Sally Mead Hands Foundation
The Sally Mead Hands Foundation is a private foundation based in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2025, it reported 49 grants totaling $2,218,500, including support for organizations working in climate and environmental issues, reproductive health, and public transportation.
Sally Mead Hands Foundation at a glance
In short: Sally Mead Hands Foundation gave $2.2M across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $45K), top state Wisconsin. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,218,500
- +13.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- +11.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $45,276
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $33,390,082
- +8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (13 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sally Mead Hands Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 404 S Blount Street Unit 101, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (313) 600-1668
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sally Mead Hands Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Citizens Climate Education Corp ($320K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
251 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 159 grants of 251 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Wisconsin received 20% of grant dollars, California 18%, Illinois 14%, Michigan 9%, and Massachusetts 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sally Mead Hands Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 49 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $39K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2020) to $2.2M (2022). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens Climate Education Corp Coronado, CA | Operating Funds | $320,000 |
| Rocky Mountain Institute Boulder, CO | Operating Funds | $147,500 |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $110,000 |
| Ceres Boston, MA | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chicago, IL | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Colchester, VT | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| Project Drawdown New York, NY | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | Operating Funds | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,390,082 | $5,233,153 | $2,675,312 | $2,218,500 | 49 | $2,218,500 | $4,786,557 | $2,005,702 |
| 2024 | $30,832,241 | $3,668,469 | $2,368,039 | $1,955,500 | 44 | $1,955,500 | $3,255,927 | $1,939,931 |
| 2023 | $29,531,811 | $1,342,408 | $2,579,502 | $1,999,500 | 54 | $1,999,500 | $842,406 | $1,743,698 |
| 2022 | $30,768,905 | $5,081,526 | $2,827,136 | $2,241,720 | 53 | $2,241,720 | $4,588,110 | $1,768,842 |
| 2021 | $28,514,515 | $6,034,693 | $2,868,657 | $2,026,000 | 51 | $2,026,000 | $5,252,544 | $2,020,551 |
| 2020 | $25,348,479 | $2,353,816 | $2,240,871 | $1,770,000 | 48 | — | $1,907,075 | $1,687,760 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sally Mead Hands Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose missions address climate change and clean energy, conservation, reproductive health care, and public transit.
For example, Citizens Climate Education Corp says it educates, trains, and organizes people to build political will for climate solutions. Rocky Mountain Institute describes its mission as transforming the global energy system toward a zero-carbon future, while World Wildlife Fund says it works to conserve nature and reduce threats to life on Earth. Planned Parenthood of Illinois describes its work as providing and promoting reproductive health care, education, and rights. Transportation Riders United says it advocates for public transit and other affordable mobility options in Metro Detroit.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 49 grants totaling $2,218,500. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $320,000, with a median grant of $15,000. The largest grants included $320,000 to Citizens Climate Education Corp, $147,500 to Rocky Mountain Institute, and $110,000 to Environmental Law & Policy Center. Other notable grants were $100,000 each to Ceres, Planned Parenthood of Illinois, Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Project Drawdown, and World Wildlife Fund.
The listed 2025 grants were reported for operating funds. How to apply: The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Collier M Hands, Karen Kendrick-Hands, and Philip M K Hands as directors; John L Hands Jr as president; Helen M Hands as treasurer; and Louise H Murphy as secretary.
Sally Mead Hands Foundation is led by John L. Hands Jr., President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John L. Hands Jr.
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Collier M. Hands
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Kendrick-Hands
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip M. K. Hands
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen M. Hands
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louise H. Murphy
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Sally Mead Hands Foundation
How much does Sally Mead Hands Foundation give each year?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation gave $2.2M across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 44 grants.
What is Sally Mead Hands Foundation's typical grant size?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $45,276, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sally Mead Hands Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Sally Mead Hands Foundation give grants?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation's top state is Wisconsin, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (18%) and Illinois (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Madison, WI (10 grants), Chicago, IL (7 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Milwaukee, WI (3 grants).
Does Sally Mead Hands Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sally Mead Hands Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sally Mead Hands Foundation's largest grantees?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Citizens Climate Education Corp ($320,000), Rocky Mountain Institute ($147,500) and Environmental Law & Policy Center ($110,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sally Mead Hands Foundation?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation reported $33.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sally Mead Hands Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose missions address climate change and clean energy, conservation, reproductive health care, and public transit. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sally Mead Hands Foundation?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Sally Mead Hands Foundation's EIN?
Sally Mead Hands Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0263007. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sally Mead Hands Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sally Mead Hands Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sally-mead-hands-foundation-morg_bbee96a4f3c54b68bfffc43c2ffab482
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320263007_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sally Mead Hands Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sally-mead-hands-foundation-morg_bbee96a4f3c54b68bfffc43c2ffab482},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Sally Mead Hands Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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