Scan Design by Inge & Jens Bruun Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2003. The foundation is dedicated to advancing Danish-American relations through the exchange of people, ideas, and cultural experiences, while also supporting pain research. The organization operates with a small staff of 2 employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$34.5M
+14.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
29
+16.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
-11.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Scan Design Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to grow, develop, and encourage the relationship between the United States and Denmark, inspired by the legacy of Inger & Jens Bruun.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts and creative initiatives
- Arts access and participation
- Education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
- Human services
- Danish-American cultural exchange
- Pain research
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected grantees basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made only to organizations that have been preselected by the foundation.
Grant Range
$10,000-$25,000
Average Grant
amount: $54,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
These three states account for approximately 78% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $34.5 million
- Annual income: $12.5 million
- Giving rate: approximately 4.1% of assets
- Total grants distributed (87 grants on record): $4.7 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $34,521,419 | $30,214,463 | $28,580,356 |
| Revenue | $4,685,730 | $1,192,710 | $-49,253 |
| Expenses | $2,390,132 | $2,169,840 | $2,320,829 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,707,134 | $1,701,270 | $1,622,723 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,468,857 | $617,642 | $404,071 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,689,431 | $1,743,595 | $1,873,613 |
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
116 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Washington Foundation ($518,983), Center for Sustainable Infrastructure ($110,000), University of Wisconsin Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF STATENS MUSEUM FOR KUNST NEW YORK, NY | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $25,000 |
| BIRDS CONNECT SEATTLE SEATTLE, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $310 |
| CALIFORNIA ART & NATURE MUSEUM SOLVANG, CA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $2,000 |
| CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE OLYMPIA, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $110,000 |
| CITY OF TACOMA TACOMA, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $45,000 |
| CLIMATE SOLUTIONS SEATTLE, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $10,000 |
| DANISH AMERICAN HERITAGE SOCIETY ELK HORN, IA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $3,000 |
| EARTHCORPS WEST SEATTLE FAUNTLEROY SEATTLE, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $1,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE WATERFRONT PARK SEATTLE, WA | 2024 GRANT AWARD | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Fidelma McGinn - President (40 hours/week, $225,000 annual compensation)
- Line L Larsen - Officer (40 hours/week, $80,000 annual compensation)
- Robert Thompson - Secretary/Treasurer/Director
- Jan Beck - Director
- Paul Charles Suzman - Director
- Katrine Thor Andersen - Director
- Bodil Stevns - Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIDELMA MCGINN | PRESIDENT | 40 | $225,030 |
| ROBERT THOMPSON | SEC/TREAS/DIRECTOR | 2 | $20,000 |
| JAN BECK | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,000 |
| PAUL CHARLES SUZMAN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $22,500 |
| KATRINE THOR ANDERSEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,000 |
| BODIL STEVNS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $15,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced partnerships and grant cycles, including collaboration with CIEE to establish the Scan Design Foundation Environmental Sustainability Internship in Denmark. This program provides opportunities for students to engage in environmental sustainability work while strengthening Danish-American cultural exchange.
Scan Design Foundation Announces Latest Cycle of GrantsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Scan Design Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to grow, develop, and encourage the relationship between the United States and Denmark, inspired by the legacy of Inger & Jens Bruun. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts and creative initiatives • Arts access and participation • Education • Philanthropy and grantmaking • Human services • Danish-American cultural exchange • Pain research
How do I apply for a grant from Scan Design Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $1.2 million to $1.3 million • Number of grants: 24-29 grants annually • Median grant size: $10,000-$25,000 • Grant range: $310 to $634,000 • Average grant amount: $54,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected grantees basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are made only to organizations that have been preselected by the foundation. **Recent Programs:** The foundation has partnered with CIEE…
Where does Scan Design Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Washington • Wisconsin • Illinois These three states account for approximately 78% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 10 states total.
What size grants does Scan Design Foundation award?
In 2024, Scan Design Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Scan Design Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Scan Design Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Scan Design Foundation's EIN?
Scan Design Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0537904. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Scan Design 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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