERRALS INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CURE ALZEHIMER'S FUND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
GLOBALGIVING
$5,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$4,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
SAINT JUDES CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
$4,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON PARK FOUNDATION INC
$4,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
$4,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH CENTER
$4,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
NEW MILFORD REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
$3,600UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON ART ASSOCIATION
$3,250UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$3,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CONVERSATIONS ON THE GREEN
$2,500UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
MACKOOL EYE INSTITUTE RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
FOUNDATION OF HEALTH
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
WASHINGTON COMMUNITY FUND
$2,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
LAKE WARAMAUG TASK FORCE
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
CARNEGIE HILL NEIGHBORS
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
PLANNED PARENTHOOD
$1,000UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT
HOLLISTER HOUSE GARDEN
$750UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT