The Connecticut State Capitol
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 26-2341663

Cornelia and Michael Bessie Foundation

A private foundation in West Hartford, CT. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 20 grants and $168,000 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $168,000

    Grants listed
    20
    Assets, end of year
    $3,376,540

  • Tax year 2024

    $134,000

    Grants listed
    14
    Assets, end of year
    $3,352,332

  • Tax year 2023

    $135,000

    Grants listed
    11
    Assets, end of year
    $3,346,425

  • Tax year 2022

    $161,200

    Grants listed
    16
    Assets, end of year
    $3,406,141

  • Tax year 2021

    $130,000

    Grants listed
    10
    Assets, end of year
    $3,515,530

  • Tax year 2020

    $250,942

    Grants listed
    18
    Assets, end of year
    $3,484,110

  • Tax year 2019

    $320,000

    Grants listed
    26
    Assets, end of year
    $3,215,130

  • Tax year 2018

    $75,000

    Grants listed
    6
    Assets, end of year
    $3,390,466

Grants paid in 2025

20 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Classical UprisingPortland, ME

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $20,000
  2. CareAtlanta, GA

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  3. Doctors Without Borders USA IncNew York, NY

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  4. Droplets of Mercy USA IncMcLean, VA

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  5. Heal Palestine IncKent, OH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  6. Red Bull TheaterNew York, NY

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  7. The Blue Door FoundationNiantic, CT

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $10,000
  8. Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Congregation (muusic 4 Uu)Peterborough, NH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $9,000
  9. Pat Macs Pack IncChicago, IL

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $8,000
  10. Broken Souls Rescue and Recovery IncStaten Island, NY

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  11. Covenant Soup KitchenWillimantic, CT

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  12. Flying Gravity CircusWilton, NH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  13. Harris Center for Conservation Education IncHancock, NH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  14. House of Bread IncHartford, CT

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  15. Literacy Volunteers of Greater HartfordHartford, CT

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  16. Peterborough Food Pantry (peterborough Area Community Aid)Peterborough, NH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,500
  17. Simbas PrideMorrison, CO

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $7,000
  18. Riley Farm Rescue IncBrooklyn, CT

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $5,000
  19. Keene Chamber Orchestra IncKeene, NH

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $4,000
  20. ACLU Foundation IncNew York, NY

    Current use for charitable purposes

    $2,500

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture4 grants $41,50033% of the total
  2. International aid3 grants $30,00024% of the total
  3. Animals3 grants $19,50015% of the total
  4. Health2 grants $18,00014% of the total
  5. Environment1 grant $7,5006% of the total
  6. Food and agriculture1 grant $7,5006% of the total
  7. 1 other causes1 grant $2,5002% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Connecticut5 grants $37,500
  2. New Hampshire5 grants $35,500
  3. New York4 grants $30,000
  4. Maine1 grant $20,000
  5. Georgia1 grant $10,000
  6. Ohio1 grant $10,000
  7. Virginia1 grant $10,000
  8. Illinois1 grant $8,000
  9. Colorado1 grant $7,000

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Therese DavidsonTRUSTEE Hours 10Pay $13,617
  • Chase Wilson RoeperTRUSTEE Hours 10Pay $13,617
  • Ned ManuelTRUSTEE Hours 10Pay $6,808

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (arts and culture), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Tiffany-Thompson FoundationWest Hartford, CT 28 grants Preselected only $215,000 giving
  2. Kastory Family FoundationWest Hartford, CT 13 grants Preselected only $266,250 giving
  3. The Bluestone FoundationWest Hartford, CT 76 grants Preselected only $277,500 giving
  4. Flea Theatre Playwrights FundWest Hartford, CT 9 grants Preselected only $365,000 giving
  5. Edward C & Ann T Roberts FoundationWest Hartford, CT 37 grants Preselected only $393,500 giving