Sears Family Foundation
Sears Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Lake Placid, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $241K. Net investment income was $124K.
Sears Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sears Family Foundation gave $241K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $240,792
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $48,158
- +16.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $2,445,469
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Sears Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Will's Garden ($120K). Together the top 5 received $241K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 21 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sears Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 105% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 173% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $118K (2021) to $241K (2024). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $241K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Will's Garden Cooperstown, NY | Contempory Dance, Music and Performances on Ice | $120,000 |
| Cooperstown Theatre Festival Cooperstown, NY | Provide a Program of Community Summer Concerts | $64,000 |
| Ballet Theatre Foundation New York City, NY | Dance Performances | $40,000 |
| Ice Theatre of NY New York City, NY | Dance on Ice | $12,000 |
| Glimmer Glass Opera Cooperstown, NY | Opera Singing | $4,792 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,445,469 | $383,844 | $374,809 | $240,792 | 5 | $334,232 | $124,251 | $193,142 |
| 2023 | $2,434,450 | $499,208 | $335,048 | $207,109 | 5 | $293,698 | $216,831 | $181,088 |
| 2022 | $2,259,543 | $362,010 | $236,873 | $136,500 | 3 | $205,196 | $87,354 | $188,918 |
| 2021 | $2,135,297 | $463,866 | $229,815 | $117,600 | 3 | $201,237 | $103,004 | $164,012 |
| 2020 | $1,974,301 | $298,200 | $258,935 | $122,285 | 5 | — | $53,717 | $128,160 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sears Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $193K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sears Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Margarita Sears
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Olga Malinova
CFO
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $8K, to Olga Malinova (CFO).
Frequently asked questions about Sears Family Foundation
How much does Sears Family Foundation give each year?
Sears Family Foundation gave $241K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $207K across 5 grants.
What is Sears Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sears Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $48,158, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sears Family Foundation give grants?
Sears Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cooperstown, NY (3 grants) and New York City, NY (2 grants).
Does Sears Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Sears Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sears Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sears Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Will's Garden ($120,000), Cooperstown Theatre Festival ($64,000) and Ballet Theatre Foundation ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sears Family Foundation?
Sears Family Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $334K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $193K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Sears Family Foundation's EIN?
Sears Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-7040015. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Sears Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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