Sandestin Foundation
The Sandestin Foundation, which operates publicly as the Sandestin Foundation for Kids, is a private foundation based in Miramar Beach, Florida. Founded in 2011 by the Becnel Family, owners of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, it supports children and families locally and abroad, including through assistance for urgent needs and support for programs serving children.
Sandestin Foundation at a glance
In short: Sandestin Foundation gave $179K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Florida. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $179,451
- -10.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -16.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,902
- +6.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $1,159,380
- +8.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (5 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (94% 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 Sandestin Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request with the required materials for consideration by the donation committee.
- Review Cycle
- The filing states that there are no deadlines; the website asks for requests at least 40 days before a due date or event.
- Deadline
- The filing states that there are no deadlines; the website asks for requests at least 40 days before a due date or…
- Contact
Application contact: Thomas R Becnel
Mailing address: 15000 Emeral Coast Parkway, Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 337-5200
Website: https://sandestinfoundationforkids.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sandestin Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ovan Mwenge Leopord ($40K). Together the top 10 received $139K.
Organizations only. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($33,704), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 116 grants of 117 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its work as serving children locally and abroad. In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Florida, 5% to Georgia, and 1% to recipients with an unspecified state in the available data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sandestin Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 16 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 53% 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 $117K (2021) to $229K (2020). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $179K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ovan Mwenge Leopord NA, FL | Donation to Orphanage in Africa, SDI School Drive | $39,931 |
| Sister Barbara NA, FL | Donation to Orphanage in Africa | $23,500 |
| Make-a-Wish Maitland, FL | Donation to pay for local children's make a wish | $21,412 |
| FR Leonard NA, FL | Donation to Orphanage in Africa | $11,500 |
| 10 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $33,704 |
| Dog-Harmony Inc Miramar Beach, FL | 2024 Grant - Children's Therapy and Training | $10,000 |
| Winter Garden's First Baptist Church Winter Garden, FL | Donation to Dawson Read- Organ Transplant | $10,000 |
| Read Across Africa Woodstock, GA | General Grant for Programs | $8,750 |
| Faustine Valentine Mosha NA, FL | Donation to Orphanage in Africa | $6,000 |
| Children in Crisis Fort Walton Beach, FL | Children in Crisis | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sandestin Foundation?
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 | $1,159,380 | $272,476 | $182,818 | $179,451 | 26 | $179,451 | $41,873 | $8,528 |
| 2023 | $1,064,733 | $271,651 | $200,830 | $200,484 | 31 | $200,484 | $36,994 | $7,363 |
| 2022 | $993,912 | $249,435 | $127,041 | $123,966 | 19 | $123,966 | $1,768 | $12,259 |
| 2021 | $871,518 | $334,508 | $121,531 | $117,347 | 19 | $117,347 | — | $8,678 |
| 2020 | $659,080 | $299,223 | $229,774 | $229,094 | 22 | — | $4,575 | $3,247 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sandestin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2024 — 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 foundation’s mission is to make a meaningful and lasting difference in children’s lives. It describes supporting critical medical care, urgent economic needs, and programs that foster children’s growth, healing, and hope.
Its 2024 grants included support for children’s medical needs, an orphanage in Africa, a children’s therapy and training program, and literacy programming. One grantee, Children in Crisis Inc., describes its mission as providing homes and hope to abused, neglected, and abandoned children in several Florida counties while keeping siblings together. Read Across Africa describes its mission as promoting literacy in Africa.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $179,451. Grants ranged from $361 to $39,931, with a median of $3,750. Its largest reported grants included $39,931 to Ovan Mwenge Leopord for an orphanage in Africa and a school drive; $23,500 to Sister Barbara for an orphanage in Africa; $21,412 to Make-A-Wish for local children; and $11,500 to Fr Leonard for an orphanage in Africa. Other listed grants included $10,000 to Dog-Harmony Inc. for children’s therapy and training, $10,000 to Winter Garden’s First Baptist Church for a child’s organ transplant, and $8,750 to Read Across Africa for programs.
The foundation’s filing describes proposals from public charities in Northwest Florida and says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations. Applicants are asked to provide the organization’s history, proof of exemption, experience and success with grants, references, requested amount, intended recipients, information about matching funds, a detailed spending plan and budget, any administrative or salary costs, and a plan for reporting results. The foundation requires interim and final written reports and may withhold or modify funding if grant goals and objectives are not being met.
The website asks that written requests be submitted at least 40 days before a due date or event, with an organization description, information about who will benefit, and/or proof of 501(c)(3) status. Incomplete requests will not be considered. The donation committee considers requests for funding, goods or services, or staff or volunteer time. The website says it does not support PTOs, school groups, or funding for group trips.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sara Becnel as co-trustee and Thomas R. Becnel as trustee.
Sandestin Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sara Becnel
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas R. Becnel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/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 Sandestin Foundation
How much does Sandestin Foundation give each year?
Sandestin Foundation gave $179K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $200K across 31 grants.
What is Sandestin Foundation's typical grant size?
Sandestin Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $3,750, and its average grant was $6,902, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sandestin Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Sandestin Foundation give grants?
Sandestin Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were NA, FL (9 grants) and Fort Walton Beach, FL (2 grants).
Does Sandestin Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of Sandestin Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Donation to Family with Kids in Financial Hardship" (4 grants) and "Donation to Orphanage in Africa" (4 grants).
Who are Sandestin Foundation's largest grantees?
Sandestin Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ovan Mwenge Leopord ($39,931), Sister Barbara ($23,500) and Make-a-Wish ($21,412), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 10 grants to individuals ($33,704), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sandestin Foundation?
Sandestin Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $179K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sandestin Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to make a meaningful and lasting difference in children’s lives. It describes supporting critical medical care, urgent economic needs, and programs that foster children’s growth, healing, and hope. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sandestin Foundation?
Submit a written request with the required materials for consideration by the donation committee. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sandestin Foundation's EIN?
Sandestin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6314257. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sandestin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sandestin Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sandestin-foundation-morg_23e95944a6c44081919c75ecdfa5a05f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456314257_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sandestin Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sandestin-foundation-morg_23e95944a6c44081919c75ecdfa5a05f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Sandestin 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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