Spaht Family Foundation
The Spaht Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2019, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to advance visionary leaders and enduring initiatives across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$122.1M
+145.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+95.0% YoY
Grant Count
28
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$97K
+109.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Spaht Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation advances visionary leaders and enduring initiatives in three core areas:
- Climate/Environmental Conservation – Supporting initiatives that address climate change and promote environmental sustainability
- Mental Health – Funding mental health-related programs and initiatives
- The Arts – Supporting artistic and cultural endeavors
The foundation's approach is guided by three core values: trust in the capabilities of supported leaders and organizations, decisiveness in making efficient decisions to meet urgent needs, and continuous learning to understand complex issues and improve impact.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not have a public application process. Contact information for grant inquiries is not publicly available on their website.
Grant Range
$500 to $1,000,000
Average Grant
$166 to $29,900 (varies by reporting source)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds initiatives nationally, with primary geographic focus in:
- California
- District of Columbia
- Texas
The foundation has also funded projects in major cities including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, as well as in Massachusetts and Louisiana.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $49.7 million
- Total Revenue: $8.73 million
- Total Expenses: $4.67 million
- Total Liabilities: $3.49 million
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $122.1 million
- Total Revenue: $69.5 million
- Total Expenses: $6.4 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $122,077,362 | $49,673,493 | $37,360,859 |
| Revenue | $69,458,075 | $8,729,985 | $13,558,639 |
| Expenses | $6,353,310 | $4,669,309 | $523,223 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,868,008 | $1,439,160 | $540,673 |
| Net Investment Income | $68,587,497 | $7,420,922 | $13,245,437 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,888,621 | $2,059,780 | $1,056,612 |
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
108 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dartmouth College ($1,250,000), Schools of the Sacred Heart ($500,000), Southern Methodist University ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT AFTER HURRICANES MILTON AND HELENE | $10,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP (EWG) WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $61,360 |
| HEADLANDS CENTER FOR THE ARTS SAUSALITO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SCHOOLS OF THE SACRED HEART SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SFFILM SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,050 |
| ST MARY THE VIRGIN SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VA | W&L FUND FOR AREA OF GREATEST NEED | $50,000 |
| ACCESS INSTITUTE FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ARTISTS ASSOCIATION OF NANTUCKET NANTUCKET, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Holden Spaht – President and Co-Founder
- Claire Spaht – Secretary, Treasurer, and Co-Founder
Both serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOLDEN SPAHT | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE SPAHT | SECRETARY, TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made recent grants supporting student wellness and arts education, including endowments at major universities. The foundation continues to fund initiatives across its three core focus areas of climate, mental health, and the arts.
Spaht Family Foundation - Grant Information & Application DetailsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Spaht Family Foundation fund?
The foundation advances visionary leaders and enduring initiatives in three core areas: • **Climate/Environmental Conservation** – Supporting initiatives that address climate change and promote environmental sustainability • **Mental Health** – Funding mental health-related programs and initiatives • **The Arts** – Supporting artistic and cultural endeavors The foundation's approach is guided by three core values: trust in the capabilities of supported leaders and organizations, decisiveness in…
How do I apply for a grant from Spaht Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $1.4 million (2023) • Number of grants: 29 grants awarded in 2023 • Grant range: $500 to $1,000,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • Average grant size: $166 to $29,900 (varies by reporting source) **Notable Major Gifts:** • $4 million to establish the Lindley Center for Student Wellness at Washington and Lee University • $2 million to SMU Meadows School of the Arts • $500,000 to Schools of the Sacred Heart-San Francisco for the Spaht Family Endowment Fund • $…
Where does Spaht Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds initiatives nationally, with primary geographic focus in: • California • District of Columbia • Texas The foundation has also funded projects in major cities including New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, as well as in Massachusetts and Louisiana.
What size grants does Spaht Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Spaht Family Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $97K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Spaht Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Spaht Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Spaht Family Foundation's EIN?
Spaht Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2183149. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spaht Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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