The Sanford Foundation
The Sanford Foundation is a private foundation based in Mercer Island, Washington. It makes grants to 501(c)(3) organizations and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
The Sanford Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sanford Foundation gave $48K across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Oregon. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $47,900
- -49.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- -52.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,177
- +5.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $24,825
- +7.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (5 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sanford Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9248 Se 59Th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040-5021
Phone: (206) 852-4717
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sanford Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was ProMusica Foundation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
191 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 191 grants of 191 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, reported grant dollars went to recipients in Oregon (86%), Idaho (6%), Washington (4%), the District of Columbia (2%), and Pennsylvania (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sanford Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 22 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $190 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2025) to $95K (2024). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $48K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ProMusica Foundation Eugene, OR | charity | $20,000 |
| Oregon Contemporary Theater Eugene, OR | Charity | $5,000 |
| Center For NonProfit Law Eugene, OR | Charity | $4,800 |
| Orchestra Next Eugene, OR | charity | $3,000 |
| Eugene Southtowne Rotary Foundation Eugene, OR | charity | $2,500 |
| Food for Lane County Eugene, OR | Charity | $2,000 |
| Oregon Public Broadcasting Portland, OR | public broadcasting | $1,500 |
| KLCC Eugene, OR | Charity | $1,500 |
| International Womens Forum of Idaho Boise, ID | charity | $1,020 |
| The Alliance of Idaho Bellevue, ID | Charity | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sanford Foundation?
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 | $24,825 | $50,007 | $48,237 | $47,900 | 22 | $48,193 | — | $3,425 |
| 2024 | $23,055 | $100,007 | $95,524 | $95,185 | 46 | $95,524 | — | $2,492 |
| 2023 | $18,572 | $50,016 | $58,988 | $58,655 | 36 | $58,926 | — | $1,788 |
| 2022 | $27,544 | $98,908 | $83,811 | $83,545 | 48 | $83,811 | — | $3,171 |
| 2021 | $12,447 | $50,005 | $54,068 | $53,865 | 39 | — | $5 | $2,216 |
| 2020 | $16,510 | $75,006 | $90,782 | $90,605 | 44 | — | — | $3,142 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sanford Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes grantmaking to 501(c)(3) organizations; it does not state a separate mission. Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, Orchestra Next says it trains the next generation of orchestral musicians through collaboration and performance, while Food for Lane County says it works to reduce hunger by engaging the community to create access to food.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $47,900. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $20,000, with a median of $1,000. Among its largest grants were $20,000 to ProMusica Foundation, $5,000 to Oregon Contemporary Theater, $4,800 to Center For NonProfit Law, $3,000 to Orchestra Next, and $2,500 to Eugene Southtowne Rotary Foundation. It also gave $2,000 to Food for Lane County and $1,500 each to Oregon Public Broadcasting and KLCC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Raymond Sanford and Nancy S Hughes as board members, and Patricia S Turner as secretary/treasurer.
The Sanford Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nancy S Hughes
Board Member
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia S Turner
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary Treasurer, 2021
Secretary Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond L Sanford
Board Member
Board Member → Chair, 2022
Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Robert S Sanford (2020–2022) — Board Member
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 The Sanford Foundation
How much does The Sanford Foundation give each year?
The Sanford Foundation gave $48K across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $95K across 46 grants.
What is The Sanford Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sanford Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,177, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sanford Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Sanford Foundation give grants?
The Sanford Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Idaho (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Eugene, OR (8 grants), Portland, OR (2 grants), Mercer Island, WA (2 grants) and Ketchum, ID (2 grants).
Does The Sanford Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on The Sanford Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charity" (20 grants).
Who are The Sanford Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sanford Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include ProMusica Foundation ($20,000), Oregon Contemporary Theater ($5,000) and Center For NonProfit Law ($4,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sanford Foundation?
The Sanford Foundation reported $25K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $48K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sanford Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes grantmaking to 501(c)(3) organizations; it does not state a separate mission. Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sanford Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sanford Foundation's EIN?
The Sanford Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1194492. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Sanford 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sanford Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Moccasin Lake Foundation
Wilmington, DE
Moccasin Lake Foundation funds education, environmental work, and social services, with most of its giving focused in the Pacific Northwest; service-area rules vary by committee. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $750,000, with a median of $14,000. It accepts requests from registered 501(c)(3) organizations through its website.
Assets
$110.5M
Grants
117
Total Given
$6.9M
Rudolph Joseph Foundation
Rockville Centre, NY
The Rudolph Joseph Foundation supports civic engagement, conservation, research, and community organizing, with 2024 grants ranging from $25 to $99,322 and a median of $1,000. Its grants went mainly to organizations in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, and New York. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$335K
Grants
123
Total Given
$621K
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
Ima Foundation
Wichita, KS
Assets
$11.4M
Grants
602
Total Given
$831K
The Oregon Community Foundation
Portland, OR
The Oregon Community Foundation funds Oregon nonprofits and community-serving projects across education, health, arts and culture, housing, economic and community vitality, and the environment. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to nearly $8 million; applications are accepted through specific grant programs and cycles, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$3.3B
Grants
2,149
Total Given
$171.4M
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Foundation funds nonprofit work in family well-being, education, the environment, and housing, including projects, capacity building, and general support that advance equity and resilient communities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; applicants generally must be located in San Diego County and primarily serve county residents. It offers competitive grant opportunities through its online portal, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Washington
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Sanford 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.
The Sanford Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?