Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation
The Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation is a private foundation based in East Thetford, Vermont. Its 2025 filing reports 23 grants totaling $91,200, with recipients in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, and Maine.
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation at a glance
In short: Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation gave $91K across 23 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Vermont. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $91,200
- +76.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 23
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,965
- +53.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,076,772
- +52.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (7 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Conrad Reining 319 Cadwell Roa, E Thetford, VT 05043
Phone: (802) 291-5896
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Upper Valley Agricultural Association ($25K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 101 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont (56%), New Hampshire (23%), New York (16%), Utah (5%), and Maine (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 23 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 194% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2022) to $143K (2019). In 2025 it made 23 grants totaling $91K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Valley Agricultural Association Norwich, VT | Campaign for Norwich Farmers Market | $25,000 |
| Village Health Works New York, NY | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | Dartmouth College Fund | $5,800 |
| Darmouth-Hitchcock Health Lebanon, NH | Friends of Dartmouth Cancer Center | $5,500 |
| NH Public Radio Concord, NH | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Upper Valley Haven White River Junction, VT | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Upper Valley Trails Alliance Norwich, VT | $3,500 unrestricted; $1,500 Thetford Trails Team | $5,000 |
| Vermont Public Colchester, VT | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Wildlands Network Salt Lake City, UT | Fall 2025 Three-Borders workshop | $5,000 |
| Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | Unrestricted Support | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation?
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 | $2,076,772 | $129,643 | $105,757 | $91,200 | 23 | $97,212 | $122,441 | $94,906 |
| 2024 | $1,365,019 | $76,222 | $63,624 | $51,600 | 20 | $57,612 | $67,857 | $88,266 |
| 2023 | $1,352,421 | $46,667 | $52,945 | $32,675 | 16 | $39,650 | $39,692 | $80,430 |
| 2022 | $1,358,699 | $110,047 | $35,144 | $31,010 | 11 | $33,256 | $108,159 | $81,018 |
| 2021 | $1,297,353 | $65,551 | $133,466 | $118,025 | 31 | — | $60,376 | $95,707 |
| 2020 | $1,351,711 | $70,117 | $115,675 | $105,175 | 29 | — | $65,902 | $81,532 |
| 2019 | $1,397,269 | $90,644 | $223,749 | $143,075 | 33 | — | $76,081 | $84,303 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $95K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for a farmers market campaign, health care, higher education, public radio, housing and hunger services, trails, environmental work, and cultural and educational organizations.
Grantees describe their own missions as follows: the Upper Valley Agricultural Association works to ensure a marketplace where farmers and consumers can learn, grow, and prosper together; Village Health Works provides health care while addressing the root causes of illness, poverty, violence, and neglect; and Upper Valley Haven assists people experiencing poverty with hunger, housing, and pursuing a self-directed life. The Upper Valley Trails Alliance advocates for trails and promotes active lifestyles, while the Vermont Institute of Natural Science describes its work as environmental education, research, and avian wildlife rehabilitation. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $91,200 through 23 grants. Grants ranged from $150 to $25,000, with a median grant of $2,500.
The largest reported grant was $25,000 to the Upper Valley Agricultural Association for its Campaign for Norwich Farmers Market. Other notable grants included $10,000 to Village Health Works for unrestricted support; $5,800 to Dartmouth College for the Dartmouth College Fund; $5,500 to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health for Friends of Dartmouth Cancer Center; and $5,000 each to NH Public Radio, Upper Valley Haven, Upper Valley Trails Alliance, Vermont Public, and Wildlands Network.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Conrad Reining as Director/Manager; Brinna B Sands as President and Director; and Frank E Sands II as Vice President, Secretary, and Director.
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation is led by Brinna B Sands, President & Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brinna B Sands
President & Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank E Sands II
V. President, Secretary & Director
V President, Secretary & Director → V. President, Secretary & Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Conrad Reining
Director & Manager
Manager → Director & Manager, 2023
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jennifer B. Kitchel (2019–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Conrad Reining (Director/Manager).
Frequently asked questions about Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation
How much does Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation give each year?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation gave $91K across 23 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $52K across 20 grants.
What is Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's typical grant size?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,965, across 23 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation give grants?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation gives mostly in Vermont: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Hampshire (23%) and New York (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Norwich, VT (3 grants), Lebanon, NH (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Hanover, NH (2 grants).
Does Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 78% of Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's largest grantees?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Upper Valley Agricultural Association ($25,000), Village Health Works ($10,000) and Dartmouth College ($5,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $97K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $95K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for a farmers market campaign, health care, higher education, public radio, housing and hunger services, trails, environmental work, and cultural and educational organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's EIN?
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3342111. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Frank and Brinna Sands 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Vermont Community Foundation
Middlebury, VT
The Vermont Community Foundation funds nonprofits working on economic equity, education, health, climate, democracy, and community resilience, with a focus on Vermont communities. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $18,000, though giving varied widely; some programs list awards from $250 to $25,000. RALI is invitation-only, and the Paul Post Fund accepts applications on a rolling basis; the profile does not state whether other programs accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$370.6M
Grants
728
Total Given
$46.3M
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Concord, NH
The New Hampshire Charitable Foundation supports nonprofits and students in New Hampshire across areas including health, education, housing, the environment, arts and civic life. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, while its Responsive Grants offer eligible nonprofits up to $10,000; applications are accepted through that program on a rolling basis.
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
949
Total Given
$59.7M
Ben & Jerry's Foundation Inc
South Burlington, VT
It funds grassroots organizing for progressive social and environmental change nationally, as well as community programs in Vermont. In 2024, grants ranged from $26 to $295,000, with a $2,000 median; active Vermont Community Action Team grants are generally under $2,000. The national grassroots program is closed and not accepting applications; Vermont Community Action Team accepts online applications year-round.
Assets
$9.2M
Grants
448
Total Given
$4.2M
The Help for People Foundation
Norwich, VT
The Help for People Foundation supports education, cancer research, homelessness services, food access, public broadcasting, arts, and other community needs, with 2025 grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 and a median of $10,000. It funded organizations in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Virginia. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.5M
Grants
20
Total Given
$275K
Emily Landecker Foundation Inc
Hanover, NH
The Emily Landecker Foundation supports charitable, educational, environmental, agricultural, transportation, and community-service organizations, primarily in New Hampshire’s and Vermont’s Upper Connecticut River Valley. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $1.6 million, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$37.2M
Grants
113
Total Given
$4.2M
McCollom Family Foundation
Dallas, TX
The McCollom Family Foundation’s grants support organizations in areas such as recreation, media, land conservation, education, food assistance, health care, and community services, primarily in Vermont, with some funding in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Its 2026 grants ranged from $1,000 to $12,000, with a median of $3,000. The 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no required application materials or deadline.
Assets
$1.0M
Grants
31
Total Given
$110K
More similar funders
More Funders in Vermont
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-brinna-sands-foundation-morg_5dfc93f926fe41dfb6c2c209987f1de8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043342111_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frank-and-brinna-sands-foundation-morg_5dfc93f926fe41dfb6c2c209987f1de8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Frank and Brinna Sands Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?