Piper Sandler Foundation
The Piper Sandler Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in April 1993. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and serves as the philanthropic arm of Piper Sandler Companies. The foundation focuses on grantmaking through several key programs including board leader initiatives, regional giving, headquarters giving, and volunteer programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.5M
+32.7% YoY
Grant Count
93
-12.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+51.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education — including STEM education and support for science teachers
- Arts and Culture
- Health
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The foundation supports grantees through corporate matching programs and direct grants to nonprofit organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation appears open to new applicants, with no "preselected only" restrictions noted in recent filings. However, it operates with limited paid staffing.
Grant Range
$387 to $2,249,185
Average Grant
$136
Ready to take the next step with Piper Sandler Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- Major urban centers: New York, Chicago, San Francisco
- States with significant activity: Minnesota, California, Texas, New York
- Additional states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, and others
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,779,188
- Total Revenue: $4,138,526
- Total Expenses: $4,500,503
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation maintains a strong financial position with assets in the top 25% of U.S. foundations by size (ranked #26,716 of 159,550 foundations).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's leadership team serves without compensation:
- John W. Geelan — President
- Debbra L. Schoneman — Director
- Timothy L. Carter — Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (through March 2024)
- Katherine P. Clune — Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
- Kim Tung Wasley — Director
- Jorge Puente — Director
- Shelby A. Noble — Director
- Michael M. Bailey — Director
- May Della Pietra — Director
- Victoria B. Beard — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBBRA L SCHONEMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TIMOTHY L CARTER | CFO/TREASURER (THRU 3/1) | 2.15 | — |
| KIM TUNG WASLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JORGE PUENTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHELBY A NOBLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL M BAILEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MAY DELLA PIETRA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| VICTORIA B BEARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOHN W GEELAN | PRESIDENT | 3 | — |
| KATHERINE P CLUNE | CFO/TREASURER | 2.15 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues active grantmaking with recent activity documented in 2024 and 2025 filings. The foundation's website is www.pipersandler.com, which serves as the primary resource for information about the organization and its initiatives.
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Spicola Family Foundation
MINNETONKA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$410K
The Geyer Family Foundation
EDINA, MN
Assets
—
Grants
7
Total Given
$35K
Love 4 One Another Charities
CHANHASSEN, MN
Assets
$8.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$90K
Donald and Luella Zibell Family Foundation
NORTHFIELD, MN
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$80K
Minnesota Citizens Concerned
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
$745K
Grants
2
Total Given
$942K
Clearway Minnesota (sm)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$442K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Piper Sandler Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities