The Per And Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Assets: $18.96 million (approaching $50 million in some reports)
• Annual Giving: Approximately $889,055 (2024)
• Number of Awards: 65 awards (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Southern Fairfield County, Connecticut (primary), with some statewide CT grants
• Primary Focus: Education and entrepreneurship for youth ages 14-24
• Application Process: No public application process - operates through trustee discretion and collaborative funding initiatives

Contact Details

Address: 1010 Washington Blvd., 9th Fl., Stamford, CT 06901-2202

Phone: 203-413-2024

EIN: 206382658

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicly listed email address. Direct contact should be made through the phone number listed above.

Overview

The Per And Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation was established in 2004 (tax-exempt since March 2005) by Per Heidenreich, a Norwegian-born shipping entrepreneur who founded Heidmar Inc. in 1984 and sold it to Morgan Stanley Capital Group for $200 million in 2006. The foundation has redefined its mission to focus specifically on supporting organizations in southern Fairfield County that offer direct services in the areas of entrepreneurship and/or education for youth between ages 14-24, responding to the surging number of unemployed and underemployed young adults within Connecticut. Operating as a private independent 501(c)(3) foundation, it manages assets approaching $50 million and consistently makes strategic investments in education, workforce development, and youth services. The foundation is particularly known for its sole funding of the Family First in Education program, a collaboration with Family Centers, Greenwich YMCA, and Greenwich Public Schools aimed at closing the achievement gap for low-income students.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation primarily operates through two mechanisms:

Direct Grants: The foundation makes direct grants to organizations serving youth in southern Fairfield County. Recent examples include:

• Southern Connecticut State University - $250,000 over three years (first installment April 2024) for "Building the Next Generation of Social Workers Program Fund"
• Family First in Education - Multi-year sole funding support (amount not publicly disclosed) for comprehensive youth and family services in Greenwich

Collaborative Funding - Collective Impact Opportunity Fund: Founded in June 2019 alongside BeFoundation, Dalio Philanthropies, Fairfield County's Community Foundation, and Ritter Family Foundation, contributing to an initial $1.6 million pool for grants addressing education, workforce, and opportunity gaps. The Fund operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Education and entrepreneurship programs for youth ages 14-24
• Organizations serving southern Fairfield County
• Direct service providers (not intermediaries)
• Programs addressing unemployment and underemployment among young adults
• Social work and human services education
• Achievement gap closure for low-income students

Subject Areas Supported:

• Education and higher education
• Youth services (ages 14-24)
• Family services and child welfare
• Human services
• Workforce development
• Environment (secondary focus)

Target Population:

• Young adults ages 14-24
• Low-income families and students
• At-risk children and families

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the foundation's clearly defined mission suggests they do not prioritize:

• Organizations outside southern Fairfield County (with limited exceptions)
• Programs not serving the 14-24 age demographic
• Capital campaigns or building projects (not documented as a priority)
• Organizations without direct service delivery models
• General operating support for organizations outside their strategic focus

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Per and Astrid Heidenreich

Trustees:

• Per Heidenreich (Founder, Chairman)
• Astrid Heidenreich (Co-founder)
• Cecilie H. Jedlicka (Daughter, Trustee and Executive Director)
• Fritz Heidenreich (Family member, Trustee)
• Michael Chambers (Vice President and Executive Director; note: Michael Jedlicka, husband of Cecilie, is a 1996 Southern Connecticut State University alumnus)

Compensation: No compensation is reported for trustees or officers, indicating this is a volunteer-led family foundation.

Board Connections: Michael Chambers serves on the board of the RISE Network, demonstrating the foundation's commitment to educational equity in Connecticut beyond just grant-making.

Leadership Philosophy: According to Michael Chambers regarding the Southern Connecticut State University grant: "The social work program itself was ultimately the reason we chose Southern... [supporting] social work that helps at-risk children and families."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Per And Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, grants are made through trustee discretion based on:

• Proactive identification of organizations aligned with their mission
• Participation in collaborative funding initiatives like the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund (invitation-only)
• Pre-existing relationships with organizations in southern Fairfield County
• Strategic initiatives identified by the foundation's leadership

The Collective Impact Opportunity Fund, which the foundation co-founded, explicitly states it "has an invitation-only grant application process and will not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals."

Getting on Their Radar

Board Connections: Michael Chambers, Vice President and Executive Director, serves on the RISE Network board. Demonstrating impact in Connecticut education and youth services through organizations with which the foundation's leadership is involved may increase visibility.

Geographic Presence: Strong presence and proven track record in southern Fairfield County appears essential. The foundation's major grants have gone to organizations deeply embedded in Greenwich, Norwalk, Stamford, and the Greater Norwalk region.

Collaborative Initiatives: The foundation participates in collaborative funding efforts. Organizations invited into the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund or similar initiatives may gain foundation attention through these partnerships.

