The Woman's Seamen's Friend Society of CT concentrates its giving on maritime education and seafarer/community welfare, primarily funding state maritime academies with scholarship and operational support. A smaller portion of grants supports maritime-related nonprofits (e.g., sailing access) and community food assistance, indicating concern for the welfare of maritime communities and trainees. The foundation gives sizable awards to a small set of repeat grantees rather than many one-off gifts.
Woman's Seamen's Friend Society of Ct Inc consistently directs large awards to maritime education and seafarer support, with Massachusetts Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, and Maine Maritime Academy appearing among its highest-dollar recipients. The pattern is visible across multiple years: scholarships and operations support recur for the academies, while related grants also reach organizations serving mariners, cadets, and coastal communities. Alongside that maritime core, the foundation has backed food assistance and emergency support in Connecticut, showing a second line of giving tied to community welfare. The giving profile is not broad and diffuse. It centers on a small set of repeat institutions, often with both scholarship and operating support in the same grant purpose. Massachusetts Maritime Academy received $125,500 in 2023, $72,400 in 2024, and $65,900 in 2025; Maine Maritime Academy also appears repeatedly, and SUNY Maritime College is another recurring beneficiary. Outside the academies, the foundation’s grants include Connecticut-based service organizations such as Connecticut Food Bank and Sail Connecticut, indicating attention to maritime access and local support needs.
Maritime education is the clearest theme. Woman's Seamen's Friend Society of Ct Inc gave $125,500 to Massachusetts Maritime Academy for scholarships and operations, $89,000 to SUNY Maritime College for scholarships and operations, and $55,500 to Maine Maritime Academy for scholarships and operations. The foundation also supports maritime-related public access and service organizations. It awarded $45,000 to Sail Connecticut for operations and $25,000 to Sail Ct Access Program for operations, pointing to support for sailing access in Connecticut. Community welfare appears in its broader portfolio as well. Connecticut Food Bank received $60,000 for operations, while Seafarers International House received $33,000 for operations, showing a continued interest in institutions serving coastal and mariner communities. Smaller grants extend into museum and conservation-related work, including $16,000 to Milford Marine Institute for operations - marine museum and $20,000 to Save the Sound for operations - Long Island Sound ecological studies.
Typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $4,750, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $25,000. That spread suggests a mix of smaller community awards and larger institutional grants. The foundation’s pattern is clearly recurring rather than one-off: the same maritime academies and Connecticut service groups receive funding across multiple years. Its structure appears straightforward philanthropy rather than program-related investing, and it does not fund individuals.
$340K
$2.4M
$422K
$481K
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 77% of grants go to recipients in CT.
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Concentrated, high-dollar support to a handful of repeat institutional grantees (multiple grants to the same maritime academies), combining scholarship funding with general operating gifts; occasional funding of related community welfare organizations.
Notable grantees: Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, Connecticut Food Bank, Sail Connecticut
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Connecticut, which accounts for 77% of recipient locations and the top state by grant count. New Haven appears often among recipients, including Save the Sound, Gather New Haven, American Red Cross, and Fair Haven Community Health Care. Other Connecticut grant cities include Westbrook, Branford, Milford, Wallingford, and New Haven-area recipients. Outside Connecticut, the foundation also gave to institutions in Buzzards Bay, Castine, Bronx, New York, and Maine, but the portfolio remains strongly Connecticut-oriented.
The foundation focuses on maritime education and seafarer support, especially scholarships and operations for state maritime academies. It also supports maritime access and service organizations, plus selected Connecticut community needs such as food assistance and emergency support.
Its grant sizes are relatively concentrated around modest institutional awards: the 25th percentile is $4,750, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000.
The recent record shows recurring support. Massachusetts Maritime Academy, SUNY Maritime College, Maine Maritime Academy, Connecticut Food Bank, and Sail Connecticut each appear in multiple years, often with similar scholarship or operations purposes.
Connecticut is the top state by grant count, with 77% of grants going to recipients in the state. New Haven shows up frequently among recipient cities, alongside Westbrook, Branford, Milford, and Wallingford.
