William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund
Historical FunderHamden, Connecticut · EIN 04-6037391 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$5.1M
Organizations funded167
Typical grant$10,000
Total assets$121.2M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $7,500 and $42,500.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | GISLAINE NGOUNOU CEO WILLIAM CASPAR |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 HAMDEN CENTER SUITE 2B 2319, WHITNEY AVE, HAMDEN CT 06518 |
| Phone | 2032303330 |
| Form and materials | A BRIEF LETTER SHOULD INCLUDE A PROBLEM AND OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT, THE METHODS FOR ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, AND ITS PROPOSED SOLUTION. ENCLOSE A CURRENT COPY OF IRS 501(C)(3) DETERMINATION LETTER. AFTER THE LETTER IS REVIEWED, AN APPLICATION FORM IS PROVIDED, WHEN APPROPRIATE, FOR COMPLETION BY THE APPLICANT. |
| Deadlines | NO ESTABLISHED DEADLINE. |
| Restrictions | THE MEMORIAL FUND WILL MAKE GRANTS TO SUPPORT THEIR MISSION TO ACHIEVE EQUITY IN EDUCATION BY WORKING WITH THOSE AFFECTED AND INSPIRING ALL TO END RACISM AND POVERTY. GRANTS ARE NOT MADE TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NOT RECOGNIZED AS 501(C)(3), INDIVIDUALS, RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES, CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS, POLITICAL CAUSES AND ACTIVITIES, AND SCHOLARSHIPS. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
11% of grants went outside Connecticut.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cercle | New Haven, CT | Cercle strong | $118,125 |
| Bridgeport Generation Now | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $118,125 |
| Racce Inc | Waterbury, CT | General support | $103,250 |
| Serc Foundation | Middletown, CT | Conference and supporting districts to build social justice community coalitions | $101,250 |
| Serc Foundation | Middletown, CT | Dismantling systemic racism and supporting districts to build social justice community coalitions | $101,250 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education | New York, NY | Relay connecticut | $101,250 |
| Re-Center | Hartford, CT | Re-Center: building networks for racial equity impact | $101,250 |
| Make the Road Connecticut | Hartford, CT | Building power for language justice & full participation in local democracy | $101,250 |
| Hearing Youth Voices | New London, CT | General supportyouth building power | $101,250 |
| Hearing Youth Voices | New London, CT | General supportyouth building power | $101,250 |
| Ct Black and Brown Students Union | Hartford, CT | General support | $101,250 |
| Ct Black and Brown Students Union | Hartford, CT | General support | $101,250 |
| Connecticut Students for a Dream | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $101,250 |
| Citywide Youth Coalition Inc | New Haven, CT | General support | $101,250 |
| Citywide Youth Coalition Inc | New Haven, CT | General support | $101,250 |
| All Our Kin | New Haven, CT | Partnering with family child care educators to advocate for equitable early care and education systems in connecticut and beyond | $101,250 |
| She Leads Justice | Hartford, CT | General support | $100,625 |
| Common Counsel Foundation | Oakland, CA | Movement for black lives | $100,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation | Oakland, CA | Movement for black lives | $100,000 |
| Katal Center for Health Equity and Justice | Hartford, CT | #Cutshutinvest campaign and bloc | $87,500 |
| Connecticut Justice Alliance | Bridgeport, CT | Connecticut justice alliance, justice advisors and #investinmect | $87,500 |
| Pt Partners | Bridgeport, CT | General support - pt partners | $86,250 |
| Pt Partners | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $86,250 |
| Center for Leadership and Justice | Hartford, CT | General support | $86,250 |
| A Better Way Foundation | Hartford, CT | General support | $86,250 |
| A Better Way Foundation | Hartford, CT | General support | $86,250 |
| Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury bridge to success cradle to career/p-20 cans general operating | $67,500 |
| Faithacts for Education Inc | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $67,500 |
| Step Up New London | New London, CT | General support | $65,625 |
| New Haven Legal Assistance Association Inc | New Haven, CT | Building community power in economic justice | $65,625 |
| The People's Place | Waterbury, CT | General support | $60,000 |
| Students for Educational Justice | Hamden, CT | General support | $60,000 |
