Sooch Foundation
Sooch Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. It supports educational and workforce opportunities for economically disadvantaged people in Austin and Central Texas, with an emphasis on helping people build pathways to better jobs, wages, and life skills.
Sooch Foundation at a glance
In short: Sooch Foundation gave $871K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $51K), mostly in Texas. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $871,000
- +31.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -5.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $51,235
- +39.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $15,766,522
- +7.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (3 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sooch Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It says prospective grantees should request a brief video meeting to discuss the foundation’s focus and introduce their work; it makes grants to preselected charitable organizations. Its website describes spring and fall funding cycles, with funding inquiries to be made several months in advance. Current grantees are asked to complete an annual report. Grants are limited to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charities with an appropriate IRS determination letter. The foundation does not fund individuals, capital campaigns, gala or other event tickets, school events or fundraisers, political campaigns, or the same program more than once a year.
- Contact
Mailing address: 210 Lavaca Street Apt 3702, Austin, TX 78701
Phone: (512) 971-9228
Website: https://www.soochfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sooch Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Youthworks ($100K). Together the top 10 received $611K.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 59 grants of 94 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its funding is restricted to organizations headquartered in Central Texas or with significant program operations there. It does not make grants to other areas of Texas or the country. Its 2024 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sooch Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 17 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $20K; repeat grants $58K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 137% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $662K (2023) to $871K (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $871K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Youthworks Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $100,000 |
| Lifeworks Austn Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $100,000 |
| Assistance League of Austin Texas Inc Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $60,000 |
| Texas Empowerment Academy Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $51,000 |
| Breakthrough Central TX Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
| Capital Idea Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
| CODE2COLLEGE Pflugerville, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
| E4 Youth Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
| Foundation Communities Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
| Friends of the Children Austin, TX | To Support Organization's Purpose | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sooch Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,766,522 | $1,384,071 | $1,150,304 | $871,000 | 17 | $1,024,847 | $725,134 | $749,467 |
| 2023 | $14,623,214 | $328,349 | $889,739 | $662,000 | 18 | $786,716 | $301,152 | $685,935 |
| 2022 | $13,728,386 | $-567,949 | $929,860 | $695,000 | 16 | $816,743 | $269,236 | $709,064 |
| 2021 | $16,394,043 | $4,057,613 | $1,030,279 | $835,000 | 23 | $971,314 | $3,998,648 | $744,286 |
| 2020 | $15,785,483 | $500,764 | $972,302 | $760,000 | 20 | — | $451,839 | $712,510 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sooch Foundation reported a distributable amount of $749K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to make a positive and permanent change in the lives of economically disadvantaged people in Austin through increased educational opportunities. It supports organizations and programs that increase job and wage attainment for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Its stated criteria include serving people age 14 and older, with at least 60% of a program’s clients from economically disadvantaged households. The foundation says it looks for organizations with a track record of engaging people facing significant economic and other barriers, and programs that lead to better jobs, wages, and life skills. It also expects grantees to track and report progress, with particular interest in increased wages and credentials that can lead to higher wages.
Examples of grantees’ work include American YouthWorks, which says it provides young adults with education, paid career training, and national service; PelotonU, which says it helps working students graduate from college on time and debt-free; and Code2College, which says it works to increase the number of minority and low-income students entering and excelling in STEM majors and careers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $871,000 through 17 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $50,000. Notable grants included $100,000 each to American YouthWorks and LifeWorks; $60,000 to Assistance League of Austin Texas; $51,000 to Texas Empowerment Academy; and $50,000 each to Breakthrough Central Texas, Capital IDEA, Code2College, E4 Youth, Foundation Communities, Friends of the Children, LEVEL, and PelotonU.
The foundation’s website lists Breakthrough Central Texas, Capital IDEA, Foster Angels of Central Texas, Foundation Communities, LifeWorks, Skillpoint Alliance, and Texas Empowerment Academy as its 2026 spring grantees. This is a past cycle as of September 28, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Navdeep S Sooch as president and treasurer; David R Welland as vice president and secretary; and John McGovern, Kelly Sooch, David Sooch, and Kevin Sooch as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Susan McDowell as executive director.
Sooch Foundation is led by Navdeep S. Sooch, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Navdeep S. Sooch
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Sooch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John McGovern
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Sooch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Sooch
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David R. Welland
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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.
Frequently asked questions about Sooch Foundation
How much does Sooch Foundation give each year?
Sooch Foundation gave $871K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $662K across 18 grants.
What is Sooch Foundation's typical grant size?
Sooch Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $51,235, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sooch Foundation that year got $20K on average.
Where does Sooch Foundation give grants?
Sooch Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (16 grants).
Does Sooch Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Sooch Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Organization's Purpose" (17 grants).
Who are Sooch Foundation's largest grantees?
Sooch Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Youthworks ($100,000), Lifeworks Austn ($100,000) and Assistance League of Austin Texas Inc ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sooch Foundation?
Sooch Foundation reported $15.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $749K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sooch Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to make a positive and permanent change in the lives of economically disadvantaged people in Austin through increased educational opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sooch Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sooch Foundation's EIN?
Sooch Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0399480. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sooch Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sooch Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sooch-foundation-morg_e60b2f21fd03469c8e766b0826896170
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200399480_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sooch Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sooch-foundation-morg_e60b2f21fd03469c8e766b0826896170},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Sooch 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.
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