Synchrony Foundation
Synchrony Foundation is a private foundation based in Stamford, Connecticut. Its 2024 filings report grants to charitable organizations, including support for general operations and programming and employee matching gifts.
Synchrony Foundation at a glance
In short: Synchrony Foundation gave $20.5M across 394 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), top state Connecticut. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,515,652
- +13.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 394
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,070
- +13.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $72,274,886
- -18.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (121 of 393, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (22% 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 Synchrony Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 777 Long Ridge Road Co Tax Dept, Stamford, CT 06902
Phone: (203) 979-2359
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Synchrony Foundation
Who Synchrony Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Blackbaud Giving Fund ($2.6M). Together the top 10 received $10.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($38,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
8,211 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7,921 grants of 8,211 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were directed to Connecticut (22%), New York (17%), South Carolina (13%), the District of Columbia (7%), and New Jersey (6%). The listed grants also include recipients in Florida and Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 394 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Synchrony Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 121 of 393 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 48% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 519% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $14.6M (2020) to $20.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 394 grants totaling $20.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Blackbaud Giving Fund Charleston, SC | Employee Matching Gifts | $2,615,774 |
| Oneten Coalition Inc Montclair, NJ | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $1,125,000 |
| University of Connecticut Foundation Storrs, CT | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $1,050,000 |
| District Arts & Education New Haven, CT | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $1,005,000 |
| The Knowledge House Bronx, NY | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $900,000 |
| Deed Community Giving Foundation Brooklyn, NY | Employee Matching Gifts | $860,756 |
| National Foundation for Credit Counseling Washington, DC | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $750,000 |
| Emergency Assistance Foundation West Palm Beach, FL | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $705,000 |
| Myriad USA New York, NY | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $609,000 |
| Job's for America's Graduates Alexandria, VA | Funding Supports General Operations and Programming. | $530,000 |
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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 | $72,274,886 | $3,697,317 | $22,420,643 | $20,515,652 | 394 | $20,738,397 | $3,430,746 | $3,993,378 |
| 2023 | $88,394,943 | $2,446,644 | $18,711,547 | $18,038,860 | 392 | $18,319,462 | $2,091,507 | $4,667,827 |
| 2022 | $100,111,912 | $51,076,715 | $18,962,519 | $17,848,209 | 2,095 | $17,860,009 | $1,272,247 | $4,414,677 |
| 2021 | $74,474,766 | $12,637,293 | $18,312,362 | $17,976,068 | 2,465 | $17,976,068 | $2,328,706 | $3,859,779 |
| 2020 | $79,905,450 | $19,183,499 | $14,908,982 | $14,565,717 | 2,865 | — | $2,388,870 | $3,808,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Synchrony Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, OneTen Coalition says it works to expand career opportunities for people without four-year degrees, and Girls Who Code says it equips girls from underserved communities to pursue careers in STEM. Jobs for America’s Graduates describes its work as helping young people succeed in education, employment, and life.
Other 2024 grantees include Emergency Assistance Foundation, which says it provides financial assistance after disasters and personal hardships, and buildOn, which says it works against poverty and illiteracy through service and education. The Blackbaud Giving Fund describes administering donations to nonprofit organizations, while Myriad USA says it facilitates giving across borders.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 394 grants totaling $20,515,652. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $2,615,774, with a median of $10,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $2,615,774 to The Blackbaud Giving Fund for employee matching gifts; $1,125,000 to OneTen Coalition for general operations and programming; $1,050,000 to the University of Connecticut Foundation for general operations and programming; and $1,005,000 to District Arts & Education for general operations and programming. Other large grants included $900,000 to The Knowledge House, $750,000 to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, and $705,000 to Emergency Assistance Foundation, each for general operations and programming. The foundation also awarded $860,756 to Deed Community Giving Foundation for employee matching gifts.
A separate program, the Synchrony Pillars Project Grant, is described as a way to recognize small-business owners. It offers 10 awards of $10,000 each toward digital transformation, along with a prize pack, a video profile, and three hours of Synchrony consulting or coaching. The contest is described as open to small businesses whose principal place of business is in the United States or its territories.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brian Doubles as CEO and director; Denise Yap as president; Doug Steare as vice president of tax; Chris Coffey as vice president of treasury; Brian Wenzel as vice president, CFO, treasurer, and director; David Casto as vice president and director; Jonathan Mothner as secretary and director; Paul Werner as assistant secretary; and Carol Juel and Michael Matthews as directors.
Synchrony Foundation is led by Brian Doubles, CEO & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brian Doubles
CEO & Director
President & Director → CEO & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Denise Yap
President
Vice President - Corporate Citizenship → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Wenzel
Vice President, CFO, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Juel
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Casto
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Mothner
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Matthews
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Coffey
Vice President - Treasury
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Steare
Vice President - Tax
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Werner
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Henry Greig (2020–2023) — Vice President & Director
- Former: Margaret Keane (2020–2023) — Chairman & Director
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 Synchrony Foundation
How much does Synchrony Foundation give each year?
Synchrony Foundation gave $20.5M across 394 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $18.0M across 392 grants.
What is Synchrony Foundation's typical grant size?
Synchrony Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $52,070, across 394 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Synchrony Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does Synchrony Foundation give grants?
Synchrony Foundation's top state is Connecticut, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and South Carolina (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (23 grants), Charlotte, NC (20 grants), Chicago, IL (18 grants) and Stamford, CT (13 grants).
Does Synchrony Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 99% of Synchrony Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (392 of 394) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Synchrony Foundation's largest grantees?
Synchrony Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Blackbaud Giving Fund ($2,615,774), Oneten Coalition Inc ($1,125,000) and University of Connecticut Foundation ($1,050,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($38,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Synchrony Foundation?
Synchrony Foundation reported $72.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Synchrony Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Synchrony Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Synchrony Foundation's EIN?
Synchrony Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2935158. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Synchrony 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Synchrony Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/synchrony-foundation-morg_f7629f2217994955aa938c9d9617b795
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_822935158_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Synchrony Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/synchrony-foundation-morg_f7629f2217994955aa938c9d9617b795},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-07. 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 Synchrony 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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