Connecticut Council for Philanthropy: The foundation is a member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, suggesting engagement with the broader philanthropic community in the state.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. However:

• Multi-year grants (such as the three-year Southern Connecticut State University commitment) suggest planning cycles may be annual or biennial
• The foundation's participation in the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund indicates they engage in collaborative decision-making processes with defined timelines
• First installment of the Southern Connecticut State University grant was made in April 2024, suggesting spring may be an active grant-making period

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As a private family foundation making grants through trustee discretion, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than a public application process, organizations seeking to align with the foundation's interests should consider:

Age-Specific Focus: The foundation has explicitly redefined its mission to focus on youth ages 14-24. Programs must directly serve this demographic to align with foundation priorities.

Geographic Specificity: Southern Fairfield County is the primary focus. The foundation's executive director, Michael Chambers, explained the Family First program's funding by stating they are "the sole funder of Family First," demonstrating a willingness to be the primary or only funder for initiatives that closely align with their mission in their target geography.

Direct Service Model: The foundation seeks "organizations in southern Fairfield County that offer direct services" (emphasis on direct), suggesting they prefer organizations that implement programs rather than intermediaries.

Measurable Impact on Youth Employment: The foundation's mission specifically addresses "the surging number of unemployed/underemployed young adults within Connecticut," indicating they value programs with clear workforce development outcomes.

Multi-Year Commitment: The Southern Connecticut State University grant ($250,000 over three years) and sole funding of Family First demonstrate the foundation prefers sustained, multi-year partnerships over one-time grants.

Male-Focused Initiatives: The Southern grant specifically addresses the underrepresentation of men in social work (only 17% of incoming students), showing interest in programs addressing gender gaps in fields serving at-risk populations.

Collaborative Partnership Model: The foundation's co-founding of the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund and sole funding of Family First (a collaboration between Family Centers, Greenwich YMCA, and Greenwich Public Schools) demonstrates strong preference for collaborative, multi-stakeholder approaches.

Family-Centered Approach: Family First supports "entire households rather than just individual students," suggesting the foundation values holistic, family-centered service models.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations must be identified by trustees or invited through collaborative initiatives.

• Hyperlocal Focus: Southern Fairfield County is the priority geography, with occasional exceptions for statewide CT initiatives addressing youth unemployment/underemployment ages 14-24.

• Age Specificity Matters: The 14-24 age range is not a suggestion—it's a core mission element. Programs serving younger children or older adults are unlikely to align.

• Think Long-Term Partnership: Multi-year commitments (3+ years) and sole-funder relationships suggest they prefer deep partnerships over one-off grants.

• Demonstrate Collaborative Capacity: Family First involves three organizations plus schools; CIOF involves five foundations. They value collaborative impact models.

• Address Youth Employment: The foundation's redefined mission explicitly addresses unemployed/underemployed young adults—outcomes related to workforce development are critical.

• Consider the Family Connection: While not determinative, the Southern Connecticut State University grant was influenced by a family member's alumni status, suggesting personal connections to institutions may play a role in funding decisions.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Per And Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation (EIN: 206382658): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/206382658 (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Southern Connecticut State University News - "Band of Brothers" (August 20, 2024): https://news.southernct.edu/2024/08/20/band-of-brothers/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Fairfield County's Community Foundation - "Foundations Come Together with More Than $1.6 Million in Contributions to Launch the Collective Impact Opportunity Fund": https://fccfoundation.org/ciof-fund/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Fairfield County's Community Foundation - "Collective Impact Opportunity Fund Awards More Than $1,000,000 in First Round of Local Grant Funding": https://fccfoundation.org/ciof-fund-2-2/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Connecticut Council for Philanthropy - "Member eBrief - June 2017": https://www.ctphilanthropy.org/news/member-ebrief-june-2017 (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Connecticut Council for Philanthropy - Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation Profile: https://www.ctphilanthropy.org/redhen/org/4337 (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• CT RISE Network - "The RISE Network Welcomes Three New Board Directors": https://www.ctrise.org/blog/the-rise-network-welcomes-three-new-board-directors/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Greenwich Time - "Greenwich program puts families first in closing the achievement gap" (February 27, 2019): https://www.greenwichtime.com/local/article/Greenwich-program-puts-families-first-in-closing-13688038.php (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Family Centers - "Family First in Education Expands for 2019-2020 School Year": https://www.familycenters.org/FF-Expansion (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Morgan Stanley Press Release - "Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire the Heidmar Group": https://www.morganstanley.com/press-releases/morgan-stanley-capital-group-inc-signs-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-the-heidmar-group_3767 (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Cause IQ - The Per and Astrid Heidenreich Family Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-per-and-astrid-heidenreich-family-foundation,206382658/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)

• Greenwich Alliance for Education - Funding Partners: https://greenwichalliance.org/funding-partners/ (Accessed February 7, 2026)