The Sand Foundation
The Sand Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its grants include support for organizations in the arts, education, health care, and other charitable fields.
The Sand Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sand Foundation gave $276K across 74 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state Rhode Island. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $275,729
- -6.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 74
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,726
- +3.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $7,704,860
- +0.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (15 of 68, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (42% 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 The Sand Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sand Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Newport Art Museum and Art Association ($40K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $165K.
Grant Size Distribution
377 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 375 grants of 377 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in an individual recipient (42%), Washington, D.C. (18%), California (11%), New York (9%), and Virginia (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 74 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sand Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 68 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $276K (2024) to $334K (2022). In 2024 it made 74 grants totaling $276K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Naval War College Foundation Inc Newport, RI | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Newport Art Museum and Art Association Newport, RI | Campus Signage and related costs | $25,000 |
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | AYA Integrative Medicine - Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center | $20,000 |
| Human Rights Campaign Foundation Washington, DC | General & Unrestricted | $15,300 |
| Naval War College Foundation Inc Newport, RI | Charitable Event | $10,029 |
| Newport Art Museum and Art Association Newport, RI | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Newport Festivals Foundation Inc Manchester, MA | Free Music Lessons and Underwriting | $10,000 |
| Newport Hospital Foundation Inc Providence, RI | Emergency Department and Rehabilitation | $10,000 |
| PTA California Congress of Parents Teachers & Stud Berkeley, CA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| U S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Inc Arlington, VA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
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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 | $7,704,860 | $472,501 | $471,597 | $275,729 | 74 | $407,482 | $412,886 | $452,264 |
| 2023 | $7,703,456 | $408,631 | $487,040 | $294,050 | 82 | $425,200 | $351,191 | $413,781 |
| 2022 | $7,778,065 | $359,742 | $527,464 | $334,050 | 76 | $469,016 | $308,594 | $422,368 |
| 2021 | $7,945,287 | $651,813 | $477,572 | $285,200 | 79 | $422,435 | $603,027 | $486,894 |
| 2020 | $7,771,046 | $277,377 | $459,488 | $293,000 | 66 | — | $244,074 | $414,493 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sand Foundation reported a distributable amount of $452K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include unrestricted support and funding for specific purposes, such as campus signage, integrative medicine, emergency department and rehabilitation services, and free music lessons.
Among its grantees, the Newport Art Museum describes its mission as sharing art and experiences that foster reflection, inspiration, and connection, and as using arts and culture to promote civic engagement. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation says it promotes public education and welfare for the LGBTQ+ community. The U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants says it provides legal, social, and health services to refugees, unaccompanied migrating children, trafficking survivors, and other immigrants.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 74 grants totaling $275,729. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $25,000, with a median of $2,000. In 2023, it reported 82 grants totaling $294,050; in 2022, it reported 76 grants totaling $334,050.
Notable 2024 grants included $25,000 each to the Naval War College Foundation and Newport Art Museum and Art Association, and $20,000 to Georgetown University for the AYA Integrative Medicine program at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Other grants included $15,300 to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and $10,000 each to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants and Newport Hospital Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alexander Braun Schoenfeld, Barbara B Schoenfeld, Gordon Schoenfeld, Larry J Schoenfeld, and Max Schoenfeld as directors. Barbara B Schoenfeld is also listed as president, secretary, and treasurer; Larry J Schoenfeld is listed as vice president.
The Sand Foundation is led by Barbara B Schoenfeld, Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara B Schoenfeld
Director, President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Alexander Braun Schoenfeld
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Gordon Schoenfeld
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Larry J Schoenfeld
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
Max Schoenfeld
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2020) → $1K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $1K, to Alexander Braun Schoenfeld (Dir). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sand Foundation
How much does The Sand Foundation give each year?
The Sand Foundation gave $276K across 74 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $294K across 82 grants.
What is The Sand Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sand Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,726, across 74 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sand Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Sand Foundation give grants?
The Sand Foundation's top state is Rhode Island, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (12 grants), Newport, RI (11 grants), San Francisco, CA (9 grants) and Washington, DC (7 grants).
Does The Sand Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 84% of The Sand Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (62 of 74) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sand Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sand Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Newport Art Museum and Art Association ($40,000 across 3 grants), Naval War College Foundation Inc ($35,029 across 2 grants) and Georgetown University ($21,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sand Foundation?
The Sand Foundation reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $407K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $452K (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 does The Sand Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include unrestricted support and funding for specific purposes, such as campus signage, integrative medicine, emergency department and rehabilitation services, and free music lessons. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sand Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and 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 The Sand Foundation's EIN?
The Sand Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3209913. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Sand 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 October 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). The Sand Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sand-foundation-morg_29834bdb6da44f4ab729521e056f8e71
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_813209913_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sand Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sand-foundation-morg_29834bdb6da44f4ab729521e056f8e71},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Sand 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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