Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr
The Sawyer Foundation Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) private foundation based in Safety Harbor, Florida. Established in 2021, the organization operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on global health and clean water initiatives. The foundation partners with charities and nonprofit organizations to implement water filtration projects and support educational programs in developing countries.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34K
+213.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$769K
-36.9% YoY
Grant Count
30
+76.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-64.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr reported a distributable amount of $592 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support partner organizations that share the gift of clean drinking water to under-resourced communities, with a vision to see all global communities have access to clean, safe drinking water.
The organization operates around three primary pillars:
Global Health Education & Research: Partnerships with universities including Hope College, Calvin University, and Messiah University's AROMA Program to equip college students with knowledge to improve global health programs in developing countries.
Transformational Community Development: Support for over 140 organizations worldwide that use Sawyer water filtration technology to provide families with clean water access.
Disaster Relief: Aid to organizations providing clean drinking water in disaster situations, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and war-impacted areas.
Grantmaking
The foundation made significant grants in 2023, including:
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Domestic funding locations include California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, with specific cities including Boone, Brookline, Clearwater, Clermont, Costa Rica, Costa Mesa, Covington, Holland, Lanham, Mechanicsburg, Pinellas Park, and San Diego. International work focuses on developing countries, with documented projects in Sri Lanka.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $506,667 (2024 filing)
- Total Revenue: $1,376,575 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $1,077,420 (2024)
- Total Giving: $947,000 (2024)
- Average Grant Size: $629
Prior Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $10,877
- Total Revenue: $854,427
- Total Expenses: $1,350,217
The foundation has one employee on staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,060 | $10,877 | $506,667 |
| Revenue | $931,352 | $854,427 | $1,376,575 |
| Expenses | $908,169 | $1,350,217 | $1,077,420 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $768,948 | $1,218,344 | $946,500 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $592 | $4,173 | $3,556 |
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
61 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hope College ($300,000), Loud Monk Media ($272,650), Disciple Support Ministries ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA OASIS SPRINGFIELD, MO | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER | $1,300 |
| ALEBACHEW MAMMO ALEMAYEHU | MISSIONARY SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| AMOR EUROPE | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER | $16,667 |
| ANCORA MINISTERIES KYLE, TX | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER | $500 |
| CONVOY OF HOPE SPRINGFIELD, MO | DISASTER RELIEF | $1,000 |
| DISASTER AID LANHAM, MD | DISASTER RELIEF | $560 |
| DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES PINELLAS PARK, FL | MISSIONARY SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| GROUNDED BOOTS RELIEF HENDERSONVILLE, NC | DISASTER RELIEF | $50 |
| HARVEST AVIATION PINELLAS PARK, FL | DISASTER RELIEF | $4,903 |
| HEALTHY NATIONS INC | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER | $325 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by co-trustees:
- Kurt Avery (serves without compensation)
- Barbara Avery (serves without compensation)
- Gwendolyn Loftin (receives compensation of $120,000 for her role)
The organization also lists Kurt E Avery as trustee in official filings.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KURT AVERY | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BARBARA AVERY | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GWENDOLYN LOFTIN | CO-TRUSTEE | 30 | $120,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr fund?
The foundation's mission is to support partner organizations that share the gift of clean drinking water to under-resourced communities, with a vision to see all global communities have access to clean, safe drinking water. The organization operates around three primary pillars: • **Global Health Education & Research**: Partnerships with universities including Hope College, Calvin University, and Messiah University's AROMA Program to equip college students with knowledge to improve global healt…
How do I apply for a grant from Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr?
The foundation made significant grants in 2023, including: • Hope College: $500,000 for Global Education • Messiah University: $200,000 for Global Education • Man Up and Go: $150,000 for Foster Care Program The foundation made seven grants in 2023 and awarded approximately $1,000,000 in funds to water filtration projects that year. **Application Process:** Applicants are encouraged to request a pre-grant writing meeting with the Sawyer Foundation team to discuss grant proposal components. The f…
Where does Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Domestic funding locations include California, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, with specific cities including Boone, Brookline, Clearwater, Clermont, Costa Rica, Costa Mesa, Covington, Holland, Lanham, Mechanicsburg, Pinellas Park, and San Diego. International work focuses on developing countries, with documented projects in Sri Lanka.
What size grants does Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr award?
In 2024, Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr awarded 30 grants totaling $769K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr reported a distributable amount of $592 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr's EIN?
Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-6488444. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr'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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