Sear Family Foundation
Sear Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2018 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $260K. Net investment income was $146K.
Sear Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sear Family Foundation gave $260K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $260K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $260,000
- -77.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $260,000
- -77.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $260,000
- Total assets
- $2,509,600
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Sear Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Schwab Charitable Fund ($260K).
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Sear Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 282% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2018 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $140K (2022) to $1.2M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $260K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schwab Charitable Fund San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $260,000 |
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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 | $2,509,600 | $145,892 | $364,568 | $260,000 | 1 | $260,000 | $145,732 | $92,073 |
| 2024 | $2,727,960 | $254,925 | $1,322,376 | $1,170,000 | 1 | $1,170,000 | $254,739 | $98,792 |
| 2023 | $3,794,419 | $257,157 | $284,068 | $260,000 | 1 | $260,000 | $223,865 | $145,426 |
| 2022 | $3,853,020 | $271,370 | $143,930 | $140,000 | 1 | $140,000 | $96,257 | $139,079 |
| 2021 | $3,726,511 | $487,877 | $186,524 | $182,500 | 3 | $182,500 | $281,934 | $138,503 |
| 2020 | $3,344,362 | $145,115 | $234,410 | $220,200 | 3 | — | $43,659 | $108,970 |
| 2019 | $3,337,983 | $275,480 | $354,342 | $301,550 | 9 | — | $66,739 | $94,128 |
| 2018 | $3,837,412 | $962,397 | $301,856 | $288,550 | 1 | — | $146,737 | $94,893 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sear Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $92K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sear Family Foundation is led by Adam J T Sear, President since 2022 (on filings since 2018); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam J T Sear
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Charles D Sear
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Katherine M Johnson
Director
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Judith Sear
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2018
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Timothy R G Sear (2018–2021) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2025. "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 Sear Family Foundation
How much does Sear Family Foundation give each year?
Sear Family Foundation gave $260K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 1 grant.
How large is Sear Family Foundation?
Sear Family Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $260K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $92K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Sear Family Foundation operate?
Sear Family Foundation has awarded grants in California, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas.
What is Sear Family Foundation's EIN?
Sear Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2673430. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS August 23, 2019)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 24, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sear Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sear Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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