Forsythia Foundation Inc
Forsythia Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Washington, DC, established in December 2016. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing environmental health by reducing harmful chemicals in everyday products and environments.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.8M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-0.4% YoY
Grant Count
17
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
-0.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Forsythia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's core mission is promoting healthier people and environments by reducing harmful chemicals in our lives. Primary funding areas include:
- Green chemistry and safer alternatives
- Toxics reduction and elimination
- Environmental health
- Chemical hazards assessment and awareness
The foundation focuses on systemic change through support for advocacy, research, and coordination within the environmental health community.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 14 grants in 2024, with recent awards including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
National focus with headquarters in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024:
- Total Assets: $33,759,186
- Total Revenue: $1,747,137
- Total Expenses: $1,831,121
- Staff: 1 employee
2023:
- Total Assets: $33.2M
- Total Revenue: $1.16M
- Total Expenses: $1.82M
2022:
- Total Assets: $31,728,876
- Total Revenue: $2,101,787
- Total Expenses: $1,782,605
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,759,186 | $33,234,109 | $31,728,876 |
| Revenue | $1,747,137 | $1,156,995 | $2,101,787 |
| Expenses | $1,831,121 | $1,822,281 | $1,782,605 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,538,490 | $1,610,338 | $1,521,438 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,497,114 | $931,853 | $1,683,227 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,665,709 | $1,594,207 | $1,539,701 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Toxic-free Future ($175,000), Healthy Building Network ($150,000), Center for International Environmental Law ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT OF THE TOXIC-FREE IV CAMPAIGN | $25,000 |
| CLEAN PRODUCTION ACTION SOMERVILLE, MA | SUPPORT FOR INVESTOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK'S WORK EMBEDDING ENVIRONEMTANL JUSTIC AND GREEN CHEMISTRY ITO ESG STRATEGIES | $50,000 |
| COMMONWEAL BOLINAS, CA | SUPPORT FOR COLLABORATIVE ON HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT'S DEVELOPMENTAL WORK REVISIONING CHE'S FUTURE ROLE, FOCUS, AND MEASURABLE IMPACT | $30,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | SUPPORT OF ERTHJUSTICE'S LEGAL TEAM'S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH WORK | $75,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR EWG'S WORK ON PFAS, FOOD AND TOXICS | $75,000 |
| GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| HEALTHY BUILDING NETWORK WASHINGTON, DC | FOR EXPANDING THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT OF THE PHAROS, A CHEMICAL HAZARDS DATABASE + SUBGRANT TO BEYOND BENIGN | $150,000 |
| PUBLIC HEALTH WATCH AUSTIN, TX | SUPPORT TRAINING JOURNALISTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DATA REPORTING | $50,000 |
| THE ARC OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON, DC | SUPPORT FOR PROJECT TENDR | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Alison Carlson, environmentalist and philanthropist
Executive Director: Shelley Hearne
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALISON CARLSON | PRESIDENT & CHAIR | 30 | — |
| GEOFFREY EISENBERG | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| SHELLEY HEARNE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $150,527 |
| THEODORE GANNETT | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036
Website: www.forsythiafdn.org
Tax ID (EIN): 81-3990775
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Forsythia Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's core mission is promoting healthier people and environments by reducing harmful chemicals in our lives. Primary funding areas include: • Green chemistry and safer alternatives • Toxics reduction and elimination • Environmental health • Chemical hazards assessment and awareness The foundation focuses on systemic change through support for advocacy, research, and coordination within the environmental health community.
How do I apply for a grant from Forsythia Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity (2024):** The foundation made 14 grants in 2024, with recent awards including: • Toxic-Free Future: $175,000 (general operating support for Mind the Store program, convenings with environmental health community, and support for Safer States' procurement efforts) • Habitable: $150,000 (expanding influence and impact of Pharos chemical hazards database, with subgrant to Beyond Benign) • Center for International Environmental Law: (amount not specified in available data) • Univers…
Where does Forsythia Foundation Inc make grants?
National focus with headquarters in Washington, DC.
What size grants does Forsythia Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Forsythia Foundation Inc awarded 17 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Forsythia Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Forsythia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Forsythia Foundation Inc's EIN?
Forsythia Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3990775. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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