Town Fair Tire Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3,157,058 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $1,000 - $5,000+ (estimated based on examples)
Geographic Focus: New England (CT, MA, NH, ME, VT, RI) and beyond

Contact Details

Address: East Haven, CT
EIN: 061592259
Managed by: Paul McCoy Family Office Services

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications at this time.

Overview

The Town Fair Tire Foundation, Inc. (TFTF) was established in 2000 by Neil Mellen, founder of Town Fair Tire stores, which grew from two stores in Connecticut in 1967 to over 97 stores across New England. The foundation operates as a private, not-for-profit philanthropic organization with a mission to financially support entities and institutions that help people in need of social, health, welfare, educational, and other human services throughout New England and beyond. The foundation is especially committed to helping individuals and families who struggle daily with the effects of poverty. In 2023, the foundation distributed over $3.1 million in grants to nonprofit organizations. Founder Neil Mellen passed away in January 2024, leaving a legacy of generous philanthropy through numerous scholarships and anonymous gifts to scores of nonprofits.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Town Fair Tire Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, they work with preselected charitable organizations on an invitation-only basis. The foundation primarily structures its gifts as:

Multi-year grants: To maximize the positive effect of giving over extended periods
Matching grants: To leverage additional funding and community support
General operating grants: For organizational sustainability
Program-specific grants: For targeted initiatives
Endowments and capital campaigns: For long-term organizational capacity

Grant amounts vary based on organizational needs and foundation priorities. Examples of recent grants include:

Arts for Learning CT: $2,500 (general operations)
Mainstay Supportive Housing: $1,000 (second consecutive year of funding)

Priority Areas

The foundation supports proven or unique approaches from 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations in the following areas:

Social services: Organizations promoting self-reliance and economic advancement
Health services: Improving quality of life and health outcomes
Welfare programs: Supporting individuals and families affected by poverty
Education: Scholarships and educational institutions
Human services: Community-based organizations creating vibrant, healthy communities

The foundation serves start-up, small, and well-established not-for-profits across their geographic focus area, with willingness to consider organizations outside New England if their mission strongly aligns with foundation priorities.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation:

Does not accept unsolicited applications
Focuses primarily on organizations serving people affected by poverty
Works only with 501(c)(3) organizations

Governance and Leadership

The Town Fair Tire Foundation was founded by Neil Mellen (1934-2024), who established Town Fair Tire stores across New England. The foundation is currently managed through Paul McCoy Family Office Services. Specific board members and trustees are not publicly disclosed in available sources.

Neil Mellen's philanthropic philosophy emphasized paying it forward, with the foundation asking grant beneficiaries "to pay the kindness forward to others in need in any meaningful way."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Town Fair Tire Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The foundation is not currently accepting applications.

Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, who identify organizations that align with their mission and strategic priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on its own internal timeline for identifying and funding preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 589 awards made in 2020 and 135 awards in 2019, the foundation supports a significant number of organizations, though all are by invitation only.

Reapplication Policy

As the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with preselected organizations, there is no formal reapplication policy for declined applicants. The foundation has shown willingness to provide multi-year support to organizations, as evidenced by Mainstay Supportive Housing receiving grants in consecutive years.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received grants share these characteristics:

Mission alignment: Strong focus on helping individuals and families affected by poverty
Geographic presence: Located in or serving New England communities where Town Fair Tire operates
Proven track record: Demonstrated effectiveness in delivering social, health, welfare, or educational services
Community impact: Clear evidence of creating vibrant, healthy communities
Self-reliance focus: Programs that promote economic and social advancement

The foundation values:

Pay-it-forward philosophy: Willingness of grantees to extend kindness to others
Collaborative approach: Organizations open to active foundation involvement through guidance, direction, and board involvement
Leveraged funding: Interest in multi-year or matching grant structures
Public-private partnerships: Willingness to optimize development efforts through collaborative funding

Organizations that benefit from Town Fair Tire Foundation support often serve vulnerable populations and demonstrate how their programs help people achieve greater self-reliance and improved quality of life.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; grants are made to preselected organizations only
Multi-year approach: The foundation prefers sustained relationships and structures gifts as multi-year or matching grants
Poverty focus: Priority given to organizations helping individuals and families struggling with poverty
Geographic alignment: Strong preference for New England organizations, particularly in states where Town Fair Tire operates
Active engagement: The foundation welcomes taking an active role with grantees beyond just providing funds
Relationship-based: Building connections with foundation leadership or trustees is essential for funding consideration
Collaborative mindset: Organizations should be open to guidance, direction, and potential public-private partnerships

References

Accessed: December 16, 2025