SYYK Foundation
SYYK Foundation is a private foundation, based in Alexandria, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $34.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $864K.
SYYK Foundation at a glance
In short: SYYK Foundation gave $1.6M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $325K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,626,640
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $325,328
- -20.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500,000
- Total assets
- $34,339,189
- -0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who SYYK Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Harvey Mudd College ($625K). Together the top 5 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 33 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How SYYK Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 110% of 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $500 (2020) to $1.6M (2024). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA | General Fund | $625,000 |
| George Mason University Foundation Fairfax, VA | For YYK Endowed Professor | $500,000 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | Continuation of pledge for graduate fellowship | $500,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Health Care | $1,500 |
| LSU Health Foundation New Orleans New Orleans, LA | General Fund | $140 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,339,189 | $888,701 | $1,666,809 | $1,626,640 | 5 | $1,629,121 | $864,463 | $1,484,227 |
| 2024 | $34,417,297 | $809,551 | $1,687,710 | $1,630,000 | 4 | $1,634,268 | $770,056 | $1,349,052 |
| 2023 | $35,295,455 | $955,359 | $1,355,737 | $1,264,051 | 11 | $1,270,763 | $890,232 | $1,374,189 |
| 2022 | $35,702,449 | $1,766,053 | $1,569,701 | $1,533,500 | 12 | $1,537,105 | $746,126 | $1,568,261 |
| 2021 | $35,595,482 | $35,596,898 | $4,326 | $500 | 1 | $860 | $6,863,835 | $1,164,158 |
| 2020 | $2,910 | $5,000 | $2,090 | $500 | 1 | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, SYYK Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
SYYK Foundation is led by Paul So, President & Treasury on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul So
President & Treasury
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peter So
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 SYYK Foundation
How much does SYYK Foundation give each year?
SYYK Foundation gave $1.6M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 4 grants.
What is SYYK Foundation's typical grant size?
SYYK Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500,000, and its average grant was $325,328, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does SYYK Foundation give grants?
SYYK Foundation's top state is California, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (31%) and Massachusetts (31%).
Does SYYK Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of SYYK Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are SYYK Foundation's largest grantees?
SYYK Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Harvey Mudd College ($625,000), George Mason University Foundation ($500,000) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($500,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is SYYK Foundation?
SYYK Foundation reported $34.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is SYYK Foundation's EIN?
SYYK Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2039659. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in SYYK Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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