Swirls Around the World Inc
Swirls Around the World Inc is a private foundation based in Danvers, Massachusetts. Its 2022 filing reports support for post-secondary scholarships for graduating seniors and for children and young adults battling Ewing’s sarcoma. The most recent filing on record is for 2022, with no filings since; the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Swirls Around the World Inc at a glance
In short: Swirls Around the World Inc gave $4K across 10 grants in 2022 (avg $426), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $4,260
- +113.0% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 10
- +400.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $426
- -57.4% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $39,517
- +184.9% vs 2021
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (84% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Swirls Around the World Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2022 filing listed a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor, GPA, planned college, an essay, and a list of extracurricular activities and/or work experiences. It restricted scholarship awards to Medford, Massachusetts, high school seniors. The filing also stated that the foundation did not restrict giving to preselected organizations. These are instructions from the 2022 filing and should not be read as current application information.
- Review Cycle
- The 2022 filing listed April 1. That deadline is from a past cycle.
- Deadline
- The 2022 filing listed April 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Swirls Around The World Inc
Mailing address: 8 Burley Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923-2103
Phone: (781) 718-8407
Website: https://www.swirlsaroundtheworld.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Swirls Around the World Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation ($525). Together the top 7 received $1K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 15 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Danvers, Massachusetts. In 2022, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 12% to recipients in New Jersey, and 4% to recipients in Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
How Swirls Around the World Inc gives
- In 2022 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 2018 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2018) to $4K (2022). In 2022 it made 10 grants totaling $4K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
| Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation Marlboro, NJ | General Support | $525 |
| MGH Boston, MA | General Support | $250 |
| Payton Alexander Foundation Inc New Berlin, WI | General Support | $150 |
| Janelle Lavender Tobin Charitable Fund Inc Amesbury, MA | General Support | $100 |
| Cops for Kids with Cancer Inc Canton, MA | General Support | $100 |
| Camp Casco Inc Sudbury, MA | General Support | $100 |
| Dana Farber Cancer Institute Inc Boston, MA | General Support | $35 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $39,517 | $59,803 | $34,155 | $4,260 | 10 | $34,155 | $1,110 |
| 2021 | $13,869 | $15,985 | $6,922 | $2,000 | 2 | $6,922 | $237 |
| 2020 | $1,589 | $10,408 | $10,542 | $2,500 | 3 | — | $157 |
| 2018 | $1,723 | $7,725 | $6,002 | $1,132 | Total only | — | $130 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Swirls Around the World Inc reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its mission as honoring Matthew’s legacy by paying it forward. Its 2022 filing lists direct charitable activities providing post-secondary education scholarships to graduating seniors and support to children and young adults battling Ewing’s sarcoma.
Among its 2022 grantees, Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation describes its mission as funding pediatric cancer research, supporting families affected by a child’s cancer diagnosis, and raising awareness, among other activities. Payton Alexander Foundation says it honors Payton Alexander by giving back to its community, helping children and young adults battling cancer, and funding Ewing’s sarcoma research. Camp Casco says it builds community for families affected by childhood cancer in New England through free camps and social opportunities. Cops for Kids with Cancer says it assists families and medical facilities supporting and treating children with cancer.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $4,260. Grant amounts ranged from $35 to $1,000, with a median of $200. The largest listed grants were three $1,000 post-secondary scholarships and a $525 general-support grant to Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation. Other listed grants included $250 to MGH and $150 to Payton Alexander Foundation Inc.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing listed Brenda M Spezzaferri as president, Richard Spezzaferri as treasurer, Diane T Caruso as vice president, Barbara Ann Cirelli as secretary, and Jennifer Caruso as director.
Swirls Around the World Inc is led by Brenda M. Spezzaferri, President on every filing since 2018; none of the 5 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Brenda M. Spezzaferri
President
On filings since 2018
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Caruso
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Ann Cirelli
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2018
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diane T. Caruso
Vice President
On filings since 2018
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Spezzaferri
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carol R O'Brien (2018) — Director
- Former: Karen M Reed (2018) — Treasurer & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2018–2022. "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 Swirls Around the World Inc
How much does Swirls Around the World Inc give each year?
Swirls Around the World Inc gave $4K across 10 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $2K across 2 grants.
What is Swirls Around the World Inc's typical grant size?
Swirls Around the World Inc's median grant in 2022 was $200, and its average grant was $426, across 10 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Swirls Around the World Inc give grants?
Swirls Around the World Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Swirls Around the World Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 70% of Swirls Around the World Inc's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 10) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Swirls Around the World Inc's largest grantees?
Swirls Around the World Inc's largest 2022 grantees include Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation ($525), MGH ($250) and Payton Alexander Foundation Inc ($150), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is Swirls Around the World Inc?
Swirls Around the World Inc reported $40K in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $34K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Swirls Around the World Inc fund?
The foundation’s website describes its mission as honoring Matthew’s legacy by paying it forward. Its 2022 filing lists direct charitable activities providing post-secondary education scholarships to graduating seniors and support to children and young adults battling Ewing’s sarcoma. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Swirls Around the World Inc?
The 2022 filing listed a letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor, GPA, planned college, an essay, and a list of extracurricular activities and/or work experiences. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Swirls Around the World Inc's EIN?
Swirls Around the World Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-1178694. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2018–2022.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2018 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2018–2022
Live grants for the work Swirls Around the World Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
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Browse active grant opportunities in Swirls Around the World Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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