Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation
The Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Lakeville, Minnesota. Established in 2010, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to Christian faith-based philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$70.4M
+5.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.2M
+2.3% YoY
Grant Count
45
+4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$93K
-2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated mission is to help Christians grow in faithfulness and be transformed in a vibrant relationship with Christ.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Religion-related and spiritual development initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.
Grant Range
$3,000–$1,225,009
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding regions:
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2023–2024):
- Total assets: $66.6–$70.4 million
- Annual revenue: $4.01 million (2023)
- Annual expenses: $5.58 million (2023)
- Total liabilities: $1,400 (2023)
Organization Structure:
- Staffing: 1 full-time employee
- Tax-exempt status: Unconditional exemption
- IRS filing requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $70,422,038 | $66,611,515 | $64,535,675 |
| Revenue | $5,305,342 | $4,005,337 | $4,187,731 |
| Expenses | $6,078,858 | $5,579,329 | $7,373,955 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,370,650 | $4,253,342 | $6,510,741 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,522,037 | $2,783,988 | $4,037,845 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,419,246 | $3,188,773 | $3,332,569 |
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
233 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church ($1,219,371), Project Video ($420,000), Venture ($301,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 7Bells Burnsville, MN | Crisis Ministy & Outreach, Accounting, Marketing, Fundraising, Administration, Ministry Home/Office, Shop/Craft Areas | $50,000 |
| 985 KTIS co Northwestern College St Paul, MN | KTIS App | $50,000 |
| Art House North St Paul, MN | Art Community Support, Artist Partnerships, Staffing, Building/Hosting Investment | $50,000 |
| Bethesda Lutheran Church Dresser, WI | Car parts to make repairs | $40,000 |
| Camp Omega Waterville, MN | Capital Campaign: Adult and Family Retreat Center | $279,000 |
| Campus Faith Clubs Lakeville, MN | Cohort Investment for Growth, Staff Retention Effort, Event Logistics | $72,000 |
| Catholic Charities Minneapolis, MN | General Operations | $85,000 |
| CBE International Minneapolis, MN | Conference in Colorado, Scholarship Program | $50,000 |
| Chalice of Mercy Fairchild, WI | Emergency Medical Aid. St Maria Goretti House - Day Care Center | $50,000 |
| Children's Literature Initiative Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Staff:
- Pamela Sweere – President, Executive Director, Treasurer, Secretary (40 hours/week; $80,000 compensation)
- James Sweere – Chairperson
- Mark Sweere – Vice Chairperson
- Char Nelson – Director
- Carol Hager – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela Sweere | President/Exec Dir/Treasurer/Secretary | 40 | $80,000 |
| Char Nelson | Director | 0.1 | — |
| James Sweere | Chairperson | 0.1 | — |
| Mark Sweere | Vice Chairperson | 0.1 | — |
| Carol Hager | Director | 0.1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated mission is to help Christians grow in faithfulness and be transformed in a vibrant relationship with Christ. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Religion-related and spiritual development initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $4.19–$4.4 million annually (based on recent filings) • Typical grant range: $3,000–$1,225,009 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Recent grant count: 45 grants awarded **Geographic Distribution:** The foundation primarily funds organizations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.
Where does Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation make grants?
Primary funding regions: • Minnesota • Wisconsin • California
What size grants does Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation award?
In 2024, Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $4.2M — an average of about $93K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation's EIN?
Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6538381. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.