Semnani Family Foundation
The Semnani Family Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1993 by Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the foundation operates as a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting marginalized and vulnerable communities globally. The foundation was inspired by the humanitarian example of Khosrow Semnani's grandmother, Maliheh, whose name is carried forward through the foundation's work and the Maliheh Free Clinic established in Utah.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$132.2M
+16.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.6M
+6.4% YoY
Grant Count
64
+20.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
-11.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Semnani Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is threefold:
Immediate Relief: To furnish prompt relief for marginal and vulnerable communities around the world, particularly those whose survival and security are at grave risk or immediate danger due to factors beyond their control, such as disease, famine, earthquake, flood, or war.
Sustainable Solutions: To encourage creative research, education, and civic initiatives to find impactful, sustainable solutions that prevent or mitigate such factors in the long term.
Inspiration: To provide an example, inspiring others to use whatever is within their capacity to help those in need.
The foundation focuses primarily on three core areas: health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities. The foundation also maintains a strong commitment to Utah, where it is based, supporting the state's people and communities.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis with no set deadlines.
Grant Range
$5,300-$10,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Semnani Family Foundation operates globally, with a presence in 23+ countries:
Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, United States, and Yemen.
The foundation maintains a particularly strong commitment to Utah, where it is headquartered and where it established the Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to uninsured and low-income residents of the Salt Lake City area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets (2024): $132 million
- Total assets (2023): $113.7 million
- Asset growth: From $50.8 million in 2011 to $132 million in 2024
Annual Activity (2024):
- Revenue: $30.9 million
- Expenses: $7.55 million
- Total liabilities: $94,800
Annual Activity (2023):
- Total revenues: $12.96 million
- Total expenses: $6.02 million
Historical Giving:
- Annual giving has grown from $4.8 million in 2020 to $11.6 million in 2022
- Total grants made: 211 grants totaling $20 million (across available records)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $132,210,881 | $113,691,692 | $107,919,049 |
| Revenue | $30,898,666 | $12,963,472 | $8,360,452 |
| Expenses | $7,551,479 | $6,020,452 | $7,709,424 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,989,911 | $5,798,899 | $7,025,572 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,934,889 | $11,784,048 | $4,127,006 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,346,725 | $6,278,126 | $6,414,691 |
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
249 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Semnani Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Catholic Relief Services ($250,000), Neighborhood House Association ($125,000), National Multiple Sclerosis Society ($110,054).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU OF UTAH FOUNDATION INC SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $15,000 |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER ALLENWOOD, NJ | GENERAL CONT | $500 |
| ADVANCING AMERICAN FREEDOM FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL CONT | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS UT & NV REGION SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $10,000 |
| ANTELOPE LENDING LIBRARY IOWA CITY, IA | GENERAL CONT | $5,000 |
| BALLET WEST SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GREATER SALT LAKE MURRAY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $12,500 |
| CATHEDRAL OF THE MADELEINE SALT LAKE CITY, UT | GENERAL CONT | $10,000 |
| CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES HARLAN, IA | GENERAL CONT | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members/Directors:
- Khosrow Semnani - Director and Principal Officer (founder)
- Ghazaleh Semnani - Director (co-founder)
- Shirin Kia - Director
- Taymour Semnani - Director
Khosrow Semnani is a successful businessman and industrialist who emigrated from Iran and became a naturalized American citizen. He continues to lead the foundation in philanthropic efforts and maintains a strong connection to his homeland through the founding of Omid for Iran.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KHOSROW SEMNANI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHIRIN KIA | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GHAZALEH SEMNANI | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TAYMOUR SEMNANI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 801-680-0540
Email: info@semnanifamilyfoundation.org
Office Location: 630 E S Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 11623, Salt Lake City, UT 84147
Website: semnanifamilyfoundation.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Semnani Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is threefold: 1. **Immediate Relief**: To furnish prompt relief for marginal and vulnerable communities around the world, particularly those whose survival and security are at grave risk or immediate danger due to factors beyond their control, such as disease, famine, earthquake, flood, or war. 2. **Sustainable Solutions**: To encourage creative research, education, and civic initiatives to find impactful, sustainable solutions that prevent or mitigate such factors in t…
How do I apply for a grant from Semnani Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $5.3 million to $11.6 million (varies by year) • Number of grants: 50-64 grants annually • Median grant size: $5,300-$10,000 • Grant range: $250 to $4.8 million • Average award: $95,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis with no set deadlines. **Recent Grantees (2023):** • Somali Community Services of Utah ($68,000) • Neighborhood House Association ($35,000) • Salt Lake Chamber Women's Business Center ($25,000) • …
Where does Semnani Family Foundation make grants?
The Semnani Family Foundation operates globally, with a presence in 23+ countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Tonga, Uganda, United States, and Yemen. The foundation maintains a particularly strong commitment to Utah, where it is headquartered and where it established the Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to uninsured and lo…
What size grants does Semnani Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Semnani Family Foundation awarded 64 grants totaling $5.6M — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Semnani Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Semnani Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Semnani Family Foundation's EIN?
Semnani Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-2639794. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Semnani Family 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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