Sander Foundation
Sander Foundation is a private foundation based in Stowe, Vermont. Its 2023 filing is marked as a final return and says it distributed all remaining assets to the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund in December. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
Sander Foundation at a glance
In short: Sander Foundation gave $1.9M across 5 grants in 2023 (avg $384K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,922,013
- +1842.2% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 5
- -61.5% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $384,403
- +4949.8% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Primary geography
- Ohio (96% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Sander Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The final filing describes written requests, but the foundation appears to have wound down; the filing does not establish a current application process.
- Review Cycle
- The filing described approximate semi-annual review, not a specific deadline; this is not a current application cycle.
- Deadline
- The filing described approximate semi-annual review, not a specific deadline; this is not a current application cycle.
- Contact
Application contact: Deborah Drinkwater
Mailing address: 105 Depot Street 415, Stowe, VT 05672
Phone: (802) 730-0246
Email: deb@thesanderfoundation.org
Website: https://thesandersfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sander Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($1.8M). Together the top 5 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
212 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 205 grants of 212 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2023 grants went to recipients in Ohio, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania. By grant dollars, 96% went to Ohio, 3% to Missouri, 1% to New York, and less than 1% to Pennsylvania, as reported in the filing.
The website describes the Sanders Family Foundation as supporting students with financial need in Alabama and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sander Foundation gives
- Giving grew 1080% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $99K (2022) to $1.9M (2023). In 2023 it made 5 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Cincinnati, OH | Donor Advised Fund Program | $1,847,013 |
| KVC Missouri Kansas City, MO | Provide healthcare, social services and education to children and their families | $55,000 |
| Helpusadoptorg New York, NY | Support for Adopting Parentssupport for Adopting Parents | $10,000 |
| Lift for Life Gym Saint Louis, MO | Support for Youth Development Programs | $5,000 |
| Franklin & Marshall College Lancaster, PA | Support a Private Liberal Arts College | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2023 filing states that all remaining assets were distributed to the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund in December.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $67,050 | $1,943,687 | $1,922,013 | 5 | $1,922,013 | $46,407 | $80,006 |
| 2022 | $1,876,638 | $-61,460 | $120,010 | $98,960 | 13 | $98,960 | $21,198 | $88,751 |
| 2021 | $2,053,994 | $99,902 | $162,236 | $141,498 | 38 | $141,498 | $78,654 | $100,176 |
| 2020 | $2,116,328 | $31,658 | $166,378 | $162,915 | 88 | — | $28,195 | $108,157 |
| 2019 | $2,251,049 | $17,147 | $386,161 | $383,790 | 68 | — | $14,776 | $121,417 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sander Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The website describes the Sanders Family Foundation’s mission as empowering students with financial need through scholarships and grants for educational opportunities. Its stated principles include the belief that education transforms lives and that supportive, rigorous learning can foster character, confidence, and civic leadership.
The 2023 filing’s stated award restriction was that requesting organizations should primarily assist challenged children or protect and improve the natural world. The grants listed for 2023 included support for children and families, adoption assistance, youth development, and a college. For example, Helpusadopt.org describes its work as awarding grants to help people with adoption costs; Lift for Life Gym describes providing St. Louis children a safe, enriching environment; and Franklin & Marshall College describes itself as dedicated to undergraduate liberal arts education.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 5 grants totaling $1,922,013. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $1,847,013, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant, $1,847,013, went to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund for its donor-advised fund program. Other listed grants included $55,000 to KVC Missouri for healthcare, social services, and education for children and families; $10,000 to Helpusadopt.org; and $5,000 each to Lift for Life Gym and Franklin & Marshall College.
The 2023 filing says the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations and describes a written-request process. Because the filing is marked final, these instructions should not be treated as current. The filing requested that written submissions include the organization’s objectives, details on how funds would be spent, a copy of its latest IRS filing, and total compensation paid to its top ten individuals for the prior two years. It said requests were reviewed on an approximate semi-annual basis.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Derick L. Driemeyer, Sally M. Driemeyer, Deborah Drinkwater, and Mark Drinkwater as trustees.
Sander Foundation's 2023 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Deborah Drinkwater
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Derick L. Driemeyer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Mark Drinkwater
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sally M. Driemeyer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2023. "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 Sander Foundation
How much does Sander Foundation give each year?
Sander Foundation gave $1.9M across 5 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $99K across 13 grants.
What is Sander Foundation's typical grant size?
Sander Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $10,000, and its average grant was $384,403, across 5 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sander Foundation give grants?
Sander Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Sander Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Sander Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sander Foundation's largest grantees?
Sander Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($1,847,013), KVC Missouri ($55,000) and Helpusadoptorg ($10,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does Sander Foundation fund?
The website describes the Sanders Family Foundation’s mission as empowering students with financial need through scholarships and grants for educational opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sander Foundation?
The final filing describes written requests, but the foundation appears to have wound down; the filing does not establish a current application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Sander Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, Sander Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sander Foundation's EIN?
Sander Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2007940. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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Browse active grant opportunities in Sander Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Sander Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?