Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker BETHESDA, MD EIN: 13-1797260 Website

The Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc. (SESF) is a private foundation established in 1929 and incorporated in 1939 in New York. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that has been tax-exempt since October 1942. The foundation was conceived by Solon E. Summerfield as a memorial to his father, Marcus Summerfield, a University of Kansas law professor and scholar.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$33.8M

+7.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$6.7M

-20.1% YoY

Grant Count

-16.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$110K

-4.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Since its inception, SESF has championed and supported nonprofit organizations dedicated to the holistic development of underserved children and youth. Solon E. Summerfield believed that a college degree was a crucial driver of social and economic mobility—a conclusion that continues to have urgent relevance today.

Current Grantmaking Priorities:

Careers that address young people's top priorities, including:
- Climate change and the environment
- Mental and behavioral health
Youth participation in civics and government, including:
- Youth-led research and other efforts that elevate youth voice in public discourse or budgetary and policy priorities
- Youth organizing, advocacy, and engagement with system leaders and policymakers on policymaking and system-level change

Historical Funding Areas:

The foundation gives primarily for education, youth development, human services, the arts, and environmental education.

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's primary geographic focus is the NYC-Metro area, though historical giving patterns suggest broader national reach. The foundation is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $22.5M (83%)

New Jersey $1.7M (6%)

Maryland $986K (4%)

Kansas $829K (3%)

Colorado $716K (3%)

Vermont $100K (0%)

Nebraska $79K (0%)

Texas $79K (0%)

+4 more states

States

Colorado Indiana Kansas Maryland North Carolina Nebraska New Jersey New York Texas Virginia Vermont West Virginia

Cities

AlbanyArlingtonBethesdaBoys TownBronxBrooklynDenverEast RockawayFair LawnHartsdaleHuntingtonIndianapolisIrvingLawrenceMarlboroNew BrunswickNew YorkNewarkQueensRaleigh

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Revenue (2023):

Total Assets: $31.5 million
Revenue: $5.23 million
Expenses: $9.62 million
Total Liabilities: $0

Assets (2024): Approximately $33.8 million

The foundation maintains a significant endowment primarily invested in securities that generate dividend income and capital gains to support its philanthropic activities.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$33,823,777	$31,545,609	$31,529,268
Revenue	$6,923,325	$5,228,175	$672,398
Expenses	$8,085,578	$9,615,437	$7,529,728
Qualifying Distributions	$8,018,108	$9,139,750	$7,026,736
Net Investment Income	$6,674,306	$4,702,265	$933,709
Distributable Amount	$4,469,493	$4,183,045	$4,506,021

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

245 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc

Foundation

Solon E. Summerfield Foundation Grant

SOLON E SUMMERFIELD FOUNDATION INC

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Fund for the City of New York Inc ($771,936), Nyc Health Hospitals ($372,000), Green City Force ($338,322).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND HUNTINGTON, WV	ENDOWMENT/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,921
AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND DENVER, CO	PROGRAM SUPPORT - NATIVE PATHWAYS PROGRAM	$102,452
ARBOR RISING NEW YORK, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$150,729
AT THE TABLE INC BROOKLYN, NY	GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$100,000
BOTTOM LINE BROOKLYN, NY	EMERGENCY FUND ENDOWMENT	$151,247
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA IRVING, TX	ENDOWMENT/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT	$5,921
BROOKLYN NAVY YARD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BROOKLYN, NY	PROGRAM SUPPORT - STEAM CENTER	$50,000
CHANGE IMPACT EAST ROCKAWAY, NY	PROGRAM SUPPORT - PEER LEARNING PROGRAM	$50,000
COLLEGE ACCESS RESEARCH & ACTION (CARA) NEW YORK, NY	PROGRAM SUPPORT - IMPLEMENTING COLLEGE BRIDGE IN NEWARK	$118,009
COLLEGE ACCESS RESEARCH & ACTION (CARA) NEW YORK, NY	PROGRAM SUPPORT - COLLEGE ACCESS: RESEARCH & ACTION (CARA)	$75,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is governed by a five-member board of directors:

Cynthia Rivera Weissblum – Director, President
Mark A. Cogen – Director, Treasurer
Anne E. Treeger – Director, Secretary
Karen P. Balliett – Director, Vice President
Randolph Moore – Director

Board members receive modest annual compensation of $5,000 each.

Additional Contact: Alyssa N. Cogen is listed as a Director.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
CYNTHIA RIVERA WEISSBLUM	DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT	12	$5,000
KAREN P BALLIETT	DIRECTOR, VICE PRESIDENT	5	$5,000
ANNE E TREEGER	DIRECTOR, SECRETARY	5	$5,000
MARK A COGEN	DIRECTOR, TREASURER	5	$5,000
RANDOLPH MOORE	DIRECTOR	5	$5,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation engages in grant partnerships in the NYC-Metro area that seek to transform systems and pathways of opportunity so that young people most impacted by social, racial, and economic injustice can live choice-filled lives. Since its inception, SESF has championed and supported nonprofit organizations dedicated to the holistic development of underserved children and youth. Solon E. Summerfield believed that a college degree was a crucial driver of social and economic mobility—a conclus…

How do I apply for a grant from Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc?

**Annual Giving:** The foundation distributed approximately $7.5 million in charitable grants in 2024, with annual expenses of $9.62 million reported in 2023. **Grant Information:** Specific grant programs, amounts, and ranges are not publicly disclosed. Grant-making appears to be at the discretion of the board of directors. The foundation does not maintain a public-facing website with published grant guidelines, suggesting a more traditional approach to philanthropy focused on trustee-directed…

Where does Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation's primary geographic focus is the NYC-Metro area, though historical giving patterns suggest broader national reach. The foundation is based in Bethesda, Maryland.

What size grants does Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc awarded 61 grants totaling $6.7M — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc's EIN?

Solon E Summerfield Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1797260. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.