Syzygy Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker San Francisco, CA EIN: 77-0559202

Syzygy Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 filing reports 12 grants totaling $584,500 to organizations in California, Utah, and New York, with most grant dollars going to California recipients.

Syzygy Foundation at a glance

In short: Syzygy Foundation gave $585K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$584,500
+2238.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
12
+1100.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$48,708
+94.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$26,000
Total assets
$998,065
-31.6% vs 2023
Primary geography
California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to Syzygy Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Linda Dodwell as the contact, says no specific form is required, and lists no restrictions on awards.

Contact

Application contact: Linda Dodwell
Mailing address: 2443 Fillmore Street 377, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 397-4444

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Syzygy Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Roxie Theater: $255KRoxie Theater$255KGreenbelt Alliance: $80KGreenbelt Alliance$80KWomen Silicon Valley: $60KWomen Silicon Valley$60KTranscendence Theatre Company: $45KTranscendence Theatre Company$45KFor-Site Foundation: $40KFor-Site Foundation$40KOne Step Productions: $27KOne Step Productions$27KThe Utah Film Center: $25KThe Utah Film Center$25KFamily Violence Appellate Project: $20KFamily Violence AppellateProject$20KMarine Mammal Care: $10KMarine Mammal Care$10KSonoma Valley Next 100: $10KSonoma Valley Next 100$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Roxie Theater ($255K). Together the top 10 received $572K.

Grant Size Distribution

48 grants across all recorded years

39<$50K7$50–100K1$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 48 (81%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to California recipients, 4% to Utah recipients, and 1% to New York recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

San FranciscoOaklandSonomaGlen EllenLos AltosNew YorkPlantationWashingtonWatertownAlexandriaBrooklynChicagoHartsdaleNorth AdamsPalo AltoSalt Lake CitySan FranicscoSausalitoStudio City

How Syzygy Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 98% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 897% 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

$0$200K$400K$600K16 grants2020 11 grants2021 8 grants2022 1 grant2023 12 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2023) to $585K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $585K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Roxie Theater San Francisco, CACommunity Support$255,000
Greenbelt Alliance San Francisco, CACommunity Support$80,000
Women Silicon Valley Los Altos, CACommunity Support$60,000
Transcendence Theatre Company Sonoma, CACommunity Support$45,000
For-Site Foundation San Francisco, CACommunity Support$40,000
One Step Productions Studio City, CADear Australia Documentary- Completion of Phase II$27,000
The Utah Film Center Salt Lake City, UTCommunity Support$25,000
Family Violence Appellate Project Oakland, CACommunity Support$20,000
Marine Mammal Care Sausalito, CACommunity Support$10,000
Sonoma Valley Next 100 Glen Ellen, CACommunity Support$10,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Syzygy Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$998,065$87,132$600,776$584,50012$588,000$79,028$65,527
2023$1,458,287$42,105$35,594$25,0001$28,500$37,364$69,363
2022$1,396,313$96,552$179,322$167,5008$171,000$92,128$83,960
2021$1,756,970$77,014$307,405$295,42711—$72,398$89,728
2020$1,753,589$71,171$344,315$330,29816—$65,995$95,086

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Syzygy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66K 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 mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied work. For example, Transcendence Theatre Company describes itself as a performing arts organization combining health and wellness with the arts in its community. FOR-SITE Foundation says its exhibitions, commissions, artist residencies, and education programs aim to inspire dialogue about the natural and cultural environment. Family Violence Appellate Project says its primary mission is to help survivors of domestic violence obtain effective appellate representation.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $584,500. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $255,000, with a median of $26,000. Larger awards included $255,000 to Roxie Theater, $80,000 to Greenbelt Alliance, $60,000 to Women Silicon Valley, $45,000 to Transcendence Theatre Company, and $40,000 to FOR-SITE Foundation. The foundation also gave $27,000 to One Step Productions for “Dear Australia Documentary—Completion of Phase II.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Linda Dodwell as president, Maida Lynn Brankman as secretary and director, and Ed Hanley as treasurer.

Syzygy Foundation is led by Linda Dodwell, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Linda Dodwell

    President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maida Lynn Brankman

    Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ed Hanley

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/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 Syzygy Foundation

How much does Syzygy Foundation give each year?

Syzygy Foundation gave $585K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $25K across 1 grant.

What is Syzygy Foundation's typical grant size?

Syzygy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $26,000, and its average grant was $48,708, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Syzygy Foundation give grants?

Syzygy Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (3 grants) and Glen Ellen, CA (2 grants).

Does Syzygy Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Syzygy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Support" (11 grants).

Who are Syzygy Foundation's largest grantees?

Syzygy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Roxie Theater ($255,000), Greenbelt Alliance ($80,000) and Women Silicon Valley ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Syzygy Foundation?

Syzygy Foundation reported $998K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $588K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Syzygy Foundation fund?

No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied work. For example, Transcendence Theatre Company describes itself as a performing arts organization combining health and wellness with the arts in its community. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Syzygy Foundation?

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Syzygy Foundation's EIN?

Syzygy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0559202. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Syzygy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$12.3B

Grants

3,576

Total Given

$3.2B

Marin Community Foundation

Novato, CA

Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.3B

Grants

1,573

Total Given

$186.1M

Proteus Fund Inc

Waltham, MA

Proteus Fund supports social justice initiatives advancing racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and inclusive democracy, primarily through national grantmaking and collaborative funds. Its 2024 grants ranged from $25,000 to $2 million, with a median of $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests; its RISE Together Fund has a separate, time-limited open call.

Education

Assets

$67.1M

Grants

219

Total Given

$21.6M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1B

Grants

4,316

Total Given

$1.2B

RSF Social Finance Inc

San Francisco, CA

RSF Social Finance funds organizations and projects advancing social and environmental change, especially in food and agriculture, climate and energy, education, and community impact. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $5,250 to $5.52 million; recipients were primarily in California, Maryland, New York, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether RSF accepts unsolicited requests.

Social Science

Assets

$108.4M

Grants

457

Total Given

$48.2M

The Denovo Initiative

Portland, OR

The deNovo Initiative funds storytelling projects—especially documentaries, films, impact campaigns, and theater—that foster empathy and challenge social and cultural divisions. In 2024, its 21 grants ranged from $22 to $125,000, with a median of $35,000, supporting organizations in multiple states; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests or project submissions.

Assets

$18.6M

Grants

21

Total Given

$911K

More similar funders

More Funders in California

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Syzygy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/syzygy-foundation-morg_99bb68dd6cb04dc49dbf788e0aa5d712

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770559202_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Syzygy Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/syzygy-foundation-morg_99bb68dd6cb04dc49dbf788e0aa5d712},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Syzygy 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.

Syzygy Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?