Severns Family Foundation
The Severns Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1989, it operates as a non-operating foundation focused on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.7M
-0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$730K
-8.2% YoY
Grant Count
22
-8.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$33K
+0.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Severns Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $594K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's current focus is on early literacy and environmental awareness, specifically the reduction of dependence on non-renewable resources. The foundation supports education and environmental initiatives, with particular emphasis on literacy programs and renewable energy projects in Northern California and beyond.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Specific application guidelines are not detailed in available sources.
Grant Range
$5,000–$150,000
Average Grant
$40,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Washington. Additional funding reaches organizations in Alabama and Washington, D.C. The foundation has supported organizations across six states, with 97% of grants concentrated in California, New York, and Alabama.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $10.7–$10.8 million
- Annual Revenue: $917,215–$1.3 million
- Annual Expenses: $743,406–$816,419
- Total Historical Grants: Approximately $3.8 million across 95 grants (through 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,746,221 | $10,751,300 | $10,650,504 |
| Revenue | $933,092 | $917,215 | $1,202,437 |
| Expenses | $743,406 | $816,419 | $699,852 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $730,658 | $798,655 | $683,052 |
| Net Investment Income | $933,092 | $917,154 | $1,201,637 |
| Distributable Amount | $593,506 | $549,260 | $686,470 |
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
102 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Teach For America - Bay Area ($90,000), Reading Partners ($80,000), Humane Society Silicon Valley ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 Valencia San Francisco, CA | Capital Campaign | $40,000 |
| Second Harvest San Jose, CA | Food Bank | $50,000 |
| Reading Partners Oakland, CA | Education | $80,000 |
| Humane Society Silicon Valley Milpitas, CA | Animal Welfare | $80,000 |
| Sunnyvale Community Services Sunnyvale, CA | Community Programs | $30,000 |
| SPARC - Shakespeare's Associates Livermore, CA | Education | $20,000 |
| ACE Public Schools Network San Jose, CA | Education | $50,000 |
| Vote Solar Oakland, CA | Energy Conservation | $10,000 |
| ACLU Foundation New York, NY | Social Justice | $20,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of Am New York, NY | Health Services | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Nancy E. Severns – President & Chief Executive Officer (volunteer, no compensation)
- Sharon L. Severns – Treasurer (volunteer, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARON L SEVERNS | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| NANCY E SEVERNS | Pres & CEO | 3 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: www.severnsfoundation.org
- Phone: 415-608-7413 or 408-730-8609
- Address: 915 Diamond Street, San Francisco, CA 94114-3626
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Severns Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's current focus is on early literacy and environmental awareness, specifically the reduction of dependence on non-renewable resources. The foundation supports education and environmental initiatives, with particular emphasis on literacy programs and renewable energy projects in Northern California and beyond.
How do I apply for a grant from Severns Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $730,000–$795,000 • Number of grants: 22–24 grants annually • Grant range: $5,000–$150,000 • Median grant size: $20,000–$25,000 • Average grant size: $40,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Humane Society Silicon Valley: $80,000 (Animal Welfare) • Reading Partners: $80,000 (Education) • Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: $75,000 (Capital Campaign) **Application Process:** The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizat…
Where does Severns Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Washington. Additional funding reaches organizations in Alabama and Washington, D.C. The foundation has supported organizations across six states, with 97% of grants concentrated in California, New York, and Alabama.
What size grants does Severns Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Severns Family Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $730K — an average of about $33K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Severns Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Severns Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $594K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Severns Family Foundation's EIN?
Severns Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0235139. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Severns 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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