The Common Sense Fund Inc
Preselected recipients only
The Common Sense Fund Inc is a private foundation in Greenwich, Connecticut. In tax year 2024 it gave $3.8 million in 39 grants; the typical grant was $75,000 and the largest $1.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$3.8 million
- Number of grants39
- Typical grant$75,000
- Largest grant$1.0 million
- Assets$28.0 million
- New grantees8%
Giving in 2024 was up from $3.0 million the year before.
8% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, so most of its money goes to organizations it already funds.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.0 million | 40 | $28.4 million |
| 2024 | $3.8 million | 39 | $28.0 million |
How to apply
The Common Sense Fund Inc says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Common Sense Fund Inc funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 9 states, the most to New York. It also paid $100,000 in 1 grant to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 15 | $2.0 million |
| Connecticut | 13 | $957,000 |
| California | 2 | $225,000 |
| Massachusetts | 3 | $165,000 |
| Colorado | 1 | $100,000 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $75,000 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $50,000 |
| Tennessee | 1 | $50,000 |
| Washington | 1 | $50,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pef Israel Endowment Fund | To enable the organization's direct distribution of funds to selected and approved charitable organizations in israel. | $1.0 million |
| Schwab Charitable Fund | Contribution to a donor-advised fund account. | $150,000 |
| Acadia Center | To support the organization's committment to build clean, low carbon and consumer friendly economies. Characterized by reliable information, comprehensive advocacy and problem solving through innovation and collaboration. | $100,000 |
| Inside Climate News | To support the organization's mission to produce clear, objective stories that give the public and decision-makers the information they need to navigate the heat and emotion of climate and energy debates. | $100,000 |
| Natural Capitalism Solutions | To support the organization's mission to build an economy in service to life through education, innovative solutions and youth empowerment. Help companies, communities and countries implement more regenerative practices profitably. | $100,000 |
| Peoples Action for Clean Energy | To support the organization's mission to work throughout connecticut to promote the development of alternative, renewable sources of energy and encourage others to join in on the conversation | $100,000 |
| Save the Sound | To support the organizations mission to fight climate change, save endangered lands, protect the sound and its rivers, and work with nature to restore ecosystems. | $100,000 |
| Sustainable CT Inc | To support the organization's mission to provide municipalities with a menu of coordinated, voluntary actions, to continually become more sustainable; to provide resources and tools to assist municipalities in implementing sustainability actions and advancing their programs for the benefit of all residents; and to certify and recognize municipalities for their ongoing sustainability achievements. | $100,000 |
| The Heschel Center for Sustainability | To support the work of the heschel center sustainability in israel in their work to build and strengthen the rapidly growing sustainaility movement in israel. | $100,000 |
| Stuttering Association for the Young | To support stutterin association for the young's mission to build a community of acceptance where young people who stutter gain confidence and communication skills through summer camp, speech therapy, and creative expression. | $95,000 |
| Hartford Performs | To support hartford performs mission to bring visiting artists into hartford public schools to teach curriculum in creative new ways. The organization takes hartford kids out to area arts organizations to ensure they experience professional dance, music, theater and museums. And we provide hartford teachers with professional-learning programs that help them use art techniques in their classrooms to help kids learn and develop. Almost 14,000 students in all 32 prek-grade 8 public schools in hartford benefit from our system each year. | $90,000 |
| Making Books Sing | To support the organization's mission to empower children to experience the performing arts and literature as captivating, accessible vehicles for their imaginations, artistic expression and learning. | $80,000 |
| American Friends of Yedidim | To support american friends of yedidim's mission to increase awareness & raise funds for yedidim is israel. | $75,000 |
| Cambodian Living Arts | To support the mission of cambodian living arts to facilitate the transformation of cambodia through the arts. The organization works in collaboration with others to create an environment where cambodian arts empower and transform individuals and communities. Encouraging the growth of artists and the arts community, by promoting awareness of the arts, and by advocating for the arts with cultural policymakers and major institutions. In doing so, we aim to create value and understanding of what it means to be cambodian and to create a sense of unity and shared culture. We believe that through creativity we can each expand our potential as human beings. | $75,000 |
| Colab Theater Group | To enable the organization to provide individuals with developmental disabilities a creative and social outlet through theater arts. | $75,000 |
| Community Partners in Action | To support the organization's mission to partner with the state, us government, private funders, organizations, and businesses, the organization works to make a positive impact on the lives of adults and youth throughout connecticut. | $75,000 |
