Sangster Family Foundation
The Sangster Family Foundation is a private foundation based in South Lyon, Michigan. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including mental health, health care, arts education, disability services, conservation, animal welfare, and scholarships.
Sangster Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sangster Family Foundation gave $21K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state Michigan. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $21,000
- +40.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,313
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $112,372
- -1.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (3 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sangster Family Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 51582 Pasteur Drive, South Lyon, MI 48178-9094
Phone: (248) 656-3473
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sangster Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Joseph's Academy ($3K). Together the top 10 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 66 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan (45%), Virginia (14%), New York (10%), Washington, DC (8%), and California (8%). The listed grants also include recipients in Georgia and Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sangster Family Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 16 grantees (19%) 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 $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2020) to $21K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Joseph's Academy Ray, MI | BuildingFund | $2,500 |
| The AAKOMA Project Inc Arlington, VA | SuicidePrevention andMental Health | $2,500 |
| Trinity Health Southeast Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | To provide healthcare and hospitalservices | $2,500 |
| Leader Dogs for the Blind Rochester, MI | Training andCare of LeaderDogs | $1,750 |
| All The World's A Stage Clinton Township, MI | Theatre ArtsEducation forSpecial Needs Youth | $1,750 |
| National Park Foundation Washington, DC | Protect & enhanceAmericas NationalParks | $1,750 |
| Coral Reef Alliance San Francisco, CA | Preservationof coral reefs | $1,750 |
| Farm Sanctuary Watkins Glen, NY | Farm AnimalAbuse Preventionand Rescue | $1,000 |
| Atlanta Humane Society Atlanta, GA | Helping Animalsin Desperate Needof Support & Care | $1,000 |
| Folds of Honor Foundation Owasso, OK | Scholarships forspouses & children ofmiliary & first responders | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $112,372 | $19,054 | $21,119 | $21,000 | 16 | $21,000 | $19,054 | $17,351 |
| 2024 | $114,437 | $8,569 | $15,155 | $15,000 | 12 | $15,000 | $8,539 | $17,383 |
| 2023 | $121,023 | $-14,597 | $14,520 | $14,500 | 14 | $14,500 | $2,633 | $12,494 |
| 2022 | $150,140 | $6,340 | $15,125 | $15,000 | 12 | $15,000 | $6,320 | $14,390 |
| 2021 | $158,925 | $7,606 | $15,144 | $15,000 | 12 | $15,000 | $7,586 | $18,650 |
| 2020 | $166,467 | $1,621 | $12,564 | $12,500 | 11 | — | $8,936 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sangster Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 show support for organizations with varied missions. The AAKOMA Project describes its work as advancing mental-health awareness and support for youth and young adults of color and their caregivers. All The World's A Stage says it teaches life skills through theatre arts education, while Leader Dogs for the Blind describes its mission as empowering people who are blind or visually impaired with skills for safe, independent travel. The National Park Foundation says it supports the protection, preservation, and restoration of America’s national parks and their resources. Other 2025 grantees include organizations supporting children with serious medical conditions, farm-animal welfare, education for eligible military families and first responders, and veterans and first responders.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $21,000 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, with a median of $1,000.
Among its larger 2025 grants were $2,500 each to St Joseph's Academy, The AAKOMA Project, and Trinity Health Southeast Michigan. It also gave $1,750 each to Leader Dogs for the Blind, All The World's A Stage, the National Park Foundation, and the Coral Reef Alliance. Other reported recipients included Farm Sanctuary ($1,000), Atlanta Humane Society ($1,000), Folds of Honor Foundation ($1,000), The Rainbow Connection ($1,000), Marine Corps Law Enforcement Fund ($500), and Paws of War ($500).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Todd M Sangster as President; Debra A Sangster as Secretary/Treasurer; and Jonathan P Sangster, Kelly S Pierce, and Ryan J Pierce as Directors.
Sangster Family Foundation is led by Todd M Sangster, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Todd M Sangster
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan P Sangster
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly S Pierce
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan J Pierce
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra A Sangster
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/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.
Frequently asked questions about Sangster Family Foundation
How much does Sangster Family Foundation give each year?
Sangster Family Foundation gave $21K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 12 grants.
What is Sangster Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sangster Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,313, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sangster Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Sangster Family Foundation give grants?
Sangster Family Foundation's top state is Michigan, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (14%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, MI (2 grants).
Does Sangster Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Sangster Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sangster Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sangster Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include St Joseph's Academy ($2,500), The AAKOMA Project Inc ($2,500) and Trinity Health Southeast Michigan ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sangster Family Foundation?
Sangster Family Foundation reported $112K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sangster Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. The AAKOMA Project describes its work as advancing mental-health awareness and support for youth and young adults of color and their caregivers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sangster 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 Sangster Family Foundation's EIN?
Sangster Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1599941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Sangster Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 19, 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 May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sangster Family Foundation funds
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