John Sperling Foundation
The John Sperling Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Established in August 2010, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a private foundation under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE). The foundation is supported by the John Sperling Revocable Trust.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$80.2M
+9.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+18.1% YoY
Grant Count
19
-5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$198K
+24.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Sperling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its filings but has demonstrated support for environmental advocacy, reproductive freedom, and public lands defense through its grant activity.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in the most recent reporting period and indicates it is open to new applicants.
Grant Range
$100,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
States: Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas
Cities: Austin, Boulder, Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco, and others
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year Ending August 2023):
- Total assets: $73,594,521
- Total expenses: $5,415,701
- Total revenue: $773,167
- Investment income and dividends: $1,820,268
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year Ending August 2024):
- Total assets: $80,243,940
- Total giving: $3,755,000
The foundation ranks in the top 1% of nonprofits nationally by assets and in the top 2% within its NTEE classification for private grantmaking foundations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $80,243,940 | $73,594,521 | $63,403,300 |
| Revenue | $2,715,432 | $773,167 | $3,071,599 |
| Expenses | $5,176,927 | $5,415,701 | $4,360,825 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,210,031 | $3,591,986 | $3,569,050 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,749,455 | $462,475 | $2,280,249 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,722,628 | $2,709,218 | $3,494,760 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earthjustice ($1,000,000), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($500,000), American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ISRAAID PALO ALTO, CA | FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS | $100,000 |
| WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DC | FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR HUMANE TECHNOLOGY SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOR SUPPORT OF ELECTION INTEGRITY AND AI WORK | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST WASHINGTON, DC | FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM | $300,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM | $1,000,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | PROTECT ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE | $500,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT | $500,000 |
| FOOD & WATER WATCH WASHINGTON, DC | PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER CAMPAIGN | $100,000 |
| ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE | $50,000 |
| GAVIOTA COAST CONSERVANCY GOLETA, CA | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Terri C. Bishop – Chairman & Director (10 hours/week, $71,000 annual compensation)
- Darby E. Shupp – Secretary Treasurer Director (38 hours/week, $247,000 annual compensation)
- Peter V. Sperling – Vice President & Director (1.73 hours/week, no compensation)
The foundation operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER V SPERLING | VP & DIRECTOR | 1.73 | — |
| TERRI C BISHOP | CHAIRMAN & DIRECTOR | 10 | $70,655 |
| DARBY E SHUPP | SECRETARY TREASURER DIRECT | 38 | $247,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 5115 N Dysart Rd, Suite 202, PMB 305 Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
EIN: 32-0284165
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Sperling Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its filings but has demonstrated support for environmental advocacy, reproductive freedom, and public lands defense through its grant activity.
How do I apply for a grant from John Sperling Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5,000–$1,000,000 • Median grant size: $100,000 • Recent grant activity shows awards ranging from $10,000 to $1,000,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Earthjustice: $1,000,000 (second installment of a three-year grant for the Climate and Energy Program) • Western Environmental Law Center: $500,000 (second and final installment of a two-year grant for general support to defend public lands across the western U.S.) • ACLU Foundation: $450,000 (for ad…
Where does John Sperling Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: **States:** Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Texas **Cities:** Austin, Boulder, Brooklyn, Chicago, San Francisco, and others
What size grants does John Sperling Foundation award?
In 2024, John Sperling Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $198K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John Sperling Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John Sperling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John Sperling Foundation's EIN?
John Sperling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0284165. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Sperling 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.
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