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Oaklawn Foundation is a private corporation based in WILTON, CT. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1949. The principal officer is William S Kies Iii. It holds total assets of $16.4M. Annual income is reported at $6.7M. Total assets have grown from $11.9M in 2011 to $15M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2023. Funding is distributed across 7 states, including Connecticut, New York, Vermont. According to available records, Oaklawn Foundation has made 205 grants totaling $3.6M, with a median grant of $20K. The foundation has distributed between $820K and $1.9M annually from 2020 to 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $1.9M distributed across 102 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $66K, with an average award of $18K. The foundation has supported 62 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Connecticut, New York, Florida, which account for 70% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Oaklawn Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Wilton, Connecticut, established in 1949. With total assets of $16.4 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a pass-through grantmaker with no direct charitable activities. It is governed by a small family board led by President William S. Kies III and Treasurer Elizabeth K. Raftery, with directors Stephen K. Grimm and William S. Kies IV. The foundation distributes approximately $1 million annually across 50-57 grants, primarily supporting education, youth development, human services, and scholarship programs. Its listed website (oaklawn.org) belongs to an unrelated mental health services organization in Indiana; the foundation does not appear to maintain its own public website.
Best-fit applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations in Connecticut, New York, Vermont, or the broader Northeast focused on education, youth development, scholarship programs, or human services. The foundation has demonstrated particular interest in independent schools, colleges with scholarship programs, youth crisis services, and environmental education (SoundWaters, Stamford Museum). Submit proposals by the February 1 deadline. Emphasize scholarship or education programming with measurable outcomes. The foundation's strong preference for multi-year commitments (typically 3-5 years) suggests applicants should present phased funding requests rather than single-year asks.
The Oaklawn Foundation awarded $1,025,000 through 57 grants in 2024, continuing steady growth from $943,000 (2019) to over $1 million annually. Individual grants range from $500 to $66,000, with typical awards falling between $10,000 and $40,000. The foundation favors multi-year commitments, often structured as 3-to-5-year pledges supporting scholarship funds and program operations. Top 2023 recipients include The Hill School ($66K for Class of 1993 Scholarship), Mount Dora Christian Academy ($45K for scholarship and biomedical science), Kids In Crisis ($45K for education services), Colby College ($41K scholarship), and SCSU Foundation ($40K scholarship). The foundation's financial profile reflects conservative endowment management. Total assets have grown from $12.8M (2019) to $16.4M (2024), a 28% increase over five years. Revenue derives entirely from investment income with zero contributions received. Annual giving represents a payout rate of approximately 6.3-7.0% of assets, well above the IRS-required 5% minimum. Operating expenses are lean: officer compensation totals $56,000 and charitable disbursements account for 88.6% of total expenses.
| Foundation | Location | Assets | Annual Giving | Grants/Year | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oaklawn Foundation | Wilton, CT | $16.4M | $1.03M | 57 | Education, Human Services, Scholarships |
| Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation | Glastonbury, CT | $18.2M | $398K | — | Philanthropy & Grantmaking |
| Summer Hill Foundation | Madison, CT | $18.2M | $9.3M income | — | Philanthropy & Grantmaking |
| Carl & Dorothy Bennett Foundation | Greenwich, CT | $18.4M | $4.7M income | — | General Grantmaking |
| David & Tricia Rogers Foundation | Darien, CT | $20.1M | $2.7M income | — | Pass-through (no direct activities) |
| MJPM Foundation | Salisbury, CT | $20.8M | $468K income | — | Philanthropy & Grantmaking |
| Bridgemill Foundation | New Canaan, CT | $20.6M | $4.1M income | — | General Grantmaking |
Among Connecticut private foundations in the $12M-$22M asset range, Oaklawn stands out for its consistently high payout rate and its clearly defined focus on education and youth-serving organizations. The David and Tricia Rogers Foundation shares a similar pass-through model and comparable asset size. The Herb Chambers Charitable Foundation, despite larger assets ($18.2M), reports significantly lower annual income ($398K), suggesting a more conservative distribution approach.
In 2024, the Oaklawn Foundation continued its pattern of steady growth, awarding $1,025,000 across 57 grants — up from 55 grants ($945K given) in 2023 and 51 grants in 2022. Assets reached an all-time high of $16.4M, driven by strong investment returns including $2.1M in asset sales and $515K in dividends. The foundation maintained its core focus on education and scholarship programs with multi-year pledge commitments to institutions across Connecticut, the Northeast, and select national partners. Notable multi-year pledges active in 2023 included a new 3-year commitment to The Hill School and continued support for UNC Wilmington, Colby College, and SoundWaters. The foundation filed its most recent 990-PF in March 2025 for fiscal year 2024.