| Glassroots | To support the organization's mission to empower nj residents of all ages to think creatively and realize new visions of their futures through the art of glassmaking. Renowned for excellence in collaborative programming, glassroots presents high quality, rigorous, innovative, relevant, and diverse programming that both reflects and expands the communitys interests. | $75,000 |
| Groundswell | To support groundswell's mission to bring together youth, artists, and community organizations to use art as a tool for social change, for a more just and equitable world. Groundswell's projects beautify neighborhoods, engage youth in societal and personal transformation, and give expression to ideas and perspectives that are underrepresented in the public dialogue. | $75,000 |
| Interwine Arts Inc | To support the organization's mission to inspire creativity, joy, and self-confidence through free-form weaving for people of all ages with disabilities or chronic illness. | $75,000 |
| Justice Dance Performance | To support the organization's mission of using the wisdom of the body in dance, spoken word, visual art, and song to call attention to pressing issues and marginalized people. | $75,000 |
| Music Haven | To support music havens mission which is to use a string quartet to build a vibrant urban community through performance and music education that empowers young people, their families, and professional musicians. | $75,000 |
| Orchestrating Dreams | To support the organization's mission to provide high-quality innovative and adaptive education programs that strengthen communities and help individuals develop a lifelong love for learning. Develop a lifelong love for learning. | $75,000 |
| The Connecticut News Project Inc | To support the organization's mission is to produce original, in-depth, non-partisan journalism that informs connecticut residents about the impact of public policy, holds government accountable, and amplifies diverse voices and perspectives. Advancing this mission results in more informed and politically engaged residents, greater transparency in policy-making, and a stronger democracy. | $75,000 |
| Jazz Power Initiative | To promote youth development, and build more creative and inclusive communities through jazz music, theater and dance education and performance. | $70,000 |
| Spring Street Climate Fund | To support high-impact policy campaigns that can make new york a model state for climate progress. To identify opportunities to win scalable climate solutions and invest in the grassroots climate campaigns that can succeed. | $65,000 |
| Real Art Ways Inc | General operating | $62,000 |
| Clay Art Center | To support the organization in advancing its mission of growing the education, exhibitions, artist residency and outreach programs, which are all focused "to kindle a passion for the ceramic arts and to provide a sharing community for that passion to flourish." | $60,000 |
| Climate Science Legal Defense Fund | To support the climate science legal defense fund's (csldf)mission to protect the scientific endeavor by providing support and resources to scientists who are threatened, harassed or attacked for doing their job. | $60,000 |
| Science Friday Initiative Inc | To support the organizations missing to covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, science friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology, and other cool stuff. | $60,000 |
| The Gunk Foundation | Expenditure responsibility grant | $60,000 |
| Arts Ignite | To support young people in discovering the joy and power of making artto share their voices, tell their stories, and transform their lives. | $50,000 |
| Connecticut Public Broadcasting | To support the organization's efforts to serve diverse communities with a mix of educational, new, public affairs, children's, and entertainment programming and services. | $50,000 |
| Conservation Law Foundation | To support the organization's mission to use law, economics and science to solve the environmental problems that threaten the people, natural resources and communities of new england. | $50,000 |
| New Israel Fund Washington DC | To support the organization's mission to mobilize israelis to make positive, progressive change by strengthening israeli civil society and fighting the inequality, injustice, and extremism that diminish israel. | $50,000 |
| Our Climate Education Fund | To support the organization's mission to mobilize and empower young people to educate the public and elected officials about science-based, equitable climate policy solutions that build a livable world. | $50,000 |
| Songwriting With Inc | To transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to build creativity, connections, and strengths. | $50,000 |
| Mothers Out Front | To support the organization's mission to build a cross-class, multiracial, multigenerational, national community that connects members and provides education, training, and resources. | $40,000 |
| Greenwich Alliance for Education | To support the organization's mission to supporting students in the greenwich public schools by funding innovation, expanding opportunities, and inspiring educators. | $30,000 |
| Silvermind Guild of Artists Inc | To support the organization's mission to foster art appreciation, education, and the cultural growth of the community. | $25,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Ted Loewenthal
- Adlyn S Loewenthal
- Eric Schwartz
- David Schwartz
- Carolyn Schwartz
- Debra Fram
Questions people ask
Does The Common Sense Fund Inc accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Common Sense Fund Inc give?
$3.8 million in tax year 2024, across 39 grants, with a typical grant of $75,000.
Who runs The Common Sense Fund Inc?
Its 2024 filing lists Ted Loewenthal (Secretary), Adlyn S Loewenthal (President), Eric Schwartz (Vp/Treasurer) and David Schwartz (Trustee) among 6 officers and trustees.
What does The Common Sense Fund Inc fund?
Based on its grants, mainly faith communities, arts and culture and youth programs.