FUNDING GUIDELINES

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation considers organizations that fit our funding criteria and align with our mission statement.  All grant applications are by invitation only.

Funding Criteria:

  • 501(c)(3) public charities or the international equivalent
  • Fiscal responsibility and strong organization leadership/governance
  • Organizations or programs that are innovative and poised for growth where Foundation resources have the potential for significant impact
  • Opportunities to encourage philanthropy by leveraging Foundation resources to stimulate additional funding to these programs

(1) Our primary focus is on organizations serving the greater Bridgeport, Connecticut, area. ​Although we will accept Letters of Inquiry from qualified organizations throughout the United States, such entities must provide services in our primary geographic area for review and consideration.

(2) If the Letter of Inquiry ​(LOI) reflects and meets our Foundation’s funding priorities, we may request additional information or possibly approve a grant in some amount, without further documentation or contact. ​Our receipt of your Letter of Inquiry submission should not itself be interpreted or construed as our approval of your request, but if you don’t hear from us within three (3) months, you can assume the LOI was not approved. It is not our policy to send Declination letters​ for every Letter of Inquiry.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation Does Not Fund:

  • Organizations that discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, race, ethnicity, political beliefs, or disabilities
  • Lobbying or political activities
  • Major research projects
  • Any commercial business purpose
  • Any litigation that is underway, contemplated, or completed
  • Endowments, building campaigns, special events or annual funds
  • Direct grants to individuals

After reviewing the Foundation’s funding guidelines and your organization’s eligibility, if you believe that your project and organization meet these criteria, the first step is to submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Foundation.