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.
Key facts about Swig Foundation
- EIN
- 94-6065205
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $750,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 127
- Average grant
- $5,906
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (33 of 127, 2024)
- Total assets
- $11,231,422
- Primary geography
- California (48% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Swig Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Swig Foundation's 127 itemized 2024 grants were California (48%), New York (15%) and Idaho (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (42 grants), New York, NY (14 grants), Washington, DC (11 grants) and Berkeley, CA (7 grants). None of its 127 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Swig Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 127 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 54% 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Swig Foundation
- How to evaluate Swig Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Swig Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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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
Grant Range
$150–$50,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Swig Foundation?
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
Share of all 127 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
874 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Eastside Prep ($31,415), SF Jazz ($30,000), Ucsf Foundation ($29,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's trustees include:
- Steven Swig
- Carolyn Zecca Ferris
- Susan Watkins
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS 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?
The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Swig Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.