Swig Foundation
The Swig Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California, established in 1957 as the philanthropic vehicle of the Swig family. The foundation is the charitable arm of a family with deep historical roots in the Bay Area business community. Benjamin Swig founded The Swig Company in the Bay Area in 1936, which became known as the force behind the Fairmont Hotel brand.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.2M
+103.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$750K
+25.0% YoY
Grant Count
127
+23.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+1.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swig Foundation reported a distributable amount of $801K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Swig Foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Arts and culture
- Education (K-12 and higher education)
- Youth development
- Health and medical care
- Human services and community welfare
- Environment
The foundation maintains a selective approach to grantmaking, with trustees drawn from the Swig family who reflect the family's long-standing ties to the arts and education sectors.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. All applications must be submitted in writing. The foundation restricts grants to organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Grant Range
$150–$50,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Swig Foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation also makes grants in New York and Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $11,231,422
- Total annual giving: $750,000
- Total revenues: $1,634,405
- Total expenses: $899,198
- Number of employees: 0
The foundation operates with limited staffing, relying on board members rather than paid staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,231,422 | $5,527,018 | $6,004,080 |
| Revenue | $1,634,405 | $291,180 | $-11,520 |
| Expenses | $899,198 | $768,242 | $1,122,361 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $750,000 | $600,000 | $1,001,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,485,207 | $160,752 | $224,830 |
| Distributable Amount | $801,142 | $632,565 | $761,667 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Eastside Prep ($31,415), California College of the Arts ($23,960), Alzheimer's Association ($23,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAINST MALARIA FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | WE PROTECT PEOPLE FROM MALARIA. WE FUND NETS AND ENSURE THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AND USED. | $7,000 |
| ALLIES FOR ALLIES CHAMPION FUND LOS ANGELES, CA | TO BE A RESOURCE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS AND CAREGIVERS WHO SUPPORT NEURODIVERGENT INDIVIDUALS OF THOSE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. | $1,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION SAN JOSE, CA | LEAD THE WAY TO END ALZHEIMER'S AND ALL OTHER DEMENTIA BY ACCELERATING GLOBAL RESEARCH, DRIVING RISK REDUCTION AND EARLY DETECTION. | $23,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION PASADENA, CA | TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE NATURAL OCEAN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. | $10,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE INC NEW YORK, NY | WERE A PASSIONATE, INNOVATIVE, AND DIVERSE GLOBAL TEAM DEDICATED TO LIFTING LIVES AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES IN 70 COUNTRIES. | $2,000 |
| ANERA WASHINGTON, DC | HELP REFUGEES AND OTHERS HURT BY CONFLICTS IN PALESTINE, LEBANON AND JORDAN LIVE WITH PURPOSE AND HOPE. | $2,000 |
| AUTHOR'S GUILD FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | EDUCATES, SUPPORTS, AND PROTECTS AMERICAN WRITERS TO ENSURE THAT A RICH, DIVERSE BODY OF LITERATURE CAN FLOURISH. | $1,000 |
| BALLET IDAHO BOISE, ID | TRAIN YOUNG DANCERS THROUGH MUSICALITY, TECHNICAL PRECISION, AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION. | $10,000 |
| BERKELEY PREPARATORY SCHOOL TAMPA, FL | INDEPENDENT SCHOOL LEADER WITH AN INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM THAT INSPIRES INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, EMPATHY, RESILIENCE, AND WONDER IN OUR STUDENTS. | $1,000 |
| BERKSHIRE SCHOOL SHEFFIELD, MA | CREATE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY WHERE STUDENTS ARE KNOWN WELL, PROVIDES AN EMPOWERING EXPERIENCE, AND PREPARES STUDENTS FOR LIVES OF PURPOSE. | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's trustees include:
- Steven Swig
- Carolyn Zecca Ferris
- Susan Watkins
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN SWIG | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| CAROLYN ZECCA FERRIS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| SUSAN WATKINS | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced $1.7 million in funding for Rhode Island grants in 2023. The foundation has demonstrated ongoing grant activity, with 260 grants made in 2024 across its priority areas.
Southwest Initiative Foundation awards $400,000 in grant funds through the\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Swig Foundation fund?
The Swig Foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Arts and culture • Education (K-12 and higher education) • Youth development • Health and medical care • Human services and community welfare • Environment The foundation maintains a selective approach to grantmaking, with trustees drawn from the Swig family who reflect the family's long-standing ties to the arts and education sectors.
How do I apply for a grant from Swig Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $150–$50,000 • Median grant amount: $2,500 • Recent annual giving: $750,000 (2024) • Total grants made: 260 grants (2024) **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. All applications must be submitted in writing. The foundation restricts grants to organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. **Recent Grantees Include:** • Eastsi…
Where does Swig Foundation make grants?
The Swig Foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with particular emphasis on the San Francisco Bay Area. The foundation also makes grants in New York and Idaho.
What size grants does Swig Foundation award?
In 2024, Swig Foundation awarded 127 grants totaling $750K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Swig Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Swig Foundation reported a distributable amount of $801K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Swig Foundation's EIN?
Swig Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6065205. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Swig Foundation'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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