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Seedlings Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $1.7M

Seedlings Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$22.5 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $215.4 million
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $1.7 million
  • Average Grant: ~$256,000
  • Median Grant: ~$120,000
  • Number of Grants: 79-91 annually
  • Geographic Focus: National with Connecticut emphasis (~50% of grants)
  • Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Overview

Established in 2002, the Seedlings Foundation is a significant private foundation based in Branford, Connecticut. With assets exceeding $215 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $22.5 million, it ranks among the largest private foundations in Connecticut. The foundation is steered by sisters Karen and Linda Pritzker, daughters of the late Robert Pritzker, an heir to the Pritzker family fortune and founder of the Marmon Group industrial conglomerate.

The foundation's mission is to "support programs that nourish the physical and mental health of children and families, and foster an educated and engaged citizenship." While maintaining a deliberately low profile, Seedlings has established itself as a major funder in education, journalism, civic engagement, and mental health research. Approximately half of its grantmaking supports Connecticut-based organizations, with particular emphasis on New Haven and Branford communities. The foundation tends to provide multi-year funding to its grantees, demonstrating commitment to sustained partnerships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal named grant programs but supports organizations across several thematic areas with grants ranging from $5,000 to $1.7 million:

  • Education Grants: $5,000 - $1.7 million (early childhood through higher education)
  • Journalism & Civic Engagement: Supports news organizations and democracy initiatives
  • Health & Mental Health: Research and community-based services
  • Arts & Culture: Regional performing arts and cultural institutions

Priority Areas

Education (largest giving area):

  • Early childhood learning and literacy programs
  • K-12 schools and educational initiatives
  • Educational research at university centers
  • Teacher professional development through Seedlings Educators Collaborative

Civic Engagement & Journalism:

  • Nonprofit news organizations
  • Democracy and citizenship initiatives
  • Voter engagement and civic education

Children & Family Mental Health:

  • Trauma-informed approaches and research
  • Childhood adversity prevention
  • Mental health community services

Community Development:

  • Housing services
  • Human services organizations
  • Community foundations

Representative Grantees

Education:

  • Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
  • Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
  • Yale Child Study Center
  • Hopkins School, Foote School, Saint Martin de Porres Academy (New Haven)
  • Leadership Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP)
  • Friends Center for Children
  • Read to Grow
  • Boundless Literacy
  • NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship)

Journalism & Civic Engagement:

  • American Journalism Project
  • Connecticut Mirror / Connecticut News Project
  • New Haven Independent
  • Internews Network
  • United States Democracy Center
  • PEN America

Health & Human Services:

  • Connecticut Hospice
  • Clifford Beers Community Care Center
  • Women's Health Research at Yale
  • International Medical Corps
  • World Central Kitchen

Arts & Culture:

  • Jazz at Lincoln Center
  • Long Wharf Theater
  • Hartford Stage

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly specified exclusions. However, given its focused mission areas, it is unlikely to fund:

  • Organizations outside its core focus areas
  • Individual grants or scholarships (appears to fund organizations only)
  • Religious activities not aligned with educational or civic missions

Governance and Leadership

Karen Pritzker - President Karen Pritzker is a documentary film producer, investor, and philanthropist. She co-founded KPJR Films with James Redford in 2012, producing documentaries focused on childhood trauma and resilience including "Paper Tigers" (2015) and "Resilience: The Biology of Stress and The Science of Hope." Her film work directly reflects Seedlings' focus on children's mental health. She stated: "We created Paper Tigers and Resilience for all segments of our community to use as tools, both as a source of inspiration and education, towards trauma-informed practices."

Linda Pritzker (Lama Tsomo) - Secretary & Director Linda Pritzker is a Buddhist spiritual leader, author, and philanthropist. Ordained as one of the few female American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism in 2005, she founded the Namchak Foundation in 2010 to make Tibetan Buddhist practices accessible to Western audiences. She authored "Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling?" which won a silver medal at the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Toni Burt - Treasurer & Secretary

Audrey Ratner - Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states: "Seedlings does not review or accept unsolicited grant proposals."

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee identification and selection of organizations
  • Pre-existing relationships with aligned organizations
  • Internal research and discovery of promising initiatives

Getting on Their Radar

Based on available information about the foundation's approach:

  • Geographic proximity matters: Organizations based in New Haven and Branford, Connecticut receive particular attention. Approximately 50% of grants go to Connecticut organizations.

  • Alignment with founder interests: Karen Pritzker's work in trauma-informed practices through KPJR Films suggests strong interest in organizations working on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma. Linda Pritzker's focus on mental health and contemplative practices may influence selections in those areas.

  • Seedlings Educators Collaborative connection: Since 2005, the foundation has operated the Seedlings Educators Collaborative, providing professional development to Connecticut educators from public, parochial, and independent schools. Teachers who have participated in this program have direct connection to the foundation's work.

  • Network with existing grantees: Many grantees have received multi-year funding, suggesting relationship-based philanthropy. Networking with past grantees may offer pathways to consideration.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there are no standard decision timelines to report.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not have an open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, success factors center on organizational characteristics rather than application quality:

Alignment with Mission: Organizations must clearly work in one of the foundation's priority areas: children's physical and mental health, family support, education, or civic engagement.

Connecticut Connection: With approximately 50% of grants directed to Connecticut organizations, those based in the state—particularly New Haven and Branford—have demonstrated stronger positioning for consideration.

Innovation Focus: The foundation has been described as prioritizing "smaller, innovative initiatives." Organizations doing groundbreaking work rather than replicating existing models may attract attention.

Evidence-Based Approaches: Karen Pritzker's documentary work with KPJR Films emphasizes "narratives rooted in empirical evidence." Organizations with strong data demonstrating impact may align with this preference.

Multi-Year Capacity: The foundation "tends to provide multi-year funding," suggesting preference for organizations with stability and capacity for sustained partnerships.

Recent Funding Patterns: Education-focused organizations receive the largest share of funding, followed by journalism/civic engagement, then health and arts.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No open application process: Seedlings Foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant writing approaches will not work with this funder.

  • Significant funder: With ~$22.5 million in annual grantmaking and 79-91 grants per year, this is one of Connecticut's largest private foundations.

  • Connecticut priority: Approximately half of all grants go to Connecticut organizations, with New Haven and Branford receiving particular attention.

  • Multi-year commitment: The foundation provides sustained funding to grantees, indicating they seek long-term partnerships rather than one-time grants.

  • Founder-driven priorities: Understanding Karen Pritzker's work on childhood trauma (KPJR Films) and Linda Pritzker's focus on mental health/contemplative practice can help identify alignment.

  • Relationship pathway: Networking with existing grantees and involvement in initiatives like the Seedlings Educators Collaborative may offer indirect pathways to the foundation's attention.

  • Monitor their giving: Reviewing annual 990 filings to understand recent grant recipients and funding patterns can help identify alignment opportunities.

References

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