Sand Dollar W Foundation
Sand Dollar W Foundation is a private foundation based in Newport, Rhode Island. Its 2024 Form 990-PF is marked as its final return, and the filing states that dissolution was authorized on December 6, 2024. The foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Sand Dollar W Foundation at a glance
In short: Sand Dollar W Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $173K), mostly in Colorado. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,075,428
- +1436.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -45.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $172,952
- +2716.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sand Dollar W Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 58 Third Street, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (312) 642-0006
Website: https://thesanddollarfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sand Dollar W Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Schwab Charitable Fund ($2.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
127 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 127 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing shows that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado. The remaining reported shares went to Massachusetts (1%) and recipients in New York, New Hampshire, and Maine (0% each, as reported).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sand Dollar W Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $681K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1854% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2020) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable Fund Lone Tree, CO | Unrestricted | $1,105,652 |
| Schwab Charitable Fund Lone Tree, CO | Unrestricted | $933,651 |
| The Fessenden School Newton, MA | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Alexander Twilight Academy Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Millbrook School Millbrook, NY | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Homes for Our Troops Taunton, MA | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Roca Kidz Club Manchester, NH | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NY | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| The Island Institute Rockland, ME | Unrestricted | $375 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | $1,776,641 | $2,081,427 | $2,075,428 | 12 | $2,077,621 | $4,492 | $7,714 |
| 2023 | $304,786 | $16,944 | $140,642 | $135,103 | 22 | $137,113 | $13,415 | $18,020 |
| 2022 | $428,484 | $4,804 | $144,818 | $134,315 | 35 | $138,457 | — | $24,378 |
| 2021 | $568,498 | $64 | $124,062 | $106,225 | 36 | $110,896 | — | $31,040 |
| 2020 | $692,496 | $777,094 | $98,806 | $98,500 | 22 | — | $398,990 | $3,351 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sand Dollar W Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for Sand Dollar W Foundation is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants included support for schools, a college, a veterans’ housing organization, and other charitable recipients.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms. The Fessenden School says it cultivates boys’ talents and develops their character, minds, and bodies in an inclusive community. Millbrook School says it prepares students for college and meaningful lives, emphasizing respect, integrity, service, stewardship, and curiosity. Homes for Our Troops says it builds and donates specially adapted homes nationwide for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Skidmore College describes its work as educating predominantly full-time undergraduates and preparing them to be informed, responsible citizens.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $2,075,428. The median grant was $2,750; grants ranged from $100 to $1,105,652. The two largest grants, both unrestricted, went to Schwab Charitable Fund: $1,105,652 and $933,651. Other reported grants included $20,000 to The Fessenden School, $5,000 to Alexander Twilight Academy, $3,000 each to Doctors Without Borders and Millbrook School, and $2,500 to Homes for Our Troops.
The filing states that contributions are made only to preselected charitable organizations and that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Given the final-return status, this should not be read as a current application process.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeremy Wintersteen as officer, secretary, and director, and Laurence Wintersteen as treasurer and director.
Sand Dollar W Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jeremy Wintersteen
Officer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurence Wintersteen
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Sand Dollar W Foundation
How much does Sand Dollar W Foundation give each year?
Sand Dollar W Foundation gave $2.1M across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $135K across 22 grants.
What is Sand Dollar W Foundation's typical grant size?
Sand Dollar W Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,750, and its average grant was $172,952, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sand Dollar W Foundation that year got $681K on average.
Where does Sand Dollar W Foundation give grants?
Sand Dollar W Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lone Tree, CO (2 grants).
Does Sand Dollar W Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sand Dollar W Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sand Dollar W Foundation's largest grantees?
Sand Dollar W Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Schwab Charitable Fund ($2,039,303 across 2 grants), The Fessenden School ($20,000) and Alexander Twilight Academy ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
What does Sand Dollar W Foundation fund?
No mission statement for Sand Dollar W Foundation is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants included support for schools, a college, a veterans’ housing organization, and other charitable recipients. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sand Dollar W Foundation?
Sand Dollar W Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check thesanddollarfoundation.org for any change to that policy.
How much is Sand Dollar W Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sand Dollar W Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sand Dollar W Foundation's EIN?
Sand Dollar W Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0239404. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sand Dollar W 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Sand Dollar W 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.
Sand Dollar W Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?