Sahm Family Foundation
The Sahm Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation established in 1997 by Roland Sahm, founder of Elixir Industries, and his wife Ramona. Based in Fullerton, California, the foundation operates as a grantmaking foundation dedicated to philanthropic giving. The foundation is currently led by Christopher A. Sahm, grandson of the founders, who continues the family's legacy of philanthropy. To date, the foundation has awarded nearly $10 million in grants to dozens of nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$60.5M
-3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-13.3% YoY
Grant Count
36
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-13.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sahm Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To elevate and sustain the visual and performing arts and support the welfare of children and seniors.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Welfare of Children
- Welfare of Seniors
Grantmaking
Grant Range
Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $500,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on San Diego and the surrounding region. The foundation also has funding interests in Idaho and North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $60,526,186
- Total Giving: $1,714,000
- Total Revenue: $1,003,385
- Total Expenses: $3,064,544
- Staff: 4 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $60,526,186 | $62,587,345 | $63,974,269 |
| Revenue | $1,003,385 | $2,078,160 | $102,857 |
| Expenses | $3,064,544 | $3,466,463 | $5,438,268 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,276,473 | $2,466,740 | $3,500,176 |
| Net Investment Income | $231,157 | $1,075,852 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $2,526,212 | $2,530,430 | $2,688,417 |
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
207 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Diego Seniors Community Foundation ($475,000), Thunder Dragon Fund ($100,000), Flourish Foundation ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARMORY CENTER FOR THE ARTS PASADENA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF VISTA VISTA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CARLSBAD CARLSBAD, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHWEST SAN DIEGO SOLANA BEACH, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF PASADENA PASADENA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CAMP MANITOWISH YMCA BOULDER JUNCTION, WI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| COAST GUARD FOUNDATION STONINGTON, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM, NC | NASHER MUSEUM OF ART | $40,000 |
| EMILY KRZYZEWSKI FAMILY LIFE CENTER INC DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| FAR AND WISE INC HAILEY, ID | GENERAL SUPPORT | $54,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Christopher A. Sahm – Current leader of the foundation, grandson of founders Roland and Ramona Sahm
- David A. Ebershoff – Trustee
- James Cowley – Trustee
- Abigail Sahm – Administrator
- Robert Cuthbertson – Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID A EBERSHOFF | DIRECTOR | 5 | $30,000 |
| CHRISTOPHER SAHM | DIRECTOR | 5 | $30,000 |
| ROBERT CUTHBERTSON | DIRECTOR, MANAGER OF ENTITLEMENT PROJ | 25 | $100,000 |
| NOAH LEVINE | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $30,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 2466 Fender Avenue, Unit G Fullerton, CA 92831
The foundation maintains a website at sahmfamilyfoundation.org and can be contacted through their online contact form, though they are not currently accepting new grant requests.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sahm Family Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To elevate and sustain the visual and performing arts and support the welfare of children and seniors. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Visual and Performing Arts • Welfare of Children • Welfare of Seniors
How do I apply for a grant from Sahm Family Foundation?
**Grant Size Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $500,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 55 grants in 2024, totaling $1,714,000 in giving. Notable recent grants include: • San Diego Seniors Community Foundation: $475,000 (General Support) • Thunder Dragon Fund: $100,000 (General Support) • Flourish Foundation: $75,000 (General Support) **Application Status:** The Sahm Family Foundation is **NOT accepting new grant requests at this time**.
Where does Sahm Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on San Diego and the surrounding region. The foundation also has funding interests in Idaho and North Carolina.
What size grants does Sahm Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Sahm Family Foundation awarded 36 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sahm Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sahm Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sahm Family Foundation's EIN?
Sahm Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0753690. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sahm Family 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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