Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation
The Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1957, it operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization classified as a private grantmaking foundation under the category of Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations.
Key facts about Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation
- EIN
- 95-4621772
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $684,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- Average grant
- $13,959
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $10,607,515
- Primary geography
- California (58% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation's 49 itemized 2025 grants were California (58%) and Oregon (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (8 grants), Bandon, OR (7 grants), Jackson, WY (4 grants) and Santa Monica, CA (3 grants). None of its 49 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Qualified Charitable Exempt Purpose" (49 grants).
How Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation gives
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation
- How to evaluate Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.6M
+5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$684K
+1.4% YoY
Grant Count
49
+2.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-0.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $738K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across multiple sectors. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education (including STEM education and grants for science teachers)
- Health Care
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a broad geographic reach and supports various cities across the United States without specified restrictions to particular subject areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $115,000.
Average Grant
amount: $798,000 (based on most recent year data)
Ready to take the next step with Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including:
- California (primary focus)
- Oregon
- Wyoming
- Major urban centers such as Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
- Smaller communities including Bandon and Gold Beach
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 49 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $10.1 million to $10.6 million (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $684,000 to $798,000
Revenue (2024): $508,000 to $717,732
Expenses (2024): $746,000 to $903,207
Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,607,515 | $10,099,132 | $10,326,847 |
| Revenue | $1,263,872 | $508,028 | $717,732 |
| Expenses | $763,119 | $746,368 | $903,207 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $694,705 | $684,978 | $810,984 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,198,725 | $447,984 | $652,183 |
| Distributable Amount | $738,153 | $683,017 | $693,787 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
190 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Cate School ($66,000), Harvard Westlake School ($64,333), Saint John's Health Center Foundation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CATE SCHOOL Carpinteria, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $66,000 |
| HARVARD WESTLAKE SCHOOL Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $64,333 |
| SAINT JOHN'S HEALTH CENTER FOUNDATION Santa Monica, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $40,000 |
| BANDON SCHOOL DISTRICT Bandon, OR | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| GREAT BEGINNINGS MONTESSORY SCHOOL Fairfield, CT | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE Claremont, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART Los Angeles, CA | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| GOOD NEIGHBORS FOOD BANK Bandon, OR | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION Jackson, WY | QUALIFIED CHARITABLE EXEMPT PURPOSE | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Contact Officer: Cynthia Connolly
Telephone: 310-979-3240
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caryll Sprague Mingst | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Cynthia Sprague Connolly | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Sprague Day | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Caryll Sprague Knapp | Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across multiple sectors. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education (including STEM education and grants for science teachers) • Health Care • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking The foundation maintains a broad geographic reach and supports various cities across the United States without specified restrictions to particular subject areas.
How do I apply for a grant from Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $115,000. **Recent Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $684,000 to $798,000 • Average grant amount: $798,000 (based on most recent year data) The foundation appears to be open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding in recent years.
Where does Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including: • California (primary focus) • Oregon • Wyoming • Major urban centers such as Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C. • Smaller communities including Bandon and Gold Beach
What size grants does Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation award?
In 2025, Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation awarded 49 grants totaling $684K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation reported a distributable amount of $738K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation's EIN?
Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4621772. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Norman F Sprague Jr Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Caryll M & Norman F Sprague
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
31
Total Given
$244K
The Rose Hills Foundation
Pasadena, CA
Assets
$561.2M
Grants
297
Total Given
$27.9M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
Chamberlin Education Foundation
Richmond, CA
Assets
$80.6M
Grants
1,302
Total Given
$3.0M
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
More Funders in California
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.