Sylvester Meister Foundation
Sylvester Meister Foundation is a private foundation, based in Santa Cruz, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $6K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $20K.
Sylvester Meister Foundation at a glance
In short: Sylvester Meister Foundation gave $20K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,200
- +49.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -50.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,733
- +198.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $6,206
- -78.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Sylvester Meister Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was X Academy ($19K across 2 grants). Together the top 2 received $20K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sylvester Meister Foundation gives
- Giving grew 92% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2021) to $21K (2022). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,206 | $4,602 | $22,510 | $20,200 | 3 | $20,200 | — | $865 |
| 2023 | $28,938 | $12,691 | $16,360 | $13,550 | 6 | $13,550 | $10,481 | $1,511 |
| 2022 | $38,351 | $18,029 | $24,316 | $21,200 | 29 | $22,550 | $980 | $2,330 |
| 2021 | $56,854 | $20,412 | $11,921 | $10,500 | 2 | — | $20,162 | $2,790 |
| 2020 | $67,831 | $11,624 | $14,466 | $14,320 | 13 | — | $1,478 | $3,633 |
| 2019 | $80,912 | $40,252 | $22,376 | $18,181 | 9 | — | $5,699 | $3,339 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sylvester Meister Foundation reported a distributable amount of $865 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sylvester Meister Foundation is led by Timothy J. Sylvester, CEO on every filing since 2019; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy J. Sylvester
CEO
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Barbara A. Meister
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James Meister (2019–2023) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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 Sylvester Meister Foundation
How much does Sylvester Meister Foundation give each year?
Sylvester Meister Foundation gave $20K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14K across 6 grants.
What is Sylvester Meister Foundation's typical grant size?
Sylvester Meister Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,733, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Sylvester Meister Foundation give grants?
Sylvester Meister Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Cruz, CA (2 grants).
How large is Sylvester Meister Foundation?
Sylvester Meister Foundation reported $6K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $865 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Sylvester Meister Foundation's EIN?
Sylvester Meister Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1399698. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sylvester Meister Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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