Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation
The Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2007 with tax-exempt status granted in February 2008. Based in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with administrative offices in Garden City, New York, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking. The foundation was founded by Patrick J. Sullivan and Carolyn H. Sullivan, both former public school teachers.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.3M
+0.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+27.4% YoY
Grant Count
28
-24.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$71K
+68.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation transforms lives by funding programs and institutions that advance opportunity and equity for individuals, families, and communities. The foundation has a particular focus on multilingual education and champions "relational philanthropy"—forging lasting partnerships through multi-year grant commitments that nurture environments where creative solutions can emerge.
The foundation supports initiatives across education, science education, STEM education, human services, and philanthropy and grantmaking.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. It makes contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
approximately $41,912 (2023)
Average Grant
approximately $41,912 (2023)
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across 15 states nationally, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The foundation has funded projects in major urban centers such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $43,309,414
- Total Revenues: $2,669,475
- Total Expenses: $2,384,077
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $43,024,016
- Total Revenues: $629,478
- Total Expenses: $1,844,090
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,309,414 | $43,024,016 | $44,402,251 |
| Revenue | $2,669,475 | $629,478 | $8,939,676 |
| Expenses | $2,384,077 | $1,844,090 | $1,154,203 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,229,533 | $1,717,475 | $824,495 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,517,548 | $518,327 | $8,153,493 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,196,317 | $1,958,865 | $1,803,205 |
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
147 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include International Rescue Committee ($350,000), Latinos for Education ($250,000), Washington International School ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1ST LT SCOTT MILLEY FOUNDATION SUDBURY, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| DC PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $140,000 |
| EDUCATION FORWARD DC WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| ENSEMBLE LEARNING OAKLAND, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $3,312 |
| EVANSTON DANCE ENSEMBLE EVANSTON, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY SISTERS BELMONT, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CTR CAMBRIDGE, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| GLEN ECHO PARK PARTNERSHIP GLEN ECHO, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| IDENTITY INC GAITHERSBURG, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Dr. Margaret Marcus, appointed for her expertise in applied linguistics and dual-language education.
Trustees: Patrick J. Sullivan and Carolyn H. Sullivan, both serving without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATRICK J SULLIVAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CAROLYN H SULLIVAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation transforms lives by funding programs and institutions that advance opportunity and equity for individuals, families, and communities. The foundation has a particular focus on multilingual education and champions "relational philanthropy"—forging lasting partnerships through multi-year grant commitments that nurture environments where creative solutions can emerge. The foundation supports initiatives across education, science education, STEM education, human services, and philanth…
How do I apply for a grant from Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 35 grants totaling $1,976,204 • 2023: 37 grants totaling $1,550,750 • Average grant size: approximately $41,912 (2023) • Typical award range: $2,500–$350,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • International Rescue Committee (IRC): $350,000 • Washington International School (WIS): $250,000 • Latinos for Education: $250,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. It makes contributions …
Where does Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across 15 states nationally, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The foundation has funded projects in major urban centers such as New York, Chicago, and Boston, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $71K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1624907. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Reich Family Charitable Trust
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$689K
Grants
1
Total Given
$453K
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
The Hilary Grace Foundation Inc
EAST AMHERST, NY
Assets
$126K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation to a real strategy.