Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation
The Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation is a private foundation based in Girard, Ohio. Its 2021 filing is marked as its final return: the foundation stated that it had fulfilled the purpose for which it was created and distributed all remaining assets to charities listed in the return. It therefore appears to have wound down, and the filing record shows no later filings.
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation at a glance
In short: Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation gave $300K across 16 grants in 2021 (avg $19K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $299,549
- +374.7% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 16
- +45.5% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $18,722
- +226.4% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $6,500
- Primary geography
- Ohio (51% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The final filing stated that there was no prescribed application form, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards. It listed Sally J Williams as the contact. These are instructions from the foundation’s final filing and should not be read as current application guidance.
- Contact
Application contact: Sally J Williams
Mailing address: 124 Hopewell Avenue, Girard, OH 44420
Phone: (330) 545-6477
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Americans for the Arts ($90K). Together the top 10 received $294K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 27 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 filing’s grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Ohio (51%), followed by the District of Columbia (30%), New Jersey (12%), and Connecticut (7%). The listed grants show recipients in Ohio, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
How Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation gives
- 56% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2020) to $300K (2021). In 2021 it made 16 grants totaling $300K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Americans for the Arts Washington, DC | General Support | $90,000 |
| First Baptist Church Girard, OH | General Support | $61,349 |
| Girard High School Girard, OH | General Support | $40,000 |
| Friends of KMS Farmstead Ridge, NJ | General Support | $25,000 |
| Stambaugh Auditorium Assoc Youngstown, OH | General Support | $25,000 |
| Mystic Seaport Museum Mystic, CT | General Support | $20,000 |
| Emmanuel Care Center Girard, OH | General Support | $16,200 |
| Bloomfield Cruisers North Caldwell, NJ | General Support | $10,000 |
| Big Brothersbig Sisters of Mahoning Valley Girard, OH | General Support | $3,000 |
| Ohio Business Week Foundation Columbus, OH | General Support | $3,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s most recent filing on record is for 2021, and that filing is marked as its final return.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $155,103 | $310,112 | $299,549 | 16 | $301,088 | $149,051 | $9,336 |
| 2020 | $165,605 | $27,196 | $66,947 | $63,100 | 11 | — | $23,836 | $12,533 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2021 grants went to organizations including arts, education, community, and cultural organizations. Among the grantees, Americans for the Arts describes its mission as serving and supporting the arts network in America, while Mystic Seaport Museum says it seeks to inspire a connection to the American maritime experience. Heart Reach Neighborhood Ministries describes work addressing children’s social, moral, and economic needs, and Habitat for Humanity describes bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hope.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $299,549. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $90,000, with a median grant of $6,500. The largest reported grants included $90,000 to Americans for the Arts, $61,349 to First Baptist Church in Girard, and $40,000 to Girard High School. Other notable grants were $25,000 each to Friends of KMS Farmstead and Stambaugh Auditorium Association, and $20,000 to Mystic Seaport Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing listed Sally J Williams and Peter Syak as trustees.
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's 2021 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Peter Syak
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally J. Williams
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation
How much does Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation give each year?
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation gave $300K across 16 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $63K across 11 grants.
What is Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's typical grant size?
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $6,500, and its average grant was $18,722, across 16 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation give grants?
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (30%) and New Jersey (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Girard, OH (5 grants) and Youngstown, OH (4 grants).
Does Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's largest grantees?
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Americans for the Arts ($90,000), First Baptist Church ($61,349) and Girard High School ($40,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. Its 2021 grants went to organizations including arts, education, community, and cultural organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation?
The final filing stated that there was no prescribed application form, no deadline, and no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's EIN?
Charles W & Sarah Jane Syak Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6992766. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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