American Savings Foundation

American Savings Foundation is a US private foundation based in New Britain, CT.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

American Savings Foundation is a broad-based funder with a special emphasis on children, youth and families. Its priority areas are education, human services, and arts and culture. It supports direct-service programmes where funding can make a measurable impact, especially for those with the greatest need, through established programmes that have made a meaningful difference and innovative programmes addressing unmet community needs. It is interested in collaborative programmes and matching funds, and looks for broad local support rather than being the sole funder. Its programme grants focus primarily on New Britain and Waterbury, while community grants respond to needs across its 64-town Connecticut service area.

Themes

• Education
• Human services
• Arts & culture
• Children, youth and families
• After-school programmes

Geographic Focus

64-town service area. Priority: New Britain; Waterbury.

What They Don't Fund

• Program Grants only: Private Foundations; Political advocacy and lobbying; General operating support or unrestricted grants; Primary or secondary schools—public, private independent, or parochial—or colleges and universities*; Funding to replace municipal, state or federal funding; Municipalities and municipal services*; Grantmaking organizations*; Annual campaigns; Endowment funds; Animal welfare organizations; Disease-specific or other scientific research; Environmental conservation, land trust, or other related causes; Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large; Individuals; Travel; Field trips; Sports teams or tournaments; Event sponsorships (e.g. single-day programs or events, golf, galas); Scholarship programs - see American Savings Foundation Scholarship
• Community Grants only: Private Foundations; Political advocacy and lobbying; General operating support or unrestricted grants; Primary or secondary schools—public, private independent, or parochial—or colleges and universities*; Funding to replace municipal, state or federal funding; Municipalities and municipal services*; Grantmaking organizations*; Annual campaigns; Endowment funds; Animal welfare organizations; Disease-specific or other scientific research; Environmental conservation, land trust, or other related causes; Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large; Individuals; Travel; Field trips; Teacher trainings or professional development*; Sports teams or tournaments; Event sponsorships (e.g. golf, galas)++; Scholarship programs - see American Savings Foundation Scholarship
• Capital Grants only: Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large; Primary or secondary schools -- public, private independent, or parochial -- or colleges and universities*; Endowment funds; Private Foundations; Government or municipalities; Completed projects or requests for reimbursement of funds already spent
• After School Grants only: General operating support or unrestricted grants; Primary or secondary schools -- public, private independent, or parochial -- or colleges and universities; Funding to replace municipal, state or federal funding; Political advocacy and lobbying; Religious institutions, except for non-sectarian activities that benefit the community at-large; Individuals; Annual campaigns; Endowment funds; Sports teams; Travel and Field trips; Event sponsorships (e.g. golf, galas); Private Foundations and other grantmaking organizations; scholarship programs operated by schools or other nonprofit organizations; capital improvements, such as space renovations, or for purchasing computers

Organisations can apply through Program, Community, After School and Capital Grants. Program Grants use the online Grants Portal and accept applications during two periods each year; Community Grants may be submitted before the annual deadline. After School Grants have a dedicated application. For Capital Grants, organisations first submit a Letter of Intent at any time; only selected projects are invited to submit a full application through the Grants Portal.

Deadlines:

• Program Grant applications are accepted during two application periods per year.
• Community Grant requests are reviewed once per year.
• After School Grants are considered once per year in spring.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 805 grants to organisations were about $2,650 or less.

What the foundation says:

• The Foundation considers established programmes with a demonstrated meaningful difference and innovative programmes that fill unmet community needs.
• The Foundation is interested in collaborative programmes and matching funds that leverage new community dollars.
• The Foundation looks for broad local support, including other committed or pending funding sources, and is not typically the sole funder for a programme grant request.
• The Foundation strongly encourages agencies to take part in city-wide networks addressing youth issues locally.
• The requested amount should represent a meaningful percentage of the specific programme budget.
• New grant requests are not considered until a final report for any previous grant has been received.
• Organisations considering a Capital Grant are asked to contact the Foundation well in advance of the proposed project date.