Building Scholarly Bridges Inc
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc is a private foundation, based in Fairfax, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $253K. Net investment income was $302K.
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc at a glance
In short: Building Scholarly Bridges Inc gave $253K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $252,500
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,071
- +14.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $4,980,586
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (55% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Building Scholarly Bridges Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Georgetown University ($80K). Together the top 7 received $253K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 33 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Building Scholarly Bridges Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $210K (2020) to $255K (2023). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $253K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Scholarship Fund | $80,000 |
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | Middle East Policy and Diplomacy | $30,000 |
| International Student House Washington, DC | Promote foreign stududent exchange | $30,000 |
| Inova Hospital Fairfax, VA | Cancer research | $30,000 |
| National Council for US-Arab Relati Washington, DC | Dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab region | $30,000 |
| Francis W Parker School Chicago, IL | Promote Model UN Program | $27,500 |
| University of Houston Houston, TX | Promote student exchange in the Middle East | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,980,586 | $355,228 | $318,268 | $252,500 | 7 | $260,020 | $301,780 | $237,982 |
| 2024 | $4,777,243 | $331,165 | $296,616 | $220,000 | 7 | $229,776 | $268,642 | $231,481 |
| 2023 | $4,545,893 | $261,468 | $309,283 | $255,000 | 7 | $259,512 | $220,364 | $215,968 |
| 2022 | $4,335,125 | $155,328 | $335,605 | $240,000 | 7 | $253,586 | $73,344 | $269,257 |
| 2021 | $4,979,714 | $358,599 | $285,003 | $210,000 | 5 | $214,712 | $283,596 | $233,538 |
| 2020 | $4,487,409 | $244,574 | $261,843 | $210,000 | 6 | — | $210,196 | $231,860 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Building Scholarly Bridges Inc reported a distributable amount of $238K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc is led by Naila Alsowayel, President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Naila Alsowayel
President
President Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dina Alsowayel
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ambassador Walter Cutler
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Sexton
Secretary
Director & Secretary → Secretary Director, 2021
Secretary Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Ambassador WalterCutler (2021) — Director
- Former: Amb Walter Cutler (2020) — Director
- Former: Naila al Sowayel (2020) — President Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Building Scholarly Bridges Inc
How much does Building Scholarly Bridges Inc give each year?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc gave $253K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $220K across 7 grants.
What is Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's typical grant size?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $36,071, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Building Scholarly Bridges Inc give grants?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc gives mostly in District of Columbia: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (12%) and Virginia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Building Scholarly Bridges Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's largest grantees?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Georgetown University ($80,000), Wellesley College ($30,000) and International Student House ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Building Scholarly Bridges Inc?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $260K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $238K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's EIN?
Building Scholarly Bridges Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1827394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Building Scholarly Bridges Inc funds
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