Sands Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Dedham, MA EIN: 20-1034607

SANDS FAMILY FOUNDATION is a private foundation based in Dedham, Massachusetts. In its 2025 filing, it reported making 35 grants totaling $32,142 to charitable organizations.

Key facts about Sands Family Foundation

In short: Sands Family Foundation gave $32K across 35 grants in 2025 (avg $918.343), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-1034607
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$32,142
Grants made (2025)
35
Average grant
$918
Median grant
$100
Total assets
$1,011,063
Primary geography
Massachusetts (49% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0M

+4.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$32K

+130.5% YoY

Grant Count

35

+337.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$918.343

-47.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sands Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $71K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Sands Family Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 46% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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 went to organizations with varied missions. For example, The Julie Fund says it works against women’s cancers through education and advocacy, research, and patient support; West End House says it helps young people realize their potential through youth development and college and career success; and Safe Passage says it supports survivors of domestic violence and relationship abuse and advocates for systemic change. The foundation also gave to food-assistance organizations, including the Greater Boston Food Bank, which describes distributing food through member agencies and direct distribution sites.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation gave $32,142 through 35 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $10,000, with a median of $100. Its largest grants included $10,000 to MHHS Foundation, $5,300 to The Julie Fund, $5,080 to West End House, $2,652 to Temple Beth Shalom, and $2,500 to Sinai Hospital. Each was listed as an unrestricted gift.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, Massachusetts recipients received 49% of grant dollars and Washington recipients received 31%. Maryland received 8%, Pennsylvania 3%, and Tennessee 2%.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 35 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonDedhamAllstonNewton Lower FallsWashingtonBaltimoreNapervillePhiladelphiaSomervilleHoustonBurlingtonChicagoNeedham HeightsNew YorkStatem IslandTampaAlexandriaAtlantaCoconut CreekFairfield

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K29 grants2020 16 grants2021 11 grants2022 9 grants2023 8 grants2024 35 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $14K (2024) to $51K (2021). In 2025 it made 35 grants totaling $32K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

MHHS Foundation: $10KMHHS Foundation$10KThe Julie Fund: $5KThe Julie Fund$5KWest End House: $5KWest End House$5KTemple Beth Shalom: $3KTemple Beth Shalom$3KSinai Hospital: $3KSinai Hospital$3KJefferson Foundation: $1KJefferson Foundation$1KSt Jude Hospital: $800St Jude Hospital$800Home for Little Wanderers: $700Home for Little Wanderers$700Make-a-Wish Foundation: $600Make-a-Wish Foundation$600Autism Speaks: $350Autism Speaks$350

The largest 2025 recipient was MHHS Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $29K.

Grant Size Distribution

79 grants across all recorded years

79<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 79 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
MHHS Foundation Kent, WAUnrestricted Gift$10,000
The Julie Fund Newton Lower Falls, MAUnrestricted Gift$5,300
West End House Allston, MAUnrestricted Gift$5,080
Temple Beth Shalom Needham Heights, MAUnrestricted Gift$2,652
Sinai Hospital Baltimore, MDUnrestricted Gift$2,500
Jefferson Foundation Philadelphia, PAUnrestricted Gift$1,000
St Jude Hospital Memphis, TNUnrestricted Gift$800
Home for Little Wanderers Boston, MAUnrestricted Gift$700
Make-a-Wish Foundation Dedham, MAUnrestricted Gift$600
Autism Speaks Princeton, NJUnrestricted Gift$350

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $1,011,063 $83,703 $43,106 $32,142
2024 $970,549 $54,024 $23,891 $13,947
2023 $940,416 $29,412 $57,397 $47,585
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$25K$50K$75K$100K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,011,063$970,549$940,416
Revenue$83,703$54,024$29,412
Expenses$43,106$23,891$57,397
Qualifying Distributions$32,142$13,947$47,585
Net Investment Income$73,977$44,515$21,587
Distributable Amount$70,603$64,696$56,736

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 11, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 28, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 13, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Gerald Sands, Lucille Sands, Steven J Sands, David Sands, and Donna Ramsdell as trustees.

Sands Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • David Sands

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Donna Ramsdell

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gerald Sands

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lucille Sands

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven J. Sands

    Trustee

    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.

Contact

Mailing address: 5301 Great Meadow Road, Dedham, MA 02026
Phone: (617) 965-2000

Frequently asked questions about Sands Family Foundation

How much does Sands Family Foundation give each year?

Sands Family Foundation gave $32K across 35 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $14K across 8 grants.

What is Sands Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Sands Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100, and its average grant was $918, across 35 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Sands Family Foundation give grants?

Sands Family Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Washington (31%) and Maryland (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dedham, MA (4 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Tampa, FL (2 grants).

Does Sands Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Sands Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (35 of 35) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Sands Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Sands Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include MHHS Foundation ($10,000), The Julie Fund ($5,300) and West End House ($5,080), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Sands Family Foundation?

Sands Family Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $71K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Sands Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Sands Family Foundation?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Sands Family Foundation's EIN?

Sands Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1034607. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Sands Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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