John and Nancy Sabol Foundation
The John and Nancy Sabol Foundation is a Form 990-PF private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. It reported making 22 grants totaling $358,280 in 2024, including support for a University of Washington project and a range of charitable organizations.
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation at a glance
In short: John and Nancy Sabol Foundation gave $358K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), mostly in Washington. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $358,280
- +30.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $16,285
- +30.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $5,197,633
- -1.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (2 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John and Nancy Sabol Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3100 W Commodore Way Suite 208, Seattle, WA 98199-1117
Phone: (206) 283-6574
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John and Nancy Sabol Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington Foundation ($200K). Together the top 10 received $310K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 110 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington. The remaining shares went to recipients in New Mexico (4%), California (3%), Connecticut (3%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John and Nancy Sabol Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 22 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $176K (2020) to $358K (2024). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $358K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Washington Foundation Seattle, WA | I-LABS Ready Mind Project | $200,000 |
| FUSE Innovation Fund Seattle, WA | General Support | $20,000 |
| United World College-USA Montezuma, NM | Charitable | $15,000 |
| BrightSpark Early Learning Services Renton, WA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Maasai Cultural Conservation Fndn Pasadena, CA | Charitable | $10,280 |
| Ethel Walker Annual Fund Simsbury, CT | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Program for Early Parent Support Seattle, WA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| United Way of King County Seattle, WA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Social Venture Partners Seattle, WA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| The JOSH Foundation Sykesville, MD | Charitable | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,197,633 | $306,791 | $389,050 | $358,280 | 22 | $360,717 | $164,764 | $339,335 |
| 2023 | $5,279,892 | $252,820 | $302,323 | $274,700 | 22 | $277,055 | $146,986 | $304,609 |
| 2022 | $5,329,395 | $33,616 | $268,361 | $234,000 | 23 | $236,225 | $94,633 | $314,574 |
| 2021 | $5,564,140 | $303,756 | $290,574 | $261,000 | 21 | $274,097 | $286,544 | $359,109 |
| 2020 | $5,554,501 | $137,033 | $207,032 | $175,500 | 22 | — | $129,982 | $308,228 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Nancy Sabol Foundation reported a distributable amount of $339K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants included organizations whose stated work spans early learning, parent support, community engagement, social services, and wildlife conservation. For example, BrightSpark Early Learning Services describes its work as nurturing child-centered, antiracist early learning communities; the Program for Early Parent Support says it connects parents to strengthen families and build community; and the Downtown Emergency Service Center says it provides services, treatment, and housing for people facing homelessness, substance use disorders, and serious mental illness. Woodland Park Zoological Society says it saves wildlife and inspires conservation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $358,280 through 22 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $200,000, with a median grant of $7,000. The largest grant was $200,000 to the University of Washington Foundation for the I-LABS Ready Mind Project. Other notable grants included $20,000 to Fuse Innovation Fund for general support; $15,000 each to United World College-USA and BrightSpark Early Learning Services; and $10,000 each to the Maasai Cultural Conservation Foundation, Ethel Walker Annual Fund, Program for Early Parent Support, United Way of King County, Social Venture Partners, and The JOSH Foundation.
The University of Washington Foundation says it facilitates private contributions for the benefit of the University of Washington. Fuse Innovation Fund describes its work as developing programs to educate and engage activists about critical issues in Washington State. United Way of King County says it works alongside communities to build an equitable future.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John M. Sabol as president and treasurer and Nancy A. Sabol as vice president and secretary.
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation is led by John M. Sabol, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John M. Sabol
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nancy A. Sabol
Vice President & Sec'y
On filings since 2020
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 about John and Nancy Sabol Foundation
How much does John and Nancy Sabol Foundation give each year?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation gave $358K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $275K across 22 grants.
What is John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's typical grant size?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,000, and its average grant was $16,285, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John and Nancy Sabol Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does John and Nancy Sabol Foundation give grants?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (17 grants).
Does John and Nancy Sabol Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (20 grants).
Who are John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's largest grantees?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington Foundation ($200,000), FUSE Innovation Fund ($20,000) and United World College-USA ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John and Nancy Sabol Foundation?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation reported $5.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $361K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $339K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John and Nancy Sabol Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated work spans early learning, parent support, community engagement, social services, and wildlife conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John and Nancy Sabol Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's EIN?
John and Nancy Sabol Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2061780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does John and Nancy Sabol 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John and Nancy Sabol Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-nancy-sabol-foundation-morg_4213a90a4bd34a0e9c585494c5da564b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_912061780_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John and Nancy Sabol Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-and-nancy-sabol-foundation-morg_4213a90a4bd34a0e9c585494c5da564b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 John and Nancy Sabol 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.
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