Sonder Foundation
Sonder Foundation is a private foundation, based in Wilmington, DE. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $83K. Net investment income was $158K.
Sonder Foundation at a glance
In short: Sonder Foundation gave $83K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $83,100
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,550
- +23.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $41,550
- Total assets
- $1,605,224
- +4.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Sonder Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Black Public Media Inc ($43K). Together the top 2 received $83K.
Grant Size Distribution
91 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 91 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sonder Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−20%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 91% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2024) to $119K (2019). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $83K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Black Public Media Inc New York, NY | Pitch Black and the NCU Emerging Media fellowship | $43,100 |
| Teach for America Inc New York, NY | New Jersey Program | $40,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,605,224 | $159,735 | $91,653 | $83,100 | 2 | $89,871 | $158,453 | $98,908 |
| 2024 | $1,537,142 | $11,234 | $77,071 | $67,100 | 2 | $74,706 | $35,471 | $89,621 |
| 2023 | $1,602,779 | $35,883 | $85,378 | $79,550 | 29 | $85,325 | $53,010 | $76,391 |
| 2022 | $1,652,274 | $-278,241 | $108,768 | $103,343 | 28 | $108,368 | $16,474 | $84,016 |
| 2021 | $2,039,283 | $77 | $97,552 | $90,050 | 30 | $95,075 | $15,684 | $109,680 |
| 2020 | $2,136,758 | $79,453 | $110,875 | $105,850 | 34 | — | $77,470 | $94,463 |
| 2019 | $2,168,180 | $36,679 | $124,817 | $119,192 | 34 | — | $36,679 | $111,175 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sonder Foundation reported a distributable amount of $99K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sonder Foundation is led by Claire A Walls, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Claire A Walls
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Sousa
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Sonder Foundation
How much does Sonder Foundation give each year?
Sonder Foundation gave $83K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $67K across 2 grants.
How large is Sonder Foundation?
Sonder Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $90K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $99K (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.
Where does Sonder Foundation operate?
Sonder Foundation has awarded grants in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington.
What is Sonder Foundation's EIN?
Sonder Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1424512. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 24, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 18, 2024)
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