Cornelia Bessie Memorial Foundation
Invitation OnlyWest Hartford, Connecticut · EIN 83-1183294 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$287K
Organizations funded30
Typical grant$9,000
Total assets$6.3M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $5,000 and $12,600.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
73% of grants went outside Connecticut.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friends of the Lymes Senior Center Inc | Old Lyme, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $25,000 |
| Valley Shore YMCA Westbrook | Westbrook, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $20,000 |
| Care | Atlanta, GA | Current use for charitable purposes | $15,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc | New York, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $15,000 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | Current use for charitable purposes | $15,000 |
| Zara Manzur Foundation | Mystic, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $15,000 |
| Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Congregation (Puuc) | Peterborough, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $13,000 |
| Classical Uprising | Portland, ME | Current use for charitable purposes | $12,600 |
| Equality Health Center | Concord, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| House of Bread | Dayton, OH | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Leeway Foundation Inc | New Haven, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Peterborough Folk Music Society | Peterborough, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Ray of Light Farm Inc | East Haddam, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Tri Town Youth Services Bureau Inc | Deep River, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Woodshed Arts | Chapel Hill, NC | Current use for charitable purposes | $10,000 |
| Harris Center for Conservation Education Inc | Hancock, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $9,000 |
| Common Cause Education Fund | Washington, DC | Current use for charitable purposes | $7,500 |
| Food Bank for New York City | Bronx, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $7,500 |
| New England Musicians Resource Fund | Arlington, MA | Current use for charitable purposes | $7,500 |
| Peterborough Human Services Fund (Aka Peterborough Food Pantry) | Peterborough, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $7,500 |
| Words Without Borders | Brooklyn, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $7,500 |
| Apocalyptic Artists Ensemble | Brooklyn, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Chester Community Coalition | Chester, PA | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Community Music Center | San Francisco, CA | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Hartford Interval House Inc | Hartford, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Hunts Point Alliance for Children | Bronx, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Keene Chamber Orchestra Inc | Keene, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford | Hartford, CT | Current use for charitable purposes | $5,000 |
| Flying Gravity Circus | Wilton, NH | Current use for charitable purposes | $2,700 |
| Festival Celebration Choir Inc (Fcc) | Albany, NY | Current use for charitable purposes | $2,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $286,800 | 30 |
| 2024 | $340,100 | 29 |
| 2023 | $324,000 | 27 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed Aug 4, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202602169349100105
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 83-1183294
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.