The recent grants go to maritime academies, maritime service groups, food assistance organizations, museums, and community nonprofits. Examples include Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Seafarers International House, Connecticut Food Bank, Milford Marine Institute, and Save the Sound.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY | BUZZARDS BAY, MA | $65,900 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | CASTINE, ME | $47,700 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $33,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE | BRONX, NY | $26,400 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SAIL CONNECTICUT | WESTBROOK, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SAVE THE SOUND | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS - LONG ISLAND SOUND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES |
| TAKE A VET FISHING | BRANFORD, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| MILFORD MARINE INSTITUTE | MILFORD, CT | $16,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS- MARINE MUSEUM |
| GATHER NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $15,200 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| HORIZONS AT FOOTE SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $14,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| NEW HAVEN READS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $10,044 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| MYSTIC AQUARIUM | MYSTIC, CT | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH | BRANFORD, CT | $8,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $8,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SITE PROJECTS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF STATUE OF WILLIAM LAWSON, BUILDER OF NEW HAVEN 19TH CENTURY LONG WHARF HARBOR FACILITY |
| INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND IDEAS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| CANAL DOCK BOATHOUSE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $4,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| THE SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON WHICH MARINERS RELY |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,500 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF NEW HAVEN | HAMDEN, CT | $100 | 2025 | OPERATIONS |
| MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY | BUZZARDS BAY, MA | $72,400 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK | WALLINGFORD, CT | $60,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | CASTINE, ME | $41,200 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $28,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE | BRONX, NY | $26,400 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SAIL CT ACCESS PROGRAM | WESTBROOK, CT | $25,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| GATHER NEW HAVEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $20,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| TAKE A VET FISHING | BRANFORD, CT | $16,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| COLD SPRING SCHOOL | NEW HAVEN, CT | $12,951 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL - PRIMARY GRADE SCHOOL |
| MYSTIC AQUARIUM | MYSTIC, CT | $8,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| MILFORD MARINE INSTITUTE | MILFORD, CT | $8,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS- MARINE MUSEUM |
| NEW HAVEN READS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $6,100 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY | NEW BRITIAN, CT | $5,250 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND IDEAS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| CANAL DOCK BOATHOUSE | NEW HAVEN, CT | $4,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| UCONN FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT | STORRS, CT | $3,180 | 2024 | OPERATIONS - COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY |
| THE SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON WHICH MARINERS RELY |
| NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION | STONINGTON, CT | $3,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $2,000 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $1,500 | 2024 | OPERATIONS |
| MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY | BUZZARDS BAY, MA | $125,500 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE | BRONX, NY | $89,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK | WALLINGFORD, CT | $60,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONS |
| MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY | CASTINE, ME | $55,500 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS |
| SAIL CONNECTICUT | WESTBROOK, CT | $45,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONS |
| SALVATION ARMY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $33,500 | 2023 | OPERATIONS |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | NEW HAVEN, CT | $22,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONS |
| SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2023 | OPERATIONS |
| DOWNTOWN EVENING SOUP KITCHEN | NEW HAVEN, CT | $18,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT DURING COVID PANDEMIC |
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY
$65,900SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
$47,700SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
$33,000OPERATIONS
SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE
$26,400SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SAIL CONNECTICUT
$25,000OPERATIONS
SAVE THE SOUND
$20,000OPERATIONS - LONG ISLAND SOUND ECOLOGICAL STUDIES
TAKE A VET FISHING
$20,000OPERATIONS
MILFORD MARINE INSTITUTE
$16,000OPERATIONS- MARINE MUSEUM
GATHER NEW HAVEN
$15,200OPERATIONS
HORIZONS AT FOOTE SCHOOL
$14,000OPERATIONS
NEW HAVEN READS
$10,044SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
MYSTIC AQUARIUM
$10,000OPERATIONS
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
$8,000OPERATIONS
NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION
$8,000OPERATIONS
SITE PROJECTS
$5,000CREATION AND INSTALLATION OF STATUE OF WILLIAM LAWSON, BUILDER OF NEW HAVEN 19TH CENTURY LONG WHARF HARBOR FACILITY
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND IDEAS
$5,000OPERATIONS
CANAL DOCK BOATHOUSE
$4,000OPERATIONS
THE SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE
$3,000TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON WHICH MARINERS RELY
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$2,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$1,500OPERATIONS
UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF NEW HAVEN
$100OPERATIONS
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY
$72,400SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK
$60,000OPERATIONS
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
$41,200SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
$28,000OPERATIONS
SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE
$26,400SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SAIL CT ACCESS PROGRAM
$25,000OPERATIONS
GATHER NEW HAVEN
$20,000OPERATIONS
TAKE A VET FISHING
$16,000OPERATIONS
COLD SPRING SCHOOL
$12,951EDUCATIONAL - PRIMARY GRADE SCHOOL
MYSTIC AQUARIUM
$8,000OPERATIONS
MILFORD MARINE INSTITUTE
$8,000OPERATIONS- MARINE MUSEUM
NEW HAVEN READS
$6,100SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY
$5,250SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND IDEAS
$5,000OPERATIONS
CANAL DOCK BOATHOUSE
$4,000OPERATIONS
UCONN FOUNDATION UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
$3,180OPERATIONS - COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY
THE SEAMEN'S CHURCH INSTITUTE
$3,000TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES ON WHICH MARINERS RELY
NEW ENGLAND SCIENCE & SAILING FOUNDATION
$3,000OPERATIONS
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$2,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$1,500OPERATIONS
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME ACADEMY
$125,500SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE
$89,000SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK
$60,000OPERATIONS
MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
$55,500SCHOLARSHIPS AND OPERATIONS
SAIL CONNECTICUT
$45,000OPERATIONS
SALVATION ARMY
$33,500OPERATIONS
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$22,000OPERATIONS
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
$18,000OPERATIONS
DOWNTOWN EVENING SOUP KITCHEN
$18,000SUPPORT DURING COVID PANDEMIC