The Seed Foundation
The Seed Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Defiance, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $15K. Net investment income was $81K.
The Seed Foundation at a glance
In short: The Seed Foundation gave $15K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,041
- +22.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,014
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,250
- Total assets
- $1,804,972
- +94.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Missouri (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Seed Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cameron Morgan ($5K).
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($9,791), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 31 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Seed Foundation gives
- Giving fell 81% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 21% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $12K (2024) to $139K (2021). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $9,791 |
| Cameron Morgan Rolla, MO | Room and Board | $5,250 |
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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 | $1,804,972 | $911,477 | $41,086 | $15,041 | 3 | $17,527 | $80,711 | $84,035 |
| 2024 | $929,031 | $87,778 | $44,210 | $12,317 | 2 | $14,187 | $60,126 | $53,417 |
| 2023 | $885,463 | $630,814 | $63,722 | $47,251 | 6 | $48,950 | $99,158 | $38,433 |
| 2022 | $523,015 | $17,954 | $94,589 | $79,146 | 7 | $79,146 | $2,497 | $27,010 |
| 2021 | $599,650 | $562,005 | $152,052 | $138,799 | 13 | $138,799 | $316,826 | $15,703 |
| 2020 | $189,697 | $2,522 | $139,967 | $126,790 | 9 | — | — | $12,727 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Seed Foundation reported a distributable amount of $84K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Seed Foundation is led by Mary Machon, Executive Director & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Machon
Executive Director & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Thomas Sehnert
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Hunter Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert C Graham III
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tim Halls
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Seed Foundation
How much does The Seed Foundation give each year?
The Seed Foundation gave $15K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $12K across 2 grants.
What is The Seed Foundation's typical grant size?
The Seed Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,250, and its average grant was $5,014, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Seed Foundation give grants?
The Seed Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Seed Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Seed Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Seed Foundation?
The Seed Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $18K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $84K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Seed Foundation?
The Seed Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Defiance, MO. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Seed Foundation's EIN?
The Seed Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1778116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 September 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Seed Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Seed Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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