George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation
The George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1996 and granted 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in May 1997. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, the foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with assets exceeding $70 million, distributing approximately $4 million annually to nonprofit organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$72.4M
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
-3.5% YoY
Grant Count
80
+1.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
-4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass:
- Arts and culture
- Arts services and arts councils
- Education
- Health
- Information and communications
- Libraries and public libraries
- Human services
- Nonprofit support and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The foundation makes discretionary grants without a formal public application process. Grant characteristics include:
Grant Range
**: $10,000 to $600,000
How to Apply
. Grant characteristics include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains primary geographic focus in Princeton and Trenton, New Jersey, with additional national grants. Recent funding activity extends to multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $70.2 million
- Total Revenue: $6.28 million
- Total Expenses: $7.25 million
- Total Liabilities: $227,000
- Investments: $46.9 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $72,350,826 | $70,207,039 | $71,182,285 |
| Revenue | $8,728,924 | $6,280,526 | $6,161,961 |
| Expenses | $6,585,414 | $7,246,280 | $6,992,741 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,962,367 | $4,104,083 | $4,216,256 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,092,521 | $3,099,731 | $3,356,976 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,142,700 | $4,013,027 | $4,051,863 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Kindersmile Foundation - Trenton ($380,000), Bucks County Playhouse ($225,000), The Watershed Institute ($216,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAVE PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| PRINCETON PUBLIC LIBRARY PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $200,000 |
| TRENTON AREA SOUP KITCHENS TRENTON, NJ | GENERAL | $60,000 |
| ARTS COUNCIL OF PRINCETON PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| DRUMTHWACKET FOUNDATION PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| DELAWARE & RARITAN GREENWAY LAND TRUST PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PRINCETON PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $4,000 |
| MARQUAND PARK FOUNDATION PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $3,000 |
| HI TOPS PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation transitioned to second-generation leadership in 2009. Current trustees include:
- Jeffrey H. Sands (Trustee)
- Elizabeth Sands (Trustee)
- Deborah Sands Gartenberg (Trustee)
All trustees serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY H SANDS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ELIZABETH SANDS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| DEBORAH SANDS GARTENBERG | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 902 Carnegie Center, Suite 400, Princeton, NJ 08540-6530
- Phone: 609-921-6060
- EIN: 22-3483828
- Website: No public website maintained
- Email: Not publicly available
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its funding priorities encompass: • Arts and culture • Arts services and arts councils • Education • Health • Information and communications • Libraries and public libraries • Human services • Nonprofit support and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation?
The foundation makes discretionary grants without a formal public application process. Grant characteristics include: • **Annual Distribution**: Approximately $4 million • **Grant Range**: $10,000 to $600,000 • **Grant Categories**: • Major Strategic Grants: $200,000–$600,000 (multi-year commitments for transformational projects) • Program Support Grants: $50,000–$200,000 (ongoing program support) • Smaller grants below $50,000 The foundation has historically focused on Princeton institutions b…
Where does George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation make grants?
The foundation maintains primary geographic focus in Princeton and Trenton, New Jersey, with additional national grants. Recent funding activity extends to multiple states including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
What size grants does George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation award?
In 2024, George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation awarded 80 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation's EIN?
George H and Estelle M Sands Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3483828. 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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