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
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Corporate Match ($2,249,185), Cristo Rey Jesuit College Preparatory School of Houston ($175,000), Dougherty Family College University St Thomas ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 18 REASONS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $1,000 |
| ALONGSIDE NETWORK MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GIFT MATCHING PAYMENTS | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GIFT MATCHING PAYMENTS | $387 |
| BAGS OF SMILES INC ELK RIVER, MN | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| BESTPREP BROOKLYN PARK, MN | REGIONAL GIVING | $64,000 |
| BEYOND WALLS URBAN SQUASH TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| BLACK MEN TEACH SAINT PAUL, MN | GIFT MATCHING PAYMENTS | $5,000 |
| BLUESKIES FOR CHILDREN INC OAKLAND, CA | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $4,000 |
| CANNON FALLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION CANNON FALLS, MN | BOARD LEADER PROGRAM | $4,000 |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Piper Sandler Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Piper Sandler Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 106 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $4,499,924 • Median grant amount: $4,000 • Grant range: $387 to $2,249,185 • Average grant size: $136 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Cristo Rey New York High School: $150,000 (Regional Giving) • Minds Matter of Bay Area: $135,000 (Regional Giving) • Chinquapin Preparatory School: $115,000 (Regional Giving) **Approachability:** The foundation appears open to new applicants, with no "preselected only" restrictions noted in recent …
Where does Piper Sandler Foundation make 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
What size grants does Piper Sandler Foundation award?
In 2024, Piper Sandler Foundation awarded 93 grants totaling $4.5M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Piper Sandler Foundation's EIN?
Piper Sandler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1734808. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Piper Sandler 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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