Sunlight Giving is a private grantmaking foundation based in Palo Alto, California. Established in 2014 and granted tax-exempt status in December 2015, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to philanthropic work in the greater Silicon Valley region. The foundation functions as part of the Wildcard Giving family alongside Acton Family Giving and Solidarity Giving.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$23.0M
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
332
-7.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+5.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Sunlight Giving's mission centers on the belief that a child's economic status should not define their future. The foundation is dedicated to supporting nonprofits that ensure young children and their families living in poverty in greater Silicon Valley have access to the resources they need.
The organization identifies five core focus areas:
- Food Security — Recognizing food as a fundamental human necessity
- Housing Stability — Viewing safe and stable shelter as the cornerstone of all other basic needs
- Family Support — Providing coordinated services that connect families to vital resources
- Health Care Access — Treating health care as a human right accessible to all
- Safe Spaces — Supporting environments where families and children can thrive
The foundation's grantmaking works in tandem with sister organizations' initiatives, including Acton Family Giving's empathy building work and Solidarity Giving's social justice focus.
Grantmaking
Sunlight Giving has made 1,618 grants totaling $86.3 million to 341 unique organizations. Individual grants have ranged from $715 to $500,000, with a median grant of $40,000 and an average award of $53,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Sunlight Giving's grantmaking is concentrated in greater Silicon Valley. The foundation primarily supports organizations in California, District of Columbia, and Illinois, with grantmaking reaching organizations across four states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2023: $471.2 million
- 2024: $502.5 million
Annual Income:
- $155.3 million (2024)
Revenue & Expenses (2023):
- Revenue: $39.9 million
- Expenses: $31.9 million
Liabilities:
- 2023: $21.8 million
The foundation's total assets have grown substantially from $207,000 in 2014 to over $502 million by 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sunlight Giving
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Tegan Acton serves as the principal officer of Sunlight Giving. The foundation is governed by two officers and trustees and employs four staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEGAN ACTON | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| BRIAN ACTON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Sunlight Giving on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
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