The Speedwell Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 22-3764378 · since 2000speedwellfoundation.org·Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, New York·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.1M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$5,000 to $315k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$70,000

Typical grant (median)

28 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold application is not the route it describes; a warm introduction is the sensible first step.
Its stated themes are urban parks and education, so work in those areas is the closest fit, and a request in the tens of thousands sits within the range most of its grants fall in, though that band is typical rather than a ceiling, since its largest grant was $4,400,000.
Repeat funding is heavy: 88% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier years, so it looks relationship-led rather than open to new grantees.
The filing shows grants mainly in Georgia, Connecticut, Maryland and New York, but no geographic focus is stated, so this is not a rule about who may apply.

Overview

The Speedwell Foundation is a US private foundation based in Atlanta, GA.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Speedwell Foundation's work centres on urban parks and education, with both areas intended to widen access to public spaces and individual opportunities. It funds individual schools and scholarships, alongside sponsored study abroad opportunities for students. Its urban-park initiatives seek to reclaim derelict property and corridors for recreation, wildlife habitat and the wider benefits that make cities better places to live. Across its projects, it invests time, expertise, funding and encouragement in infrastructure that strengthens civic involvement and democratic ideals, builds more resilient communities, and creates a healthier, greener place to call home.

Themes

Urban parks
Education

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Georgia, Connecticut, Maryland and New York.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 88% 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 83 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Georgia50%

Connecticut19%

Maryland12%

New York6%

South Carolina4%

Washington4%

6 other states: 6%

The largest single recipient received 42% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to organisations The Speedwell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
23% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

28 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $70,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 28 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k4%

$1k–$2.5k4%

$2.5k–$5k0%

$5k–$10k4%

$10k–$25k14%

$25k–$50k14%

$50k–$100k14%

$100k–$250k29%

$250k–$500k7%

$500k–$1M4%

$1M and over7%

Median $70,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Georgia Tech Foundation · Center for Finance & Technology -Operations $800,000Season Speedwell Talks $100,000Promis Scholarship program $200,000Fellowshio Endowment $2,000,000Tuiition for Cristo Rey High School student $100,000Student support for Cristo Rey Students $200,000
$3,200,0002024 tax year
United States Naval Academy Foundation · Education - Establish professorship in Foreign Studies $1,200,000USNA Campaign Fund $100,000
$1,300,0002024 tax year
Allegro Charter School Music · Unrestricted
$500,0002024 tax year
AFS USA · Student Scholarship Fund
$315,0002024 tax year
Drexel Fund · Education Projects within the Drexel Fund. This fund invests in financially sustainable schools serving low-income students in any state with publicly funded private school choice.
$250,0002024 tax year
Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School · Support quality education and work experience to young men and women of limited economic means $150,000.
$218,0002024 tax year
Piedmont Park Conservancy · Conservation - Support Olmsted Event - $19,591.Support the Parks and Green Space Program $100,000
$185,0002024 tax year
City Park Alliance · Management software $50,000Greater & Greener Conference $50,000Unrestricted $50,000
$150,3002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Mrs Jenny K Messner — Trustee
Mr Michael G Messner — Trustee

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$7,432,531	$6,947,805	$150,194,770	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$7,816,512	$6,863,339	$159,745,822	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$7,690,972	$7,122,937	$175,264,905	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.