Sound Foundation Inc
Sound Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in West Tisbury, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $783K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $61K. Net investment income was $77K.
Sound Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Sound Foundation Inc gave $61K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $61,288
- -51.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,258
- -80.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $783,291
- +2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (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 Sound Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oak Bluffs Elementary School ($26K). Together the top 5 received $61K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 24 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sound Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 63% 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 $61K (2025) to $127K (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $61K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Bluffs Elementary School Vineyard Haven, MA | Education | $26,137 |
| Martha's Vineyard Regional High School Oak Bluffs, MA | Education | $21,091 |
| Island Autism Group West Tisbury, MA | Charity | $9,000 |
| West Tisbury Library West Tisbury, MA | Charity | $3,700 |
| Island Children's School West Tisbury, MA | Education | $1,360 |
Ready to take the next step with Sound Foundation Inc?
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 | $783,291 | $78,756 | $62,901 | $61,288 | 5 | $61,341 | $77,196 | $96,701 |
| 2024 | $767,436 | $74,185 | $132,267 | $127,179 | 2 | $127,267 | $72,185 | $91,188 |
| 2023 | $907,452 | $153,531 | $102,983 | $100,390 | 7 | $100,390 | $150,991 | $93,091 |
| 2022 | $856,904 | $55,498 | $110,505 | $101,797 | 6 | $108,285 | $53,313 | $107,022 |
| 2021 | $911,911 | $159,869 | $95,319 | $84,550 | 4 | $84,850 | $153,328 | $102,387 |
| 2020 | $847,361 | $51,928 | $99,045 | $82,693 | 4 | — | $40,310 | $94,054 |
| 2019 | $894,478 | $82,813 | $96,865 | $82,390 | 10 | — | $107,110 | $87,675 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sound Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sound Foundation Inc is led by Scarlet S. Johnson, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scarlet S. Johnson
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Saunders
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Nachbar
Clerk
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Blue Cullen (2019–2021) — Clerk
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 Sound Foundation Inc
How much does Sound Foundation Inc give each year?
Sound Foundation Inc gave $61K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $127K across 2 grants.
What is Sound Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sound Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $9,000, and its average grant was $12,258, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sound Foundation Inc give grants?
Sound Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were West Tisbury, MA (3 grants).
Does Sound Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Sound Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Sound Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sound Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Oak Bluffs Elementary School ($26,137), Martha's Vineyard Regional High School ($21,091) and Island Autism Group ($9,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 92% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sound Foundation Inc?
Sound Foundation Inc reported $783K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $61K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $97K (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 Sound Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sound Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1962720. 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sound Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sound Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Martha's Vineyard Bank Charitable
Edgartown, MA
Martha’s Vineyard Bank Charitable supports organizations in areas including education, housing, arts, youth services, hospice care, and animal sheltering, primarily in Massachusetts. Its 2025 grants ranged from $40 to $251,000, with a median of $2,500; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.7M
Grants
154
Total Given
$1.1M
Stonehouse Inc
Vineyard Haven, MA
Stonehouse Inc. supports preselected exempt organizations and the preservation of historically significant real estate on Martha’s Vineyard, with grants spanning conservation, education, agriculture, arts, community services, and maritime history. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, with a median of $1,000; most funding went to Massachusetts, especially Martha’s Vineyard. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
14
Total Given
$16K
South Mountain Company Foundation
West Tisbury, MA
Assets
$10K
Grants
4
Total Given
$8K
G Kenneth and Ann Baum Philanthropic
Stilwell, KS
This foundation funds organizations in arts and culture, health care, education, human services, food access, and other areas, with most 2024 grants going to Missouri, Minnesota, and Kansas. Its 97 grants totaled about $2.07 million; the median grant was $5,500, with awards ranging from $65 to $261,915. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$24.1M
Grants
97
Total Given
$2.1M
Mimi and Peter Haas Fund
San Francisco, CA
The Fund supports early education, arts and culture, poverty-focused solutions, public schools, and medical research, with most 2024 grant dollars going to California and additional funding in New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $2.75 million, with a median of $15,000. The filing says there are no required application forms or materials, deadlines, or award restrictions, but does not explicitly say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$177.6M
Grants
238
Total Given
$15.2M
Service Station Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The Service Station Foundation supports charitable organizations, including those focused on education and community development. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $2 million, with a median of $89,000, and mostly went to organizations in California, with some funding in New York and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
12
Total Given
$4.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Sound Foundation Inc'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.
Sound Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?