Swig Foundation
Swig Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. In 2024, it reported 127 grants totaling $750,000 to charitable organizations, including recipients working in education, arts and culture, health, media, and community change.
Swig Foundation at a glance
In short: Swig Foundation gave $750K across 127 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), top state California. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $750,000
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 127
- +23.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,906
- +1.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $11,231,422
- +103.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (31 of 127, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Swig Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applications should be in writing. Awards are restricted to organizations exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The filing lists Carolyn Ferris as the contact.
- Contact
Application contact: Carolyn Ferris
Mailing address: 220 Montgomery Street Suite 950, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 291-1100
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Swig Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Eastside Prep ($31K). Together the top 10 received $260K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
874 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 869 grants of 874 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California recipients received 48% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in New York (15%), Idaho (13%), Washington, DC (10%), and Virginia (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 127 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Swig Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 127 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $600K (2023) to $1.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 127 grants totaling $750K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eastside Prep East Palo Alto, CA | Commited to opening new doors for first-generation and low-income students and preparing them to succeed in college. | $31,415 |
| SF Jazz San Francisco, CA | Celebrate the spirit of jazz through innovative artistic, education, and community programs. | $30,000 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | Provide the best possible care to all patients, make important discoveries that benefit patients and offer the best training. | $29,000 |
| Mount Vernon Ladies Association Mount Vernon, VA | Preserve and safeguard the home of george washington while sharing his unparalleled legacy with the world. | $25,000 |
| The Serica Initiative New York, NY | Raise awareness of the asian diaspora in America through storytelling, empowerment and the power of convening. | $25,000 |
| Treasure Valley Institute Boise, ID | Provides meaningful experiences in the arts to inspire children. | $25,000 |
| Women's Media Center Washington, DC | Works with the media to ensure that womens stories are told and womens voices are heard. | $25,000 |
| California College of the Arts San Francisco, CA | Give the gift of education to talented students who are advancing positive change. | $23,960 |
| 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 |
| Sun Valley Writer's Conference Inc Ketchum, ID | Strives to bring together readers, writers, and artists of diverse age, background, and experience to be informed, enlightened, challenged, and inspired by a world-class literary program in the great outdoors. | $23,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Swig 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,231,422 | $1,634,405 | $899,198 | $750,000 | 127 | $750,000 | $1,485,207 | $801,142 |
| 2023 | $5,527,018 | $291,180 | $768,242 | $600,000 | 103 | $600,000 | $160,752 | $632,565 |
| 2022 | $6,004,080 | $-11,520 | $1,122,361 | $1,001,000 | 155 | $1,001,000 | $224,830 | $761,667 |
| 2021 | $7,937,961 | $2,553,040 | $1,063,863 | $949,751 | 229 | $947,750 | $138,110 | $847,367 |
| 2020 | $6,448,784 | $220,734 | $1,051,770 | $1,000,500 | 260 | — | $167,914 | $771,274 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available statements do not specify a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, California College of the Arts says it educates students through the practice and critical study of art, architecture, design, and writing; Stanford Jazz Workshop says it produces educational programs and performances; and Community Change says it builds the power and capacity of low-income people, especially low-income people of color, to change policies and institutions affecting their lives.
Other 2024 recipients included UCSF Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association, KQED, the Women’s Media Center, and the China Institute in America.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 127 grants totaling $750,000. Individual grants ranged from $150 to $31,415, with a median of $2,500. Among the largest were $31,415 to Eastside Prep, $30,000 to SF JAZZ, $29,000 to UCSF Foundation, and $25,000 each to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, The Serica Initiative, Treasure Valley Institute, and Women’s Media Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Steven Swig, Carolyn Zecca Ferris, and Susan Watkins as trustees.
Swig Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carolyn Zecca Ferris
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Steven Swig
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan Watkins
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Swig Foundation
How much does Swig Foundation give each year?
Swig Foundation gave $750K across 127 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $600K across 103 grants.
What is Swig Foundation's typical grant size?
Swig Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $5,906, across 127 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Swig Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Swig Foundation give grants?
Swig Foundation's top state is California, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (15%) and Idaho (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (41 grants), New York, NY (14 grants), Washington, DC (11 grants) and Berkeley, CA (7 grants).
Does Swig Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 127 grants with a stated purpose on Swig Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Swig Foundation's largest grantees?
Swig Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Eastside Prep ($31,415), SF Jazz ($30,000) and UCSF Foundation ($29,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($2,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Swig Foundation?
Swig Foundation reported $11.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $750K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $801K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Swig Foundation fund?
The available statements do not specify a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Swig Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Swig Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Swig Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Swig Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/swig-foundation-morg_3800b3821f2349d39a6878ca0c0875b8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_946065205_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Swig Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/swig-foundation-morg_3800b3821f2349d39a6878ca0c0875b8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Swig 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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