Sign Research Foundation
To educate the public about the social, economic and aesthetic value of signage to communities and businesses the foundation focuses on bringing education to sign users and to those who interact with sign users, including advertising agencies, lenders, appraisers, attorneys, regulators, businesses, franchisers, and designers.
Sign Research Foundation at a glance
In short: Sign Research Foundation gave $13K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $13,000
- +113.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,000
- +113.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,000
- Total assets
- $783,471
- +14.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Sign Research Foundation
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sign Research Foundation
Who Sign Research Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was KRD Design ($13K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
How Sign Research Foundation gives
- Giving fell 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 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 $6K (2023) to $47K (2021). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $13K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KRD Design Chester Springs, PA | On Premise Signage: Situations, Legibility, and Visibility Research | $13,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sign Research Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $783,471 | $155,025 | $66,729 | $13,000 | 1 | $15,173 |
| 2023 | $687,067 | $223,203 | $145,262 | $6,100 | 1 | $11,414 |
| 2022 | $616,435 | $148,510 | $80,632 | $30,714 | 1 | — |
| 2021 | $545,758 | $98,112 | $80,465 | $47,316 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | $538,366 | $97,192 | $64,406 | $27,390 | Total only | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Sign Research Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Sign Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Alexandria, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $783K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $13K. Net investment income was $15K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sign Research Foundation is led by Lori Anderson, Isa President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lori Anderson
Isa President & CEO
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sapna Budev
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Shad
Chairman
Trustee → Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Wexler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Velasquez
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Manish Jaisinghani
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stacey Brown
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Max Fulton
Secretary & Treasurer
Trustee → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendell Pierre
Isa Vice President & Finance
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Lisa Queeney (2020–2023) — Isa Vice President & Finance
- Former: Anne Depalma (2020–2022) — Outgoing Trustee
- Former: Judy Walton (2020–2022) — Outgoing Trustee
- Former: Keith Davis (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Ted Kiper (2020–2022) — Outgoing Chairman
- Former: Mandy Wisner (2021–2022) — Outgoing Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Sign Research Foundation
How much does Sign Research Foundation give each year?
Sign Research Foundation gave $13K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $6K across 1 grant.
How large is Sign Research Foundation?
Sign Research Foundation reported $783K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $155K.
What is Sign Research Foundation?
Sign Research Foundation is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Alexandria, VA. It holds $783K in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Sign Research Foundation operate?
Sign Research Foundation has awarded grants in California, Missouri, Pennsylvania, South Carolina.
What is Sign Research Foundation's EIN?
Sign Research Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2091972. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sign Research Foundation funds
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sign Research Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Virginia
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Lansdowne, VA
The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation funds education programs that help exceptionally promising students with financial need, including college access, academic enrichment, and support for talented students. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6 to $515,000, with a median of $7,702; it funds across the United States, with most grant dollars going to Virginia. It does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to its website for current application instructions and eligibility.
Assets
$940.1M
Grants
1,419
Total Given
$25.1M
Donors Trust Inc
Alexandria, VA
Donors Trust supports charities and programs in social welfare, health, the environment, economics, governance, foreign relations, and arts and culture, with a strong emphasis on conservative and libertarian policy and education groups. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000, though awards ranged from $5,038 to $35 million, and recipients were concentrated in Washington, D.C., Virginia, New York, Texas, and California. It does not accept unsolicited requests; donor-advisors recommend grants through their accounts.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
919
Total Given
$282.1M
The Community Foundation Inc
Richmond, VA
The Community Foundation funds health and wellness, education, economic prosperity, and community vibrancy, along with other causes through donor-advised and field-of-interest funds. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,795,000, with a median of $25,000; 78% of grant dollars went to Virginia recipients. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$852.4M
Grants
917
Total Given
$61.8M
America's Charities
Chantilly, VA
AMERICA’S CHARITIES routes donor-directed workplace giving to member charities and provides emergency assistance to eligible employees and people affected by disasters; its reported grants are fiscal-agent disbursements, not awards selected through an application process. In 2025 it reported 808 grants totaling $16.4 million, ranging from $5,000 to $515,354 (median $9,664), to recipients across the United States, with the largest shares going to Pennsylvania, California, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Arizona. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$36.2M
Grants
808
Total Given
$16.4M
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation
Richmond, VA
Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation funds eligible 501(c)(3) organizations working in health and human services, education, arts and culture, civic and community development, and the environment within its operating area. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $1 million, with a median of $5,000; it accepts unsolicited requests during spring and fall cycles.
Assets
$2.3M
Grants
773
Total Given
$16.4M
The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA
The Nature Conservancy funds conservation work, including land and easement acquisition, research, planning, organizational capacity, and sustainable agriculture, across the United States and internationally. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $31,000, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.1 million; some regional programs offer grants of up to $100,000.
Assets
$10.1B
Grants
671
Total Given
$67.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Sign Research Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Sign Research Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?