The Zachs Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Zachs Family Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered, and a charity should approach it only through an invitation or an existing contact.
- The filing shows most of its grants going to Connecticut and Massachusetts, but no geographic focus is stated, so a request should rest on the strength of the work rather than on location.
- About 8 in 10 of its 419 grants fall between $200 and $20,500, with a median of $1,500, so a modest request fits its usual pattern, although its largest grant was about $640,000.
- Giving is strongly repeat-based, with 96% of grant dollars to organisations also funded in the earlier filings, so most of its support goes to established recipients.
Overview
The Zachs Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Hartford, CT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (unitedwayinc.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports more than 100 nonprofit organisations annually. Its recorded grants reach a broad mix of organisations, including schools and universities, Jewish community and religious organisations, camps, museums and arts bodies, and health and social-service organisations. Most stated purposes are general use; other purposes include endowment support and designated school, library and Hillel funds. The distribution is strongly centred on Connecticut, while the grant record also includes recipients in other states and abroad. The available sources do not set out applicant eligibility or a specific subject-area strategy, so the evidence describes the recipient mix rather than formal funding priorities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 419 grants to organisations were $1,500 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 15% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The Zachs Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 25% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 138 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $2,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Camp Laurelwood · General use$638,2002024 tax year
- The Hartford Foundation For Publc G · General use$155,0002024 tax year
- Solomon Schechter Day School · General Use$151,0002024 tax year
- Wadsworth Atheneum · General use$141,8402024 tax year
- Jewish Federation · General use$135,0002024 tax year
- Dignity Grows · General Use$100,0002024 tax year
- University of Hartford · Hartt School 1500Art School 1000 Hillel 85000 Greenberg Ctr 3000Barney School 500$91,0002024 tax year
- University of Pennsylvania · Hillel 500 kelly Writers 500Wharton 15000 Annual Fund 15000Libraries 10000$41,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Eric Zachs — Director
- Judith M Zachs — VPresident / Secr
- Henry M Zachs — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,638,216 | $1,475,637 | $32,570,541 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,045,926 | $1,513,249 | $35,465,663 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,563,244 | $2,003,497 | $38,284,960 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Zachs Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Hartford, CT
Applying to The Zachs Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Hartford, CT