Sandler Foundation
The Sandler Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and supporting organization of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Based in San Francisco, California, the foundation operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes that benefit the Jewish Community Federation and its service region. The foundation was established in 1991 and is currently in its final years as a spend-down foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$573.0M
-6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$62.5M
-8.3% YoY
Grant Count
62
-3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.0M
-5.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Sandler Foundation invests in strategic organizations and exceptional leaders that seek to improve the rights, opportunities and well-being of others, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
The foundation is guided by core American values of opportunity, liberty and justice, as well as traditional Jewish values including Tzedek (pursuing justice), Tzedekah (taking care of people in need) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). The foundation describes itself as strictly nonpartisan and supporting charitable causes in the public interest.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Health: The foundation has been the nation's largest private funder of innovative asthma research, supporting efforts to help the estimated 25 million Americans who suffer from the disease, including more than 4 million children.
- Pocketbook Issues: Support for efforts to create good jobs, make housing more affordable, and protect hard-working Americans from fraudulent and deceptive financial practices and products. The foundation has also worked to ensure all Americans have access to economic opportunity.
The foundation supports exceptional leaders and organizations across a broad range of additional areas beyond those specifically detailed.
Grantmaking
Recent grants made by the foundation include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Jewish Community Federation service region, which includes San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties in California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total assets: $572,968,821
- Total giving: $62,496,000
- Annual revenue: $16,621,643
- Number of employees: 5
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total assets: $612,261,888
- Total expenses: $70,700,000
- Total revenue: $15,400,000
Accountability & Finance: The foundation received a four-star rating with a 94% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $572,968,821 | $612,261,888 | $672,162,748 |
| Revenue | $16,621,643 | $15,366,307 | $40,866,490 |
| Expenses | $65,066,512 | $70,736,091 | $67,960,612 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $16,495,729 | $15,365,307 | $16,256,754 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Luminate Projects Limited ($5,500,000), Earthjustice ($4,000,000), Center for American Progress ($3,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALL VOTING IS LOCAL WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000,000 |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000,000 |
| AMERICAN ECONOMIC LIBERTIES PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| AMERICAN OVERSIGHT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| ARIZONA CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT PHOENIX, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| CAMPAIGN LEGAL CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| CAROLINA FEDERATION FUND DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000,000 |
| CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TUSCON, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $800,000 |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE WASHINGTON, DC | WORKSHOP | $210,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Sandler Foundation was formed in 1991 by Herb Sandler and Marion Sandler.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES SANDLER | DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR AND V | 1 | — |
| PHYLLIS COOK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID AGGER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID FOLKMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE DAETZ | DIRECTOR,PRESIDENT, ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 40 | $578,304 |
| JOY SISISKY | TREASURER/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| VIVIAN CHANG | GRANTS DIRECTOR | 40 | $268,581 |
| SERGIO KNAEBEL | VICE PRESIDENT/GRANTS DIRE | 36 | $255,957 |
| JEANNETTE DEMESMIN-RODRIGUES | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT | 32 | $112,453 |
| SUSAN HYDE | EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT | 32 | $112,942 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in major grant-making initiatives, including significant support for environmental and social justice causes. Recent grants demonstrate the foundation's continued commitment to organizations working on clean energy, racial justice, and other strategic priorities aligned with its mission.
Sandler Foundation's GiftSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sandler Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Sandler Foundation invests in strategic organizations and exceptional leaders that seek to improve the rights, opportunities and well-being of others, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. The foundation is guided by core American values of opportunity, liberty and justice, as well as traditional Jewish values including Tzedek (pursuing justice), Tzedekah (taking care of people in need) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world). The foundation describes itself…
How do I apply for a grant from Sandler Foundation?
Recent grants made by the foundation include: • Luminate Foundation: $5,500,000 (Reset Project, 2024) • Earthjustice: $4,000,000 (Clean Energy and General Support, 2024) • Center for American Progress: Grant amount not specified (2024) **Financial Metrics:** • Total giving in fiscal year 2024: $62,496,000 • Average and median grant amounts are not publicly disclosed
Where does Sandler Foundation make grants?
The foundation's primary geographic focus is the Jewish Community Federation service region, which includes San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties in California.
What size grants does Sandler Foundation award?
In 2024, Sandler Foundation awarded 62 grants totaling $62.5M — an average of about $1.0M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sandler Foundation's EIN?
Sandler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3147856. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sandler 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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