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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sears Swetland Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $318K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ymca ($30,000), Cwru Swetland Center for Environmental Health ($15,000), Ace Alliance for Climate Education ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE EDUCATION OAKLAND, CA | CLIMATE EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR THE GREAT LAKES CHICAGO, IL | ENVIRONMENTAL | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN RIVERS INC WASHINGTON, DC | ENVIRONMENTAL | $5,000 |
| SMOKEY HOUSE CENTER DANBY, VT | CLIMATE EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART CLEVELAND, OH | ARTS EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND METROPARKS CLEVELAND, OH | OUTDOOR EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CLEVELAND, OH | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP MONTPELIE, VT | RESEARCH AND EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLEVELAND, OH | PRIMATE EXHIBIT | $7,500 |
| HATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sears Swetland Family Foundation fund?
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 revita…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sears Swetland Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • 2024: 46 grants totaling $319,000 • 2023: 36 grants totaling $279,000 • 2022: 25 grants totaling $280,000 **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $60,000 • Giving rate: approximately 6.8-7.0% of assets annually **Types of Support:** • Operating funds • Program funding • Capital funding • Emergency funds • Scholarships and internships **Application Policy:** The foundation accepts applications from eligible organizations.
Where does The Sears Swetland Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Greater Cleveland area and Ohio. Recent grants have also supported organizations in Vermont and Maine.
What size grants does The Sears Swetland Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sears Swetland Family Foundation awarded 47 grants totaling $319K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sears Swetland Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sears Swetland Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $318K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sears Swetland Family Foundation's EIN?
The Sears Swetland Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6522143. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sears Swetland Family 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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