Skywords Family Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Tiburon, CA EIN: 20-1247525

Skywords Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Tiburon, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $92.0M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $2.5M. Net investment income was $2.3M.

Key facts about Skywords Family Foundation Inc

In short: Skywords Family Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $629K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-1247525
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,515,000
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$628,750
Median grant
$657,500
Total assets
$92,016,330
Primary geography
California (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$92.0M

-1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.5M

-1.7% YoY

Grant Count

4

-55.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$629K

+121.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Skywords Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Skywords Family Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving fell 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

TiburonSanta CruzWashingtonSan FranciscoWarwickNew YorkSan RafaelBuffaloChestnut RidgeDaytonNovatoSacramento

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M10 grants2020 7 grants2021 10 grants2022 9 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2024) to $3.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $2.5M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Vanguard Charitable: $900KVanguard Charitable$900KCanobie Films Inc: $845KCanobie Films Inc$845KChadwick Library Press Foundation: $470KChadwick Library PressFoundation$470KGinungagap Foundation: $300KGinungagap Foundation$300K

The largest 2024 recipient was Vanguard Charitable ($900K). Together the top 4 received $2.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

40 grants across all recorded years

18<$50K1$50–100K4$100–250K4$250–500K9$500K–1M4$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 40 (45%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Vanguard Charitable Warwick, RITo further charitable and educational purposes in the local community.$900,000
Canobie Films Inc Tiburon, CATo further charitable and educational purposes in the local community.$845,000
Chadwick Library Press Foundation Tiburon, CATo further charitable and educational purposes in the local community.$470,000
Ginungagap Foundation Tiburon, CATo further charitable and educational purposes in the local community.$300,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$92,016,330$93,165,927$96,004,261
Revenue$2,555,264$1,931,453$29,859
Expenses$3,702,649$3,839,303$4,147,697
Qualifying Distributions$4,012,299$4,153,440$4,294,472
Net Investment Income$2,315,992$2,563,829$2,117,486
Distributable Amount$4,028,522$3,952,430$4,159,201

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Skywords Family Foundation Inc is led by Michael Davis, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Michael Davis

    President

    On filings since 2020

    38 hrs/week

    $38K (2021) → $108K (2024)

  • Janet Jyll Johnstone

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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

Michael Davis — President: $108KMichael DavisPresident$108K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $108K, to Michael Davis (President).

Frequently asked questions about Skywords Family Foundation Inc

How much does Skywords Family Foundation Inc give each year?

Skywords Family Foundation Inc gave $2.5M across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 9 grants.

What is Skywords Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Skywords Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $657,500, and its average grant was $628,750, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Skywords Family Foundation Inc give grants?

Skywords Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (36%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tiburon, CA (3 grants).

Does Skywords Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Skywords Family Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

How large is Skywords Family Foundation Inc?

Skywords Family Foundation Inc reported $92.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Skywords Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

Skywords Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1247525. 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.

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