Herman & Faye Sarkowsky
The Herman and Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 1993. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is tax-exempt. It was incorporated on March 15, 1990, and maintains its headquarters at 3600 Leary Way NW, Seattle, WA 98107-4943.
Key facts about Herman & Faye Sarkowsky
In short: Herman & Faye Sarkowsky gave $505K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 91-1479527
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $505,474
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- Average grant
- $50,547
- Median grant
- $16,000
- Total assets
- $274,935
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Quick answers about Herman & Faye Sarkowsky
How much does Herman & Faye Sarkowsky give each year?
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky gave $505K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $578K across 12 grants.
What is Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's typical grant size?
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's median grant in 2024 was $16,000, and its average grant was $50,547, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Herman & Faye Sarkowsky give grants?
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (10 grants).
Does Herman & Faye Sarkowsky give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's largest grantees?
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's largest 2024 grantees include Seattle Art Museum ($382,685 across 2 grants), Jewish Family Service Seattle ($50,539) and Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How Herman & Faye Sarkowsky gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 994% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with Herman & Faye Sarkowsky
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$275K
+41.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$505K
-12.6% YoY
Grant Count
10
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
+4.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herman & Faye Sarkowsky reported a distributable amount of $51K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and Creative Fields
- Historic Preservation
- Journalism
- Family Services
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking efforts toward organizations and programs in Washington State.
Grantmaking
Recent grants made by the foundation include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in Washington State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 10 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $274,935
- Total Revenue: $914,686
- Total Expenses: $512,939
- Total Giving: $505,474
Historical Context:
The foundation has maintained relatively modest asset levels in recent years. Revenue increased significantly in 2024, with total grants and contributions reaching $750,402 compared to $250,000 in 2023, representing a 200.2% increase.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $274,935 | $194,308 | $178,113 |
| Revenue | $914,686 | $272,805 | $1,746,873 |
| Expenses | $512,939 | $587,461 | $1,231,899 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $509,207 | $582,751 | $1,226,922 |
| Net Investment Income | $160,552 | $15,075 | $51,018 |
| Distributable Amount | $51,233 | $51,977 | $40,678 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SEATTLE ART MUSEUM Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $332,685 |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE SEATTLE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,539 |
| SEATTLE ART MUSEUM Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER SEATTLE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ARTS FUND Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $17,000 |
| SEATTLE REP THEATRE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| THE 5TH AVENUE THEATER Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TEENTIX Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| KAVANA COOPERATIVE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership includes:
- Faye Sarkowsky - Governor/Founder
- Steve Sarkowsky - Vice President
- Cathy Ann Sarkowsky - Governor
- Barbara Steinberg - Registered Agent
Herman Sarkowsky (1925-2014) was the co-founder of the foundation alongside his wife Faye. Herman was a Seattle businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle Seahawks. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1949 and served as a UW regent from 1983 through 1985. Faye Sarkowsky graduated from the University of Washington in 1955.
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky is led by Faye Sarkowsky, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Faye Sarkowsky
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Sarkowsky
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis Treiger
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Sarkowsky
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Herman & Faye Sarkowsky fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Creative Fields • Historic Preservation • Journalism • Family Services The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking efforts toward organizations and programs in Washington State.
How do I apply for a grant from Herman & Faye Sarkowsky?
Recent grants made by the foundation include: • Seattle Art Museum: $332,685 (2024) • Seattle Art Museum: $50,000 (2024) • JFS Seattle: $50,539 (2024) Grant awards typically range from $250 to $432,558. The foundation made approximately $505,474 in total giving according to recent financial filings.
How much is Herman & Faye Sarkowsky required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Herman & Faye Sarkowsky reported a distributable amount of $51K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's EIN?
Herman & Faye Sarkowsky's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1479527. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.