1. Submit proposals by the February 1 annual deadline. Late submissions are unlikely to be considered given the small board structure. 2. Proposals should be mailed to c/o Betsy Raftery, POB 7065, Wilton, CT 06897. Phone contact is available at (203) 637-3784. There is no online application portal. 3. Request multi-year funding (3-5 years) rather than single-year grants. The foundation strongly favors phased commitments and pledge structures. 4. Emphasize direct student or youth impact with measurable outcomes, particularly scholarship programs, education services, or youth crisis intervention. 5. Grantees must hold 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. No grants are made to individuals. 6. With only four directors (three active plus one family member), relationship-building with board members is likely critical to securing funding. 7. Geographic reach extends beyond Connecticut to include institutions in Florida, Maine, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and other states where board members may have personal or alumni connections.
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No direct activities
The Oaklawn Foundation awarded $1,025,000 through 57 grants in 2024, continuing steady growth from $943,000 (2019) to over $1 million annually. Individual grants range from $500 to $66,000, with typical awards falling between $10,000 and $40,000. The foundation favors multi-year commitments, often structured as 3-to-5-year pledges supporting scholarship funds and program operations. Top 2023 recipients include The Hill School ($66K for Class of 1993 Scholarship), Mount Dora Christian Academy ($4.
Oaklawn Foundation has distributed a total of $3.6M across 205 grants. The median grant size is $20K, with an average of $18K. Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $66K.
The Oaklawn Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Wilton, Connecticut, established in 1949. With total assets of $16.4 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a pass-through grantmaker with no direct charitable activities. It is governed by a small family board led by President William S. Kies III and Treasurer Elizabeth K. Raftery, with directors Stephen K. Grimm and William S. Kies IV. The foundation distributes approximately $1 million annually across 50-57 grants, pr.
Oaklawn Foundation is headquartered in WILTON, CT. While based in CT, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 13 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| William S Kies Iii | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | $30K | $0 | $30K |
| Elizabeth K Raftery | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | $25K | $0 | $25K |
| Jonathan M Wells | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Joseph Paight | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| William S Kies Iv | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Stephen K Grimm | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$1.2M
Total Assets
$15M
Fair Market Value
$23M
Net Worth
$15M
Grants Paid
$945K
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
$814K
Distribution Amount
$1M
Total: $14M
Total Grants
205
Total Giving
$3.6M
Average Grant
$18K
Median Grant
$20K
Unique Recipients
62
Most Common Grant
$1K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Hill School2023 GRANTS;2023 MULTI YEAR GRANT PLEDGE CLASS OF '93 SCHOLARSHIP 2023-2025 YEAR 1 OF 3;DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Pottstown, PA | $66K | 2023 |
| Kids In CrisisMULTI YEAR GRANT 3 OF 4 TO EDUCATION SVCES AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Cos Cob, CT | $45K | 2023 |
| Mount Dora Christian Academy & Children'S HomeYEAR 2 OF 4 OF SCHOLARSHIP FUND,BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Mount Dora, FL | $45K | 2023 |
| Colby CollegeSCHOLARSHIP PLEDGE YEAR 5 OF 5 AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Waterville, ME | $41K | 2023 |
| Scsu Foundation IncSCHOLARSHIP PLEDGE YEAR 3 OF 5 AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | New Haven, CT | $40K | 2023 |
| Unc WilmingtonMULTI YEAR PLEDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND GPAC YEAR 4 OF 5 | Wilmington, NC | $40K | 2023 |
| SoundwatersSCHOLARSHIP FUND YEAR 3 OF 5 AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Stamford, CT | $35K | 2023 |
| Stamford Museum And Nature CenterPLEDGE FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Stamford, CT | $34K | 2023 |
