Sweet Water Trust
Sweet Water Trust is a private foundation, based in Kennett Square, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 4 grants totaling $23.1M. Net investment income was $1K.
Sweet Water Trust at a glance
In short: Sweet Water Trust gave $23.1M across 4 grants in 2021 (avg $5.8M), mostly in Rhode Island. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $23,149,500
- +1602.2% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 4
- +300.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $5,787,375
- +325.5% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $1,719,250
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (81% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who Sweet Water Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Vanguard Charitable ($18.7M). Together the top 4 received $23.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sweet Water Trust gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2020) to $23.1M (2021). In 2021 it made 4 grants totaling $23.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Charitable Warwrick, RI | General Donation | $18,711,000 |
| Northeast Wilderness Trust Montpelier, VT | Woodbury wilderness vt project; grafton wilderness me project; alder stream preserve me stewardship and future protection; ames conservation easement stewardship (forest society of Maine) | $2,278,500 |
| The Nature Conservancy Keene Valley, NY | Follensby pond adirondack project; shingle shanty (adirondack) assignment of conservation easement -stewardship endowment | $1,160,000 |
| Forest Society of Maine Bangor, ME | Future Forever-Wild Land Protection Projects in Maine | $1,000,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $2,914 | $23,298,021 | $23,149,500 | 4 | $23,296,344 | $1,237 | $613,659 |
| 2020 | $23,295,107 | $7,263,270 | $1,398,613 | $1,360,000 | 1 | — | $7,258,528 | $1,097,328 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sweet Water Trust reported a distributable amount of $614K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sweet Water Trust's 2021 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Walker G. Buckner Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eve Endicott
Trustee
New on the 2021 filing
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "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 Water Trust
How much does Sweet Water Trust give each year?
Sweet Water Trust gave $23.1M across 4 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $1.4M across 1 grant.
What is Sweet Water Trust's typical grant size?
Sweet Water Trust's median grant in 2021 was $1,719,250, and its average grant was $5,787,375, across 4 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sweet Water Trust give grants?
Sweet Water Trust gives mostly in Rhode Island: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Vermont (10%) and New York (5%).
Does Sweet Water Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Sweet Water Trust's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
How much is Sweet Water Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Sweet Water Trust reported a distributable amount of $614K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sweet Water Trust's EIN?
Sweet Water Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3118545. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sweet Water Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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