The Sebastian Foundation

GRAND RAPIDS, MI EIN: 38-2340219

The Sebastian Foundation is a private foundation, based in GRAND RAPIDS, MI. IRS filing data is available for 2021. In 2021, it awarded 59 grants totaling $2.1M. Net investment income was $989K.

Financial Overview

From 2021 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$2.1M

Grant Count

59

Avg Grant Size

$35K

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sebastian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Sebastian Foundation

Based on IRS filings

The Sebastian Foundation is a private foundation, based in GRAND RAPIDS, MI. IRS filing data is available for 2021. In 2021, it awarded 59 grants totaling $2.1M. Net investment income was $989K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1states

States

Cities

Grand RapidsKentwoodTraverse CityWest OliveWyoming

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$629K$1M$2M$3M2021
Metric2021
Total Assets
Revenue$1,092,244
Expenses$2,288,199
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$988,742
Distributable Amount$1,131

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$520K$1M$2M$2M59 grants2021

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2021

GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM$100KJOHN BALL ZOO$100KMEL TROTTER MINISTRIES$100KCHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER$75KDWELLING PLACE$75KJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF TH…$75KGRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVE…$60KLITERACY CENTER OF WEST …$60KBLANDFORD NATURE CENTER$50KCAMP BLODGETT$50K

Grant Size Distribution

50 grants across all recorded years

39<$50K8$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2021 grants, the largest include Grand Rapids Public Museum ($100,000), John Ball Zoo ($100,000), Mel Trotter Ministries ($100,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$50,000
ARBOR CIRCLE GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$20,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GR YOUTH COMMONWEALTH GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$25,000
CAMP BLODGETT GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$50,000
BAXTER COMMUNITY CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$15,000
CASA OF KENT COUNTY INC GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$12,500
CHILDREN'S HEALING CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$45,000
COMPREHENSIVE THERAPY CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$10,000
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$75,000
COMMUNITY FOOD CLUB OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS GRAND RAPIDS, MIGENERAL FUND$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2021 IRS filing

LINDA JONESDIRECTOR$100K

From 2021 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DAVID S SEBASTIANPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR2
JOHN O SEBASTIANSECRETARY/TREASURER/DIRECT10
LINDA JONESDIRECTOR40$100,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does The Sebastian Foundation operate?

The Sebastian Foundation has awarded grants in Michigan.

What size grants does The Sebastian Foundation award?

In 2021, The Sebastian Foundation awarded 59 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Sebastian Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Sebastian Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Sebastian Foundation's EIN?

The Sebastian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2340219. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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