The Sears Swetland Family Foundation
The Sears Swetland Family Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Bratenahl, Ohio. Established in 1948 (originally as the Sears Family Foundation in 1949), the foundation was created by Lester Sears, founder of Towmotor Corp. The foundation is committed to serving the Greater Cleveland community and surrounding regions through strategic philanthropic support of nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
-1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$319K
+14.5% YoY
Grant Count
47
+30.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-12.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support healthy, livable communities through grants to nonprofit organizations. Primary focus areas include:
- Environmental and community health
- Environmental education
- Urban sustainability and revitalization
- Community development
The foundation has maintained a strong environmental interest since its creation, with historical support for land acquisition, nature centers, and cultural institutions. Over time, its goals have evolved to encompass urban revitalization programming, sustainability initiatives, and community health.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications from eligible organizations.
Grant Range
$5,000
Ready to take the next step with The Sears Swetland Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Cleveland area and Ohio. Recent grants have also supported organizations in Vermont and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.7 million
- Total Revenue: $300,199
- Total Expenses: $367,354
- Total Liabilities: $1,980
- Total Giving: $319,000-$332,472
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $4.8 million
- Total Distributions: $302,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,700,943 | $4,768,791 | $4,996,974 |
| Revenue | $300,199 | $106,454 | $33,337 |
| Expenses | $367,354 | $334,697 | $357,359 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $332,472 | $301,540 | $286,269 |
| Net Investment Income | $264,425 | $62,485 | $48,035 |
| Distributable Amount | $317,991 | $285,381 | $283,508 |
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
196 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sears Swetland Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Trustees:
- Ruth Swetland Eppig — President/Trustee (7 hours per week)
- David T. Eppig — Secretary/Trustee (1 hour per week)
- Lydia Harrington — Trustee (5 hours per week)
- David S. Swetland — Trustee (1 hour per week)
- Marianne Eppig — Trustee (1 hour per week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUTH SWETLAND EPPIG | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 7 | — |
| LYDIA HARRINGTON | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| DAVID S SWETLAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARIANNE EPPIG | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DAVID T EPPIG | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent Grantees
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation provided grants to numerous organizations in 2023 and 2024, including:
Seeley Lake Community Foundation awards grants for 16 local projects - SeeleyACE/Alliance for Climate Education
Alliance for the Great Lakes
American Rivers, Inc.
Beyond Pesticides
Birthing Beautiful Communities
Boys and Girls Clubs of NE Ohio
Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Museum of Art
Sears Family gift | Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryCleveland Museum of Natural History
Sears Family gift | Cleveland Museum of Natural HistoryCleveland Neighborhood Progress
Cleveland Tree Coalition
Cleveland Zoological Society
College Now
Conservancy for Cuyahoga National Park
CWRU School of Medicine (Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health)
Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Edwin's Institute
Environmental Law and Policy Center
Footpath Foundation
Global Cleveland
Greater Cleveland Foodbank
Habitat for Humanity
Hospice of the Western Reserve
Ideastream
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sears Swetland Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities