Jeffrey P Ossen Family Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation is a private family foundation rooted in a deeply personal commitment to the Windham, Connecticut community. Founded by Jeffrey P. Ossen, the foundation operates with a clear geographic and thematic focus — enhancing quality of life in eastern Connecticut, particularly the Windham area, through grants in education, healthcare, food security, housing, cultural arts, and community services.

Key strategic considerations for applicants:

1. Geographic alignment is paramount. The foundation's bylaws effectively require that applicants serve Connecticut residents, with strong preference for the Windham area. Organizations outside this geography are rarely funded unless specifically invited by the foundation. If your organization operates in Windham County or the broader eastern Connecticut region, you have a structural advantage.

2. Whole-person care resonates. The foundation explicitly states it "partners with organizations that provide comprehensive care for the whole person" — addressing both physical and mental health needs. Proposals that demonstrate holistic, wraparound service models (like the Food4Health program combining nutrition access with health education) align well with the foundation's philosophy.

3. Demonstrate community impact, not just program outputs. The foundation's giving to youth mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters), legal services (Connecticut Legal Services), and interfaith ministry (Windham Area Interfaith Ministry) reveals a preference for organizations that strengthen community fabric — not just deliver isolated services.

4. The foundation is open to new applicants but selective — historically only about 12% of new applicants receive funding. This means a compelling, well-targeted first application matters enormously. Consider requesting a modest initial grant ($3,000–$10,000) to build the relationship before pursuing larger asks.

5. Family foundations value personal connection. With only three trustees (Carolyn Linkov, Jacqueline Berkowitz, and Elizabeth Ossen), decisions are personal. If possible, build awareness of your organization through Connecticut Council for Philanthropy events, community gatherings, or mutual connections before applying.

## Funding Patterns

Annual giving: The foundation distributed $667,496 across 54 grants in 2024, up from $610,673 across 37 grants in 2023. This upward trajectory in both total giving and number of grants signals an expanding funding footprint.

Grant size distribution: - Range: $250 to $100,500 per grant - Estimated average: ~$12,400 per grant - The foundation makes both small community grants ($250–$5,000) and substantial multi-year-scale commitments ($50,000–$100,500)

Sectoral patterns: The largest grants go to healthcare advocacy, legal services, and community support organizations. Education and youth mentoring also receive substantial funding. The foundation funds projects, programs, and general operating support — an important distinction, as many family foundations restrict funding to project-specific grants.

Financial health: With $17.95M in assets (2024) and consistent revenue from dividends ($454K) and asset sales ($1.9M), the foundation has a stable financial base. Charitable disbursements represented 88.7% of total expenses, indicating efficient operations and strong commitment to grantmaking over administrative overhead.

Multi-year trend: Assets have grown from ~$14.6M (2019) to ~$18M (2024), suggesting the endowment is growing even while maintaining robust annual giving. This bodes well for continued and potentially increasing grant availability.

## Peer Comparison

Analysis: The Ossen Family Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as a private family foundation with deep Windham-area roots. While significantly smaller than the regional community foundations in total giving, it offers several advantages: (1) larger individual grants than CFEC's typical $15K ceiling, with top grants reaching $100K; (2) funding for general operating support, which many community foundation grants restrict; and (3) the potential for long-term relationship building with a small, consistent group of trustees. The semiannual cycle is less frequent than community foundations but provides predictable windows for planning.

## Recent Activity

2024 highlights: - Expanded grantmaking significantly: 54 grants totaling $667,496 in 2024, up from 37 grants totaling $610,673 in 2023 — a 46% increase in grant count and 9% increase in total giving. - Largest single grant: $100,000 to Center for Medicare Advocacy, indicating strong commitment to healthcare access and policy advocacy. - Total assets reached $17.95M, an all-time high for the foundation. - Revenue of $2.35M in 2024 (vs. $905K in 2023) driven primarily by asset sales ($1.9M), positioning the foundation for continued strong giving.

Notable recent grants: - Charlotte Hungerford Hospital ($10,000): Funded the Food4Health program, a free initiative providing food-insecure patients access to nutritious foods and guidance on healthy eating. This was described as the hospital's "first grant" from the foundation, signaling the Ossen Family Foundation's willingness to establish new partnerships. - Backus Hospital ($10,000): Parallel Food4Health grant, demonstrating the foundation's practice of supporting proven program models across multiple institutions. - Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters ($10,000): Supported expansion of youth mentoring, moving children from waiting lists into one-on-one matches. Foundation Executive Director Eileen Ossen stated: "When you help children to succeed, you also strengthen their families, their neighborhoods and communities." - Mansfield Advocates for Children ($3,000): Small community grant demonstrating the foundation's range from modest to substantial awards.

Leadership continuity: The three-person board (Carolyn Linkov as President, Jacqueline Berkowitz as Treasurer/Executive Director, Elizabeth Ossen as Secretary) has remained stable, with Berkowitz serving as the primary operational leader ($139,014 compensation in 2024). KeyBank provides investment management.

## Application Tips

1. Align with the Windham community focus. The single most important factor is geographic alignment. Explicitly describe how your organization serves Windham-area residents. If you serve broader Connecticut, lead with your Windham-area impact data — enrollment numbers, clients served, or program sites in the Windham region.

2. Apply by the right deadline. The foundation meets semiannually: submit by November 1 for the winter meeting or April 1 for the spring meeting. Late applications are not considered until the next cycle, so plan 2–3 months ahead.

3. Start with a modest ask. With only ~12% of new applicants funded, a realistic first-time request of $3,000–$15,000 is more likely to succeed than an ambitious $50,000+ ask. The foundation's largest grants go to established relationships — Center for Medicare Advocacy and Connecticut Legal Services likely built to $90K–$100K over multiple years.

4. Frame your work holistically. The foundation values "comprehensive care for the whole person." Even if your organization is narrowly focused (e.g., after-school tutoring), contextualize your work within broader community well-being — how does educational support improve family stability, health outcomes, or economic mobility?

5. Highlight measurable outcomes. The Food4Health grant description emphasized specific health improvements (reduced A1C, blood pressure, increased mobility). Quantify your impact wherever possible — the trustees are making decisions on a limited number of grants and need clear evidence of effectiveness.

6. General operating support is welcome. Unlike many funders, the Ossen Family Foundation funds general operating support — not just project-specific grants. If operational funding is what you need most, don't force your request into a project framework. Be honest about what the unrestricted support would enable.

7. Understand the full focus area spectrum. While healthcare and education receive the largest grants, the foundation also funds cultural arts, housing, legal services, food security, and youth mentoring. Don't self-select out if your work touches these areas, even tangentially.

8. Connecticut 501(c)(3) status is required. Ensure your organization has active federal tax-exempt status and is designated in Connecticut. Out-of-state organizations are only considered if specifically invited by the foundation.