| Brunswick School2023 PLEDGE OF MULTI YEAR GRANT OF $25,000 2023-2027; DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Greenwich, CT | $33K | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club GreenwichGENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT, EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Greenwich, CT | $31K | 2023 |
| Inner City Scholarship FundHIGH SCHOOL AWARD PROGRAM AND SCHOLARSHIP; MULTI YEAR GRANTS 4 OF 5 YEARS | New York, NY | $30K | 2023 |
| Greenwich Family Centers2023 GRANT GREENWICH HEAD START | Greenwich, CT | $30K | 2023 |
| Waterside School2023 GRANT FOR OAKLAWN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Stamford, CT | $30K | 2023 |
| Summer On The Hill2023 GRANT EDUCATION PROGRAMS | Bronx, NY | $30K | 2023 |
| Choate-Rosemary HallSCHOLARSHIP FUND AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Wallingford, CT | $30K | 2023 |
| Domus Kids IncDOMUS KNIGHTS 2023 GRANT | Stamford, CT | $30K | 2023 |
| Hilsdale College2023 GRANT FOR OAKLAWN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP | Hillsdale, MI | $25K | 2023 |
| University Of The CumberlandsMULTI YEAR PLEDGE SCHOLARSHIP FUND YEAR 4 OF 5; | Williamsburg, KY | $25K | 2023 |
| Uvm FoundationMULTI YEAR GRANT YEAR 2 OF 5 OAKLAWN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS | Burlington, VT | $25K | 2023 |
| Workplace Inc2023 GRANT GENERAL OPERATING FUND | Bridgeport, CT | $25K | 2023 |
| St Lawrence University2023 GRANT OAKLAWN FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Canton, NY | $23K | 2023 |
| Morning Star Catholic SchoolTUITION ASSISTANCE YEAR 2 OF 3 OF PLEDGE AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Tampa, FL | $20K | 2023 |
| American Red CrossDISASTER RELIEF | Greenwich, CT | $20K | 2023 |
| Neighbor To Neighbor2023 GRANT FOOD & HOUSEHOLD ESSENTIAL BUDGET | Greenwich, CT | $20K | 2023 |
| AmericaresEMERGENCY PROGRAMS | Stamford, CT | $20K | 2023 |
| Greenwich Academy2023 PLEDGE OF MULTI YEAR GRANT OF $20,000 2023-2027;YEAR 1 OF 5 | Greenwich, CT | $20K | 2023 |
| Laurel House2023 GRANT SUPPORTING LAUREL HOUSE THINKING WELL PROGRAM | Stamford, CT | $20K | 2023 |
| Greenwich Hospital2023 GRANT NURSING RESIDENCY FUND | Greenwich, CT | $15K | 2023 |
| Woodcock Nature Center2023 GRANT SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS, GENERAL OPERATING FUND AND DIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Wilton, CT | $12K | 2023 |
| Northwestern UniversityDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Evanston, IL | $10K | 2023 |
| Betsy'S Park2021 PLEDGE OF MULTI YEAR GRANT OF $50,000 2021-2024 | Holderness, NH | $10K | 2023 |
| Wake Forest UniversityDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Wintonsalem, NC | $10K | 2023 |
| U Of Vt & State Agriculture FoundationDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Burlington, VT | $8K | 2023 |
| Darden School FoundationDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Charlottesville, VA | $5K | 2023 |
| Clearwater Community Sailing CenterDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Clearwater, FL | $5K | 2023 |
| Stark Mountain FoundationDIRECTORS' GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Waitsfield, VT | $5K | 2023 |
| St Paul'S Episcopal ChurchDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Riverside, CT | $5K | 2023 |
| National Ms SocietyDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Hartford, CT | $4K | 2023 |
| Ascutney OutdoorsDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Brownsville, VT | $3K | 2023 |
| Friends Of The Norwalk River Valley TrailDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION;NRVT TRAIL MAINTENANCE | Georgetown, CT | $3K | 2023 |
| Nyu Stern School Of BusinessDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | New York, NY | $3K | 2023 |
| Upper Valley Land TrustDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Hanover, NH | $3K | 2023 |
| The Maritime Aquarium At NorwalkDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Norwalk, CT | $2K | 2023 |
| Villanova UniversityDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Villanova, PA | $2K | 2023 |
| The Mead SchoolDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Stamford, CT | $2K | 2023 |
| Wilton Library AssociationDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Wilton, CT | $2K | 2023 |
| Pathways IncDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Greenwich, CT | $1K | 2023 |
| Greenwich Land TrustDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Greenwich, CT | $1K | 2023 |
| Greenwich Alliance For EducationDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Greenwich, CT | $1K | 2023 |
| Friends Of Ambler FarmDIRECTOR'S GRANT TO 501C ORGANIZATION | Wilton, CT | $1K | 2023 |