The Saunders Foundation
The Saunders Foundation is a private foundation based in Tampa, Florida, established in 1959. The foundation maintains a strong educational orientation and seeks to perpetuate the wishes of its founders by supporting nonprofit organizations, with a particular focus on the Tampa Bay area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.0M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$470K
-30.6% YoY
Grant Count
22
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-33.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Saunders Foundation reported a distributable amount of $881K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest include:
- Performing arts
- Museums
- Higher education
- Health organizations
- Literacy
- Science
- Programs affecting the general welfare of the community
The foundation may award or meet matching grants to maximize the impact of its funds.
Grantmaking
The foundation typically makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$20,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, with additional grantmaking activity in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2022:
- Total assets: $11,861,348
- Total revenues: $1,053,543
- Total expenses: $910,235
- Investment income and dividends: $436,041
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $11,977,988
- Total giving: $470,000
Staff: The foundation operates with no employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,977,988 | $11,481,238 | $11,861,348 |
| Revenue | $1,166,350 | $525,649 | $1,053,543 |
| Expenses | $669,600 | $905,759 | $910,235 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $572,044 | $784,995 | $786,567 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,068,794 | $416,884 | $945,875 |
| Distributable Amount | $881,077 | $830,512 | $862,629 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Museum of Science and Industry ($200,000), Oasis Opportunities ($40,000), Champions for Children ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay Inc Tampa, FL | For the Foster Grandparent program. | $15,000 |
| Florida House on Capitol Hill Washington, DC | Annual contribution. | $2,000 |
| Oasis Opportunities Tampa, FL | For mobile clothing closet and pop-up shop and Socks and Underwear for Students program. | $40,000 |
| Eckerd College St Petersburg, FL | For the O'Brien Off Annual scholarship. | $15,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Hillsboroug Tampa, FL | To enable local residents to build safely. | $10,000 |
| Voices for Children of Tampa Bay In Tampa, FL | For the Saunders Necessities Closet. | $20,000 |
| Champions for Children Tampa, FL | For abcProgram's Baby Caf breastfeeding support clinics and service, Kids on the Block educational puppet program, and children's holiday needs. | $30,000 |
| Metropolitan Ministries Tampa, FL | For children's holiday needs. | $5,000 |
| Salvation ArmyTampa Area Command Tampa, FL | For children's holiday needs. | $5,000 |
| Children's Home Network Tampa, FL | For CARES program - campus activities, recreation, and education services. | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by the following trustees:
- Solon F O'Neal Jr (3 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- George B Howell III (4 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- Kathleen J Belmonte (8 hours/week, $14,000 compensation)
- Fred Dobbins (3 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
- Susan O Thompson (3 hours/week, $12,000 compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solon F O'Neal Jr | Trustee | 3 | $12,000 |
| George B Howell III | Trustee | 4 | $12,000 |
| Kathleen J Belmonte | Trustee | 8 | $24,000 |
| Fred Dobbins | Trustee | 4 | $12,000 |
| Susan O Thompson | Trustee | 4 | $12,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 10477, Tampa, FL 33679
- Phone: 813-229-0804
- EIN: 59-6152326
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Saunders Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • Performing arts • Museums • Higher education • Health organizations • Literacy • Science • Programs affecting the general welfare of the community The foundation may award or meet matching grants to maximize the impact of its funds.
How do I apply for a grant from The Saunders Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $2,000–$200,000 • Median grant size: $20,000 • Recent grant activity shows 25-33 grants distributed annually **Recent Grants (2022):** • University of Tampa: $200,000 (fourth installment for Art Lobby & Gallery with Digital Art Display in Ferman Center for Arts) • Virginia Tech Foundation: $50,000 (William Newill Saunders Memorial Scholarship) • The Florida Orchestra: $35,000 (Education and Communication Engagement Program, Strings for Kids and …
Where does The Saunders Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, with additional grantmaking activity in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Saunders Foundation award?
In 2024, The Saunders Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $470K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Saunders Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Saunders Foundation reported a distributable amount of $881K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Saunders Foundation's EIN?
The Saunders Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6152326. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Saunders Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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