The Mustard Seed Foundation
The Mustard Seed Foundation is a private foundation, based in Lexington, KY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $2.7M. Net investment income was $18K.
The Mustard Seed Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mustard Seed Foundation gave $2.7M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.7M), mostly in Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,686,745
- +29.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,686,745
- +29.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,686,745
- Total assets
- $1,751,321
- +26.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (100% 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 The Mustard Seed Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was College Ministry Support ($2.7M).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The Mustard Seed Foundation gives
- Giving grew 68% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2019) to $2.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| College Ministry Support Lexington, KY | Ministry to College Students Abroad | $2,686,745 |
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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 | $1,751,321 | $3,083,260 | $2,715,796 | $2,686,745 | 1 | $2,715,796 | $17,955 | $76,954 |
| 2024 | $1,383,857 | $2,606,455 | $2,124,490 | $2,079,655 | 1 | $2,124,490 | $11,520 | $56,127 |
| 2023 | $901,892 | $1,944,366 | $2,006,608 | $1,935,016 | 1 | $2,006,608 | $8,936 | $45,827 |
| 2022 | $964,134 | $1,733,450 | $1,640,982 | $1,597,368 | 1 | $1,640,982 | — | $45,207 |
| 2021 | $871,666 | $1,895,904 | $1,771,554 | $1,737,350 | 1 | $1,771,554 | $1 | $39,868 |
| 2020 | $747,316 | $1,600,133 | $1,634,774 | $1,606,896 | 1 | — | $2 | $37,658 |
| 2019 | $781,957 | $1,622,880 | $1,557,956 | $1,424,346 | 1 | — | — | $36,713 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mustard Seed Foundation reported a distributable amount of $77K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Mustard Seed Foundation is led by Rick Ifland, Chairman on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rick Ifland
Chairman
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John S. Sawyer
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert V. Sartin
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thetford H. Callahan
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Mustard Seed Foundation
How much does The Mustard Seed Foundation give each year?
The Mustard Seed Foundation gave $2.7M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 1 grant.
How large is The Mustard Seed Foundation?
The Mustard Seed Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $77K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does The Mustard Seed Foundation operate?
The Mustard Seed Foundation has awarded grants in Kentucky.
What is The Mustard Seed Foundation's EIN?
The Mustard Seed Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1390910. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 5, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Mustard Seed Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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