The Resource Foundation Inc.

The Resource Foundation Inc. operates as a highly private, invitation-only grantmaker with no public application process. The foundation was established by Roy B. Simpson (founder of Calico Corners/Everfast) and his wife Edith Simpson and continues to reflect their personal philanthropic priorities.

APPROACH STRATEGY: 1. Relationship-first: All grants are initiated by the foundation, not applicants. Cultivate relationships with board members — Alison J. Allen (Chairman) and Alan D. Barry (Secretary, compensated) are the likely gatekeepers. 2. Personal connections matter: The foundation's origins in Connecticut retail/business circles and Edith Simpson's art collecting background suggest personal introductions through Greenwich/Stamford arts or business networks are the most viable path. 3. Focus areas that resonate: Arts institutions (especially visual arts and music), Greenwich-area human services, education for underserved youth, wildlife/environmental conservation, and community anchor organizations. 4. Local anchor advantage: Organizations with established roots in Greenwich, Stamford, or the broader Fairfield County area have a significant competitive advantage given the foundation's geographic concentration. 5. No cold outreach: Do not send unsolicited proposals. The foundation maintains no public grants page and does not publish guidelines. Cold proposals will be ignored or may damage future prospects.

FUNDING PATTERNS (based on 990 filings 2019–2024):

Grant Volume: 65–78 grants per year; averaging ~70 annually in 2024. Annual Distribution: Ranges from ~$530K (earlier years) to over $1M in recent filings; 2024 = $1,022,500. Grant Size: Wide dispersion — from as low as $500 (likely membership/supporting gifts) to $208,980. Typical meaningful program grants appear to be $10,000–$65,000. Largest recent single grant: $129,680 (Family Centers, 2024).

Sector breakdown (inferred from grantees and 990 NTEE codes): - Arts & Culture: ~25–30% of giving (museums, performing arts, music, historic preservation) - Human Services: ~25–30% (family services, crisis services, housing support) - Education: ~20% (colleges, schools, scholarship programs) - Religion/Community: ~10–15% (churches, community organizations) - Wildlife/Environment: ~5–10% (land trusts, conservation) - Other (health, animals): ~5%

Geographic concentration: Connecticut (especially Greenwich/Stamford corridor) and New York Metro receive the majority of grants. Smaller amounts flow to MA, CA, AR, VA, IL, and DC — likely reflecting board member affiliations or national organization chapters.

Endowment model: Revenue is 100% investment-based (dividends + asset sales). This means the foundation's grant capacity is tied to portfolio performance, not fundraising cycles. Grantmaking has remained stable despite no contributions.

PEER COMPARISON — Private Foundations, Fairfield County CT, Similar Asset Range ($8M–$30M):

Key differentiators for The Resource Foundation Inc.: - One of the most active grantmakers in its peer set (70 grants/year vs. typical 15–30 for same-size peers) - Extremely broad sector coverage compared to single-focus peers - Wider geographic reach (8+ states) than most local peers - No external fundraising — pure endowment philanthropy signals long-term stability - Compensation structure (Chairman $141K, Secretary $48K) suggests meaningful staff involvement, unusual for a foundation this size — indicates active management rather than passive giving

RECENT ACTIVITY (2024 fiscal year and trend):

2024 Confirmed Grantees (from 990/Instrumentl data): - Family Centers (Greenwich, CT) — $129,680 [largest known 2024 grant; community human services anchor] - Kids in Crisis (CT) — $65,000 [crisis intervention, youth mental health] - Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology (NY) — $50,000 [STEM/vocational education] - Guiding Eyes for the Blind (NY) — $35,000 [disability services, animal training] - Horizons at Brunswick (Greenwich, CT) — $35,000 [summer education program for underserved youth]

Historical Grantees (multiple years): - Connecticut Humane Society — consistent animal welfare grantee - Greenwich Land Trust — environmental conservation - Greenwich Emergency Management Service — community safety - New York Public Radio — arts/media - Waterside School (Stamford) — underserved youth education - First Church of Christ Scientist — religious/community

Grant count trend: 78 (2019) → 75 (2020) → 65 (2021) → 77 (2022) → 74 (2023) → 70 (2024). Stable and active.

Financial note: 2024 net loss of -$508K (expenses exceeded revenue) — foundation is drawing down endowment to maintain giving levels. This is sustainable short-term given $15M asset base, but may signal future grant reduction if markets underperform.

APPLICATION TIPS — The Resource Foundation Inc.:

1. NO UNSOLICITED APPLICATIONS: This is absolute. The foundation has no grants portal, no published RFP, and no application form. Submitting a cold proposal will not be productive.

2. NETWORK ACTIVATION: Target introductions through: - Greenwich arts institutions (Edith Simpson's art collecting background) - Fairfield County nonprofit leadership circles - WJ McKeever Co. LLC connections (the foundation's management firm) - Calico Corners/Everfast alumni networks (Simpson family business)

3. ORGANIZATIONAL FIT SIGNALS: Organizations most likely to receive grants share these traits: - Established presence in Greenwich/Stamford (10+ years preferred) - Clear anchor role in the community (not duplicative of other orgs) - Strong financial management and board governance - Mix of arts/culture + human services resonates strongly - Local youth education programs (Horizons, Waterside School model)

4. RELATIONSHIP TIMELINE: Expect 12–24 months from first contact to first grant. The foundation's low profile means they vet grantees through observation and community reputation, not proposals.

5. GRANT SIZE CALIBRATION: First-time grants likely range $5,000–$25,000. Family Centers' $129,680 and Kids in Crisis' $65,000 reflect multi-year, deeply trusted relationships. Do not expect large grants initially.

6. REPORTING EXPECTATIONS: Private foundations of this type typically require brief annual reports or letters. Maintain communication with the program contact (likely Alan D. Barry, Secretary) year-round, not just at grant time.

7. WHAT NOT TO DO: Do not cold-call WJ McKeever Co. Do not submit a proposal via email without a warm introduction. Do not assume national organization affiliations will help — local roots matter most.