Surefire Trust is a private foundation based in Fort Myers, Florida. The organization focuses on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors including education, human services, and voluntarism.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.6M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$381K
+28.0% YoY
Grant Count
21
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+9.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Surefire Trust reported a distributable amount of $371K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Surefire Trust's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Nonprofit Child Care Centers
- Science Education and STEM
- Obesity Prevention
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Surefire Trust primarily funds organizations in:
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Tennessee
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,621,549 |
| Total Annual Giving | $380,800 |
The foundation's financial data is based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing from 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,621,549 | $5,638,705 | $5,904,979 |
| Revenue | $402,023 | $66,763 | $-266,485 |
| Expenses | $419,179 | $333,037 | $384,630 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $380,800 | $297,600 | $351,200 |
| Net Investment Income | $365,644 | $117,308 | $104,749 |
| Distributable Amount | $371,342 | $328,249 | $335,265 |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Compassion Child Care ($123,000), Pequot Lakes Babtist Church ($89,050), Turning Point ($26,400).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2ND CHANCE YOUTH RANCH RAMSEY, MN | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | GENERAL FUND | $4,000 |
| COMPASSION CHILD CARE SIOUX FALLS, SD | GENERAL FUND | $123,000 |
| FOR THE LOVE OF 4 PAWS MEDINA, MN | GENERAL FUND | $6,000 |
| GOSPEL BAPTIST CHURCH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $10,350 |
| HOLY NAME OF JESUS CHURCH WAYZATA, MN | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| IDEAL FIRE DEPARTMENT PEQUOT LAKES, MN | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER, MN | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| PEQUOT LAKES BABTIST CHURCH MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL FUND | $89,050 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KEITH STOTTS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LYNN STOTTS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Surefire Trust fund?
Surefire Trust's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Nonprofit Child Care Centers • Science Education and STEM • Obesity Prevention
How do I apply for a grant from Surefire Trust?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $123,000 **Total Annual Giving:** $380,800 **Grant Activity:** The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, though specific details about current open opportunities and application procedures are not available in the verified sources.
Where does Surefire Trust make grants?
Surefire Trust primarily funds organizations in: • Minnesota • Wisconsin • Tennessee
What size grants does Surefire Trust award?
In 2024, Surefire Trust awarded 21 grants totaling $381K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Surefire Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Surefire Trust reported a distributable amount of $371K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Surefire Trust's EIN?
Surefire Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3973820. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Surefire Trust'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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