Seven nonprofits devoted to animal welfare will share $75,000 from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut's new Peter Grayson Letz Fund for Animals and the Environment.

Letz, a low-profile North Stonington man who did maintenance work much of his life and inherited the majority of his wealth, left nearly $10 million to the Community Foundation when he died in 2014. Originally estimated at about $8 million, the gift was more than double the foundation's previous largest donation.

"We are especially excited that this first round of funding touches all 21 towns in New London County," said Ellen McGuire, chairwoman of the animal welfare grants review committee, in a statement. "More animals will find forever homes, more pets will be able to stay with their owners, and injured and sick birds and other wildlife will be returned to their natural habitats."

The largest grant, $35,000, went to the Connecticut Humane Society, which is planning to use the money to fund education of animal control officers, emergency vet care, and spaying and neutering. Other grants ranged from from $2,500 for equine rescue efforts to $10,000 for fixing feral cats.

Other recipients were Tait's Every Animal Matters, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Ocean State Animal Coalition, Animal Welfare League of New London County, Waterford Country School and Beech Brook Farm.

Proposals in the first round of Letz grants were by invitation only. Funds will be handed out in two cycles: one for animal welfare and the second — this year to total about $150,000 — to address environmental concerns.

For information, call Alison Woods at (860) 442-3572. Go online for a full list of grant recipients.

l.howard@theday.com

Twitter: @KingstonLeeHow