Swartz Foundation Trust
The Swartz Foundation Trust is a private non-operating foundation established in 1993 and granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in March of that year. Based in Forked River, New Jersey, the foundation operates as an independent charitable organization classified as a trust. It functions primarily as a grantmaking entity, distributing gifts, grants, and loans to other organizations aligned with its philanthropic priorities.
Key facts about Swartz Foundation Trust
- EIN
- 22-6554026
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,894,985
- Grants made (2024)
- 67
- Average grant
- $73,059
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $105,287,931
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Swartz Foundation Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Swartz Foundation Trust's 67 itemized 2024 grants were District of Columbia (64%), Massachusetts (14%) and Utah (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Park City, UT (10 grants), Vineyard Haven, MA (8 grants), Salt Lake City, UT (7 grants) and Washington, DC (6 grants). None of its 67 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Contribution" (67 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$105.3M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.9M
-43.0% YoY
Grant Count
67
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
-40.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swartz Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $5.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects diverse interests across several key areas:
- Arts and Culture — including visual arts and museums
- Human Services — particularly YMCAs and community-based organizations
- Christian Faith-Based Initiatives — evangelical Christian organizations and churches
- Education — including higher education institutions
- Environmental Conservation
- Health Research — including Lyme disease research
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Grantmaking
The Swartz Foundation Trust operates without formal grant programs. Instead, grants are made at the discretion of trustees to preselected organizations. The foundation does not have a public application process and operates on an invitation-only basis.
Grant Range
$500 to $500,000+
Invitation Only
and operates on an invitation-only basis.
Ready to take the next step with Swartz Foundation Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving emphasizes national distribution with particular concentration in:
- Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Park City, Utah
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Utah
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 67 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Annual Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $105,287,931
- Total revenues: $4,489,726
- Total expenses: $5,519,597
- Investment income and dividends: $1,740,824
Historical Asset Growth:
- December 2012: $44,881,470
- December 2015: $64,848,945
- December 2019: $82,487,111
- December 2020: $95,289,932
- December 2021: $107,316,033
- December 2023: $98,796,146
- December 2024: $105,287,931
The foundation maintains zero employees and generates income primarily through investment returns rather than contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $105,287,931 | $98,796,146 | $93,116,548 |
| Revenue | $4,489,726 | $8,088,898 | $3,926,191 |
| Expenses | $5,519,597 | $8,989,868 | $7,828,180 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,939,985 | $8,633,775 | $7,314,836 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,940,581 | $7,724,757 | $3,612,847 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,918,067 | $5,469,500 | $6,282,416 |
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
322 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include International Justice Mission ($2,600,000 across 2 grants), National Museum of Women in the Arts ($502,500 across 2 grants), Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association ($200,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $2,500,000 |
| NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $500,000 |
| BETHEL AME CHURCH35TH ANNIVERSARY JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION ARLINGTON, VA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION ARLINGTON, VA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| PANORAMA GLOBAL SEATTLE, WA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| PARTNERS FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| VINEYARD PRESERVATION TRUST EDGARTOWN, MA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
| YMCA OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD INC VINEYARD HAVEN, MA | CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation was established by James R. Swartz, co-founder of global venture capital firm Accel Partners, and his wife Susan Shallcross Swartz, an accomplished artist. James Swartz received the National Venture Capital Association's 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award. Through Impact Partners, the couple has won two Academy Awards for documentary films addressing social issues.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACHED | PRESIDENT | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: Main St CPA, 124 N Main St, Forked River, NJ 08731
Phone: (609) 242-9600
Website: None
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Swartz Foundation Trust fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking reflects diverse interests across several key areas: • **Arts and Culture** — including visual arts and museums • **Human Services** — particularly YMCAs and community-based organizations • **Christian Faith-Based Initiatives** — evangelical Christian organizations and churches • **Education** — including higher education institutions • **Environmental Conservation** • **Health Research** — including …
How do I apply for a grant from Swartz Foundation Trust?
The Swartz Foundation Trust operates without formal grant programs. Instead, grants are made at the discretion of trustees to preselected organizations. The foundation does not have a public application process and operates on an invitation-only basis. **Grant Activity (2024):** • Total grants distributed: approximately $4.9 million • Number of grants: 61 awards • Grant range: $500 to $500,000+ • Notable recent grants include $2.5 million to International Justice Mission, $500,000 to The Nation…
Where does Swartz Foundation Trust make grants?
The foundation's giving emphasizes national distribution with particular concentration in: • **Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts** • **Park City, Utah** • **New Jersey** • **Massachusetts** • **Utah** • **District of Columbia**
What size grants does Swartz Foundation Trust award?
In 2024, Swartz Foundation Trust awarded 67 grants totaling $4.9M — an average of about $73K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Swartz Foundation Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Swartz Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $5.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Swartz Foundation Trust's EIN?
Swartz Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6554026. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Swartz Foundation 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.