Swantz Family Foundation
The Swantz Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Red Hook, New York. It supports nonprofit programs that connect children and young people with nature and the outdoors.
Swantz Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Swantz Family Foundation gave $74K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), top state California. 63% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $74,000
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +31.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,960
- -13.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $748,161
- +15.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (15 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Swantz Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Applicants may submit through the online form or use the Word application if needed. The application materials described in the filing are a one-page cover letter and up to four pages of narrative. Grants are generally for one year and are restricted to the purposes for which they are awarded. Organizations may reapply for up to three consecutive years before being asked to take a year off. Grantees must submit a written report with a narrative of project activities and a final accounting of funds used, by the end of the grant period or February 1, whichever comes first. The foundation may request additional information or arrange a visit.
- Review Cycle
- March 1 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
- Deadline
- March 1 at 8 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Jennifer S Swantz
Mailing address: 21 Reilly Lane, Red Hook, NY 12571
Phone: (845) 514-3434
Website: https://swantzfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Swantz Family Foundation
Who Swantz Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Children & Nature Network ($5K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 87 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant list includes recipients in multiple states. California received 22% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 11%, and Texas, Missouri, and Kentucky at 9% each. These figures describe the locations of recipients, not a stated geographic eligibility policy.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Swantz Family Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 24 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 32% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 233% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2023) to $74K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $74K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Children & Nature Network Roseville, MN | Nature Everywhere Conf Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Partners for Education Agriculture Austin, TX | Camp Teach Outside | $5,000 |
| Corpsthat Baltimore, MD | Stewardship Program | $5,000 |
| Young Masterminds Initiative Brooklyn, NY | Camping to Connect | $5,000 |
| Oceti Sakowin Community Academy Rapid City, SD | Sacred Site Field Trips | $5,000 |
| Camp Encourage Kansas City, MO | Outdoor Ed & Nature Activities | $4,000 |
| Yes Nature to Neighborhoods Richmond, CA | Youth Leadership Pathways | $4,000 |
| Salted Roots Richmond, CA | General Operating Support | $4,000 |
| National Outdoor Learning Alliance Boise, ID | Early Learning Program | $4,000 |
| Wilderness Louisville Fairdale, KY | General Operating Support | $3,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Swantz Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $748,161 | $121,875 | $87,774 | $74,000 | 25 | $79,574 | $21,113 | $34,114 |
| 2024 | $649,062 | $78,716 | $75,613 | $65,000 | 19 | $69,662 | $10,204 | $30,515 |
| 2023 | $595,887 | $21,288 | $42,556 | $31,000 | 12 | $36,777 | $15,509 | $28,679 |
| 2022 | $577,513 | $144,137 | $66,651 | $56,000 | 13 | $60,706 | $65,532 | $26,986 |
| 2021 | $555,367 | $107,798 | $78,977 | $71,000 | 18 | — | $20,236 | $24,379 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swantz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support nonprofit organizations that provide programs and access to connect children with nature and the outdoors. Its website also describes a commitment to helping young people learn in, thrive in, and appreciate the outdoors.
Its 2025 grants included outdoor education and nature activities, camping, stewardship, early learning, and youth leadership. The grantees’ own descriptions show a range of approaches: Children & Nature Network says it works to increase equitable access to nature so children and the natural world can thrive; Partners for Education Agriculture describes its work as cultivating connections with nature through outdoor learning and edible education; and CorpsTHAT says it connects the Deaf community and the outdoors through education, recreation, and careers.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $74,000. Awards ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median of $3,000. Its largest grants included $5,000 each to Children & Nature Network for Nature Everywhere Conference scholarships, Partners for Education Agriculture for Camp Teach Outside, CorpsTHAT for its stewardship program, Young Masterminds Initiative for Camping to Connect, and Oceti Sakowin Community Academy for sacred-site field trips.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jennifer S. Swantz as president, Karana Stokum as treasurer, Audrey Roettgers as secretary, and Katie Johnston as trustee.
Swantz Family Foundation is led by Jennifer S. Swantz, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer S. Swantz
President
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Johnston
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karana Stokum
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Audrey Roettgers
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Audrey Wood (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Kristin Ward (2021–2022) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Swantz Family Foundation
How much does Swantz Family Foundation give each year?
Swantz Family Foundation gave $74K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $65K across 19 grants.
What is Swantz Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Swantz Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $2,960, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Swantz Family Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Swantz Family Foundation give grants?
Swantz Family Foundation's top state is California, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (11%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, CA (3 grants), Austin, TX (2 grants) and Kansas City, MO (2 grants).
Does Swantz Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Swantz Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Swantz Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Swantz Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Children & Nature Network ($5,000), Partners for Education Agriculture ($5,000) and Corpsthat ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Swantz Family Foundation?
Swantz Family Foundation reported $748K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $80K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Swantz Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support nonprofit organizations that provide programs and access to connect children with nature and the outdoors. Its website also describes a commitment to helping young people learn in, thrive in, and appreciate the outdoors. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Swantz Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications from eligible 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Swantz Family Foundation's EIN?
Swantz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4312810. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Swantz Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/swantz-family-foundation-morg_e31a7eec8b3a4bb2bdfd3224314fb447
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814312810_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Swantz Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/swantz-family-foundation-morg_e31a7eec8b3a4bb2bdfd3224314fb447},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Swantz Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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