Sweet Geeks Foundation
Sweet Geeks Foundation is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, that makes grants. Its 2025 filing reports 39 grants totaling $162,106, all to recipients in California.
Sweet Geeks Foundation at a glance
In short: Sweet Geeks Foundation gave $162K across 39 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in California. 91% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $162,106
- +77.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 39
- +105.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,157
- -13.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,994
- Total assets
- $1,629,923
- +210.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 91% first-time grantees (32 of 35, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 Sweet Geeks Foundation
- How to Apply
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants must submit a general grant application with contact and organizational details, the requested amount, areas of interest aligned with the foundation’s goals and purpose, and…
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants must submit a general grant application with contact and organizational details, the requested amount, areas of interest aligned with the foundation’s goals and purpose, and a written proposal describing the organization’s history, program model and activities, intended beneficiaries, and plans for achieving its goals. The filing names Theresa Gartland as the contact. It also states that awards are limited to $10,000 per selected applicant per calendar year; the 2025 filing nevertheless lists grants of $15,000 and $20,000.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that applications are accepted June 1–30 and October 1–31 each year. The June 2026 window has passed; the stated October window is October 1–31, 2026.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that applications are accepted June 1–30 and October 1–31 each year.
- Contact
Application contact: Theresa Gartland
Mailing address: 1321 Upland Dr Pmb 20169, Houston, TX 77043
Phone: (323) 384-3847
Email: theresa.gartland@evisions.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sweet Geeks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Green Arrow CoLab ($20K). Together the top 10 received $97K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 88 grants of 88 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in California. The foundation is based in Houston, Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 39 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sweet Geeks Foundation open to new grantees?
91%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 32 of 35 grantees (91%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 235% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 203% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2022) to $162K (2025). In 2025 it made 39 grants totaling $162K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Green Arrow CoLab Los Angeles, CA | Youth Development | $20,000 |
| DIY Girls San Fernando, CA | Youth Development | $15,000 |
| ArtsUP LA Los Angeles, CA | Youth Development | $15,000 |
| Laurel House IncHope Harbor Tustin, CA | Youth Development | $10,000 |
| Young Lives Redeemed Fullerton, CA | Youth Development | $10,000 |
| Velma Mattey Adelanto, CA | Cancer Relief | $6,096 |
| Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore Sylmar, CA | Discretionary | $4,000 |
| P F Bresee Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Disaster Relief | $4,000 |
| Walk With Sally El Segundo, CA | Cancer Relief | $3,750 |
| P F Bresee Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Disaster Relief | $3,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Sweet Geeks 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 | $1,629,923 | $1,312,725 | $198,480 | $162,106 | 39 | $164,348 | $62,524 | $80,841 |
| 2024 | $524,571 | $25,373 | $112,579 | $91,218 | 19 | $109,050 | $25,123 | $28,890 |
| 2023 | $611,920 | $107,723 | $142,395 | $96,878 | 19 | $140,121 | $22,906 | $32,137 |
| 2022 | $646,528 | $864,471 | $217,943 | $48,359 | 11 | $217,943 | — | $35,258 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sweet Geeks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K 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 available filings do not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grant purposes include youth development, cancer relief, disaster relief, and discretionary support.
Grantees describe a range of work. Green Arrow CoLab says it supports young people harmed by systemic injustice and structural racism as they reconnect with themselves and future opportunities. DIY Girls says it works to increase girls’ and gender-expansive youths’ interest and long-term success in technology, engineering, and making. ArtsUP LA describes its work as arts and theater programs for people with disabilities, military veterans, and Los Angeles-area youth.
Other 2025 recipients describe work in cancer support, youth technology and leadership, community arts, and violence prevention. These are descriptions of the grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 39 grants totaling $162,106. Awards ranged from $500 to $20,000, with a median of $2,994. Notable grants included $20,000 to Green Arrow CoLab, $15,000 each to DIY Girls and ArtsUP LA, and $3,750 to Walk With Sally.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sweet Geeks Foundation is led by Joe Potenza, Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2022); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joe Potenza
Chair
CEO & Chair Person → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connor Jones
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cory Bengtzen
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Price
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julisa Chavez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kiwan Cato-Fox
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Isabella Jones
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Scott Duvall
Treasurer
CFO & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Brad Etter (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Craig Donaldson (2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 Sweet Geeks Foundation
How much does Sweet Geeks Foundation give each year?
Sweet Geeks Foundation gave $162K across 39 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $91K across 19 grants.
What is Sweet Geeks Foundation's typical grant size?
Sweet Geeks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,994, and its average grant was $4,157, across 39 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sweet Geeks Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Sweet Geeks Foundation give grants?
Sweet Geeks Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (12 grants), San Bernardino, CA (3 grants), Sherman Oaks, CA (2 grants) and Costa Mesa, CA (2 grants).
Does Sweet Geeks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 39 grants with a stated purpose on Sweet Geeks Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cancer Relief" (17 grants), "Discretionary" (11 grants) and "Disaster Relief" (6 grants).
Who are Sweet Geeks Foundation's largest grantees?
Sweet Geeks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Green Arrow CoLab ($20,000), DIY Girls ($15,000) and ArtsUP LA ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sweet Geeks Foundation?
Sweet Geeks Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $164K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $81K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sweet Geeks Foundation fund?
The available filings do not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grant purposes include youth development, cancer relief, disaster relief, and discretionary support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sweet Geeks Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing says applicants must submit a general grant application with contact and organizational details, the requested amount, areas of interest aligned with the foundation’s goals and purpose, and… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sweet Geeks Foundation's EIN?
Sweet Geeks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2094183. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sweet Geeks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sweet Geeks Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sweet-geeks-foundation-morg_2b61897289124ddeb48b4150dc74e09a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_872094183_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sweet Geeks Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sweet-geeks-foundation-morg_2b61897289124ddeb48b4150dc74e09a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Sweet Geeks 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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