Sangham Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Santa Barbara, California. Established in 2003 and granted tax-exempt status in September 2004, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) philanthropic organization with a focus on environmental protection and child welfare.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.8M
+5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$300K
+48.1% YoY
Grant Count
54
+54.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sangham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide giving for non-profit organizations committed to protecting water resources, improving water quality, and improving the lives of children.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Water resources and water quality protection
- Environmental education and science education
- Renewable energy
- Community and school gardens
- Beekeeping initiatives
- Children and youth services
- Human services
- Natural resources and biodiversity
Grantmaking
The foundation made 43 additional grants totaling $279,500 in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Virginia. It also funds organizations in major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $6,837,976
- Total revenue: $459,829
- Total expenses: $336,027
Historical Assets (2023):
- Total assets: $6.5 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Historical Activity (2023):
- Revenue: $168,000
- Expenses: $241,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,837,976 | $6,500,816 | $5,781,344 |
| Revenue | $459,829 | $168,282 | $61,379 |
| Expenses | $336,027 | $241,150 | $413,569 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $303,582 | $205,521 | $366,514 |
| Net Investment Income | $427,908 | $233,009 | $91,230 |
| Distributable Amount | $330,796 | $300,779 | $312,255 |
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
231 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Snake River Waterkeeper ($40,250), Environmental Defense Fund ($40,000), Southern Environmental Law Center ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA INC WASHINGTON, DC | NICOYA PENINSULA WATERKEEPERCASA SONJA | $5,500 |
| BLAINE COUNTY RECREATION DISTRICT HAILEY, ID | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| BLAINE COUNTY SHERIFF SEARCH AND RESCUE HAILEY, ID | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA INC SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CASA SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| CASCADES ACADEMY OF CENTRAL OREGON BEND, OR | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| CRANE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL SANTA BARBARA, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,500 |
| DUNN SCHOOL LOS OLIVOS, CA | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK CITY, NY | IN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Margaret Hecht – President (volunteer)
- Christiane Santoro – Vice President (volunteer)
- Jenna Perez – Secretary/Treasurer (volunteer)
The foundation operates with zero paid employees, relying entirely on volunteer leadership.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTIANE SANTORO | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| MARGARET HECHT | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| JENNA PEREZ | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1114 State Street, Suite 310, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2739
- Phone: 805-845-0253
- Website: www.sanghamfoundation.com
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sangham Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide giving for non-profit organizations committed to protecting water resources, improving water quality, and improving the lives of children. Primary funding focus areas include: • Water resources and water quality protection • Environmental education and science education • Renewable energy • Community and school gardens • Beekeeping initiatives • Children and youth services • Human services • Natural resources and biodiversity
How do I apply for a grant from Sangham Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $300,000 • Total expenses (2024): $336,027 • Typical award range: $250–$100,000 • Recent grant activity shows 75 grants made in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Snake River Waterkeeper: $40,250 • Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): $40,000 • Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC): $40,000 The foundation made 43 additional grants totaling $279,500 in 2024.
Where does Sangham Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, and Virginia. It also funds organizations in major metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Sangham Foundation award?
In 2024, Sangham Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $300K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sangham Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sangham Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sangham Foundation's EIN?
Sangham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 73-1681596. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sangham 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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