Dana Sila Foundation
Dana Sila Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to preselected charitable organizations; the foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Dana Sila Foundation at a glance
In short: Dana Sila Foundation gave $15K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,442
- -80.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -80.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,206
- -0.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $52,626
- +50.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Dana Sila Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3246 25Th Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: (415) 286-0888
Website: https://danasila.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dana Sila Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sarana Vihara ($5K). Together the top 7 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 121 grants of 121 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For 2025, the filing reports that 45% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 6% each to Massachusetts, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and 35% to a state not identified in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Dana Sila Foundation gives
- Giving fell 84% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 807% 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 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2025) to $96K (2023). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sarana Vihara | General | $5,442 |
| Buddhist Global Relief Carmel, NY | General | $5,000 |
| Compassion in World Farming New York City, NY | General | $1,000 |
| International Fund for Animal Welfare Yarmouth Port, MA | General | $1,000 |
| Mercy for Animals Hagerstown, MD | General | $1,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc New York, NY | General | $1,000 |
| Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Washington, DC | General | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,626 | $35,000 | $17,420 | $15,442 | 7 | $17,420 | $2,159 |
| 2024 | $35,046 | $95,000 | $81,762 | $77,918 | 35 | $81,762 | $1,400 |
| 2023 | $21,808 | $50,010 | $96,101 | $96,000 | 29 | $96,101 | $2,209 |
| 2022 | $67,899 | $50,106 | $97,027 | $95,098 | 29 | $97,027 | $4,500 |
| 2021 | $114,820 | $50,169 | $93,892 | $92,000 | 21 | $93,892 | $6,732 |
| 2020 | $158,543 | $153,221 | $43,668 | $42,000 | 10 | — | $5,111 |
| 2018 | $22,225 | $50,000 | $27,775 | $20,000 | 3 | — | $1,256 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dana Sila Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants include a $1,000 grant to Compassion in World Farming Inc. The grantee describes its mission as campaigning peacefully worldwide to end cruel factory farming, with a specialization in farm animal welfare. The listed grants also went to organizations including Buddhist Global Relief, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Mercy for Animals, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine; their listed grant purposes were general.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 7 grants totaling $15,442. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $5,442, with a median of $1,000. The largest listed grants were $5,442 to Sarana Vihara and $5,000 to Buddhist Global Relief. Other listed grants were $1,000 each to Compassion in World Farming, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Mercy for Animals, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James M. Forbes as CEO and Ana Monica Ryan as CFO and Secretary.
Dana Sila Foundation is led by James M. Forbes, CEO on every filing since 2018; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James M. Forbes
CEO
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ana Monica Ryan
CFO & Secretary
On filings since 2018
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "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 Dana Sila Foundation
How much does Dana Sila Foundation give each year?
Dana Sila Foundation gave $15K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $78K across 35 grants.
What is Dana Sila Foundation's typical grant size?
Dana Sila Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,206, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Dana Sila Foundation give grants?
Dana Sila Foundation's top state is New York, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (6%) and Maryland (6%).
Does Dana Sila Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Dana Sila Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Dana Sila Foundation's largest grantees?
Dana Sila Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Sarana Vihara ($5,442), Buddhist Global Relief ($5,000) and Compassion in World Farming ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dana Sila Foundation?
Dana Sila Foundation reported $53K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $17K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dana Sila Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants include a $1,000 grant to Compassion in World Farming Inc. The grantee describes its mission as campaigning peacefully worldwide to end cruel factory farming, with a specialization in farm animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dana Sila Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dana Sila Foundation's EIN?
Dana Sila Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1476780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Does Dana Sila Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS May 15, 2019)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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