The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation
The Sidney A Swensrud Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1955. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and makes grants to organizations working to improve the quality of life for residents of the Boston area and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.9M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
-10.5% YoY
Grant Count
23
-20.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$86K
+12.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Historical preservation
- Hospitals, including children's hospitals
- Public policy, including immigration reform
- Environmental education and science education
- Community and school gardens
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
The foundation focuses on grants for science teachers, community and school gardens, and environmental education grants to nonprofits.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Boston area, Massachusetts
- District of Columbia
- Florida
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $30,925,606
- Total Revenue: $3,218,567
- Total Expenses: $2,362,647
- Net Income: $855,920
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Sources:
- Investment income and dividends: $1,034,190
- Contributions received: $107,758
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,925,606 | $30,153,322 | $31,070,588 |
| Revenue | $3,218,567 | $2,062,514 | $-833,693 |
| Expenses | $2,362,647 | $2,542,030 | $2,295,670 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,996,317 | $2,229,632 | $1,915,971 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,777,360 | $1,772,154 | $225,074 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,667,439 | $1,565,435 | $1,827,058 |
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
143 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Upstream Usa ($500,000), Federation for American Immigration Reform ($150,000), Naples Botanical Garden ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION | $75,000 |
| AUDOBONS CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY NAPLES, FL | ENVIRONMENT | $50,000 |
| AVOW HOSPICE NAPLES, FL | HEALTH | $35,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION | $45,000 |
| BUILDING EXCELLENT SCHOOLS BOSTON, MA | EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| CURE ALZHEIMER'S FUND WELLESLEY HILLS, MA | HEALTH | $125,000 |
| DANA FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE BOSTON, MA | HEALTH GENERAL | $100,000 |
| EPIPHANY SCHOOL DORCHESTER, MA | EDUCATION | $100,000 |
| FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC POLICY | $150,000 |
| IMMIGRATION REFORM LAW INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | PUBLIC POLICY | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NANCY S ANTHONY | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| FRANCIS BROWN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | $5,000 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 961019, Boston, MA 02196-1019
- Telephone: 617-423-0808
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Higher education • Historical preservation • Hospitals, including children's hospitals • Public policy, including immigration reform • Environmental education and science education • Community and school gardens • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 35 grants totaling approximately $2.3 million in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $1,985,500 • Typical award range: $2,500–$500,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Naples Botanical Garden: $150,000 (Environment) • Federation for American Immigration Reform: $150,000 (Public Policy) • Pioneer Institute: $125,000 (Public Policy) The foundation focuses on grants for science teachers, community and school gardens, and environmental education grants to nonprofits.
Where does The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Boston area, Massachusetts • District of Columbia • Florida
What size grants does The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $86K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation's EIN?
The Sidney a Swensrud Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6050238. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sidney a Swensrud 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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