Surdna Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1917 by John Emory Andrus. Based in New York, the foundation operates as a philanthropic organization dedicated to fostering sustainable communities across the United States. The foundation has been governed largely by descendants of John Emory Andrus across five generations, maintaining a tradition of family stewardship and innovative philanthropic service.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2B
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$58.9M
+7.7% YoY
Grant Count
392
+12.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$150K
-4.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Surdna Foundation aims to foster sustainable communities in the United States that are grounded in social justice and marked by healthy environments, inclusive economies, and thriving cultures.
Primary Focus Areas:
The foundation structures its grantmaking around three priority areas:
Inclusive Economies — Supporting diverse businesses owned by people of color, equitable economic development, worker organizing, and wealth-building for communities of color
Sustainable Environments — Addressing environmental sustainability and climate-related initiatives
Thriving Cultures — Supporting arts and cultural development
The foundation emphasizes racial justice as a guiding principle for both its internal operations and grantmaking partnerships. In 2018, Surdna made a strategic shift to place racial justice at the center of all its grantmaking, viewing it as fundamental to addressing systemic inequities.
Grantmaking
Between 2018-2024, Surdna distributed 1,124 grants totaling $297.5 million across its three priority areas:
Grant Range
$15,000 to $900,000+
Average Grant
$275,000 (2018-2024)
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation maintains a national focus on the United States, with primary grantmaking activity in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Fiscal Year 2024):
- Total Assets: $1.163 billion
- Total Revenue: $56.97 million
- Total Expenses: $77.06 million
- Total Liabilities: $76.6 million
- Net Income: -$20.1 million
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained assets exceeding $1 billion and distributes substantial annual grants to support its mission-driven work.
Staffing: The foundation employs approximately 23-26 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,163,466,026 | $1,166,632,706 | $1,222,374,293 |
| Revenue | $56,966,218 | $193,448,000 | $50,900,057 |
| Expenses | $77,062,549 | $105,542,174 | $51,216,331 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $72,285,450 | $66,436,107 | $58,862,714 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,694,506 | $912,283 | $120,817,275 |
| Distributable Amount | $55,620,914 | $59,823,634 | $62,152,131 |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Leadership:
- Don Chen — President
- Caitlin Boger-Hawkins — Board Chair
- Marc De Venoge — Vice President, Finance
- Adam Connaker — Director, Impact Investments
- Silvana Serafimovska — Director, Grants Management
- Peter Voorhees — Board Member
- Amachie Ackah — Board Member
- Gary Hall — Board Member
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONALD CHEN | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $673,270 |
| MARC DE VENOGE | VP FINANCE AND INVESTING | 40 | $540,934 |
| JONATHAN GOLDBERG | VP LEARNING & IMPACT | 40 | $332,864 |
| ADAM CONNAKER | Director, Impact Investing | 40 | $270,263 |
| ELIZABETH CAHILL | VP, COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGE. | 40 | $317,883 |
| CAITLIN BOGER-HAWKINS | CHAIRPERSON | 1 | — |
| Shari T Wilson | Vice Chairperson | 1 | — |
| Peter C Voorhees | Secretary/Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Amachie Ackah | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Davis Benedict | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Michelle DePass | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Cameron Griffith | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MIGUEL SANTANA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Ommeed Sathe | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Shogren | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| Timothy D Thorpe | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include:
Nearly $13 million investment in artists of color to advance racial justice
Surdna Foundation Announces Nearly $13 Million Investment in Artists of Color$4.5 million in grants announced
Surdna Foundation Announces $4.5 Million in Grants - Surdna Foundation$3 million in grants announced
Surdna Foundation Announces $4.5 Million in Grants - Surdna Foundation$1 million grant to Ashé Cultural Arts Center in New Orleans
Surdna Foundation Announces Grant to New Orleans based Ash\xE9 Cultural\$2.28 million in general support to New Venture Fund (2024)
$2 million in general support to Andrus on Hudson (2024)
$2 million in general support to Andrus (2024)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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