| Students for Educational Justice | Hamden, CT | General support | $60,000 |
| A Better Way Foundation | Hartford, CT | End of year surplus grant | $60,000 |
| Health Equity Solutions | Hartford, CT | Community power | $57,500 |
| Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership | Waterbury, CT | General support | $50,000 |
| Power | Stamford, CT | Power - parents organized will effect results | $50,000 |
| Connecticut Council for Philanthropy | Hartford, CT | Immigration pooled fund | $50,000 |
| Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut Inc | Hamden, CT | General support | $50,000 |
| Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut Inc | Hamden, CT | General support | $50,000 |
| Unidad Latina En Accion | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $47,500 |
| Save Girls on Fyer | Waterbury, CT | Liberation at the center | $42,500 |
| Power | Stamford, CT | Power parents organized will effect results | $42,500 |
| Middletown Racial Justice Coalition | Waterbury, CT | General support | $42,500 |
| Middletown Racial Justice Coalition | Waterbury, CT | General support | $42,500 |
| Educators for Excellence | New York, NY | Equitable education for all connecticut students | $42,500 |
| School and State Finance Project | Hamden, CT | Community engagement fellowship cohort | $35,000 |
| School and State Finance Project | Hamden, CT | Community engagement fellowship cohort | $35,000 |
| Connecticut Voices for Children | New Haven, CT | Economic justice coalition & school resource officers | $35,000 |
| Connecticut Voices for Children | New Haven, CT | Economic justice coalition & school resource officers | $35,000 |
| 50Can Inc Dba Conncan | Washington, DC | General support | $35,000 |
| 50Can Inc Dba Conncan | Washington, DC | General support | $35,000 |
| Faithacts for Education Inc | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $33,750 |
| The People's Place | Waterbury, CT | General support | $32,500 |
| The People's Place | Waterbury, CT | General support | $32,500 |
| Save Girls on Fyer | Waterbury, CT | Leadership center general operating request | $32,500 |
| Open Communities Alliance | Hartford, CT | Building skills for change | $32,500 |
| Open Communities Alliance | Hartford, CT | General support | $32,500 |
| Writer's Block Ink | New London, CT | Writer's block ink | $25,000 |
| The Schott Foundation for Public Education | Cambridge, MA | Push fund | $25,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 167 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movement 4 Black Lives | Lawrenceville, GA | The movement for black lives | $200,000 |
| Arts Council of Greater New Haven | Hamden, CT | General support | $120,000 |
| Health Equity Solutions | Hartford, CT | Community power | $115,000 |
| Urban Concepts | Bridgeport, CT | General support | $100,000 |
| Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut Inc | Hamden, CT | General support | $100,000 |
| Educators for Excellence | New York, NY | Equitable education for all connecticut students. | $85,000 |
| 50Can Inc Dba Conncan | Washington, DC | General support | $85,000 |
| University of Connecticut Foundation Inc | Farmington, CT | Cultivating underrepresented educators, supporting underserved communities | $63,000 |
| United Parents and Students | Stamford, CT | Power - parents organized will effect results | $50,000 |
| Save Girls on Fyer | Waterbury, CT | Liberation at the center | $42,500 |
| Waterbury Bridge to Success Community Partnership | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury bridge to success cradle to career/p-20 cans general operating | $37,500 |
| Hartford Parent University | Hartford, CT | Equitable education and affordable housing for all | $35,000 |
| Amistad United Church of Christ | Hartford, CT | Moral monday ct general support | $35,000 |
| Open Communities Alliance | Hartford, CT | General support | $32,500 |
| Christian Community Action Inc | New Haven, CT | General support | $25,000 |
| Nest | Waterbury, CT | General support | $17,500 |
| Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs | Calabasas, CA | General support | $12,500 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,067,225 | 184 |
| 2023 | $5,319,103 | 186 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 17, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202543219349102719
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 04-6037391
- Profile updated Nov 4, 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.