Synos Foundation
Synos Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Altos Hills, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $18K. Net investment income was $14K.
Synos Foundation at a glance
In short: Synos Foundation gave $18K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,000
- -49.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -62.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,000
- +35.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,213,228
- +6.5% 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 September 2026.
Who Synos Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sogang Univ ($10K). Together the top 3 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 26 (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 Synos Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 40% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2022) to $36K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sogang Univ San Jose, CA | Charitable Contribution | $10,000 |
| St Michael Korean Church San Jose, CA | Charitable Contribution | $5,000 |
| Jesuit International Missions San Jose, CA | Charitable Donation | $3,000 |
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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 | $1,213,228 | $118,435 | $43,720 | $18,000 | 3 | $23,320 | $14,420 | $58,328 |
| 2023 | $1,138,881 | $120,325 | $37,913 | $35,550 | 8 | $37,913 | $12,472 | $44,932 |
| 2022 | $1,056,469 | $-29,718 | $12,500 | $10,200 | 3 | $12,500 | $12,125 | $39,046 |
| 2021 | $1,098,519 | $444,472 | $25,415 | $21,950 | 8 | $25,415 | $9,472 | $35,680 |
| 2020 | $672,935 | $244,203 | $19,606 | $17,660 | 4 | — | $98,001 | $22,634 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Synos Foundation reported a distributable amount of $58K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Synos Foundation is led by Sang In Lee, CEO & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sang In Lee
CEO & Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Moonsuk Han
CFO
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
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 Synos Foundation
How much does Synos Foundation give each year?
Synos Foundation gave $18K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $36K across 8 grants.
What is Synos Foundation's typical grant size?
Synos Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,000, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Synos Foundation give grants?
Synos 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 San Jose, CA (3 grants).
Does Synos Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Synos Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Synos Foundation?
Synos Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $23K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $58K (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 is Synos Foundation's EIN?
Synos Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3849495. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Synos Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Synos Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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