The Sky Foundation Inc
The Sky Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations working in areas including digital equity, climate solutions, education, civic storytelling, recycling, clean-energy journalism, and public-interest media.
The Sky Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Sky Foundation Inc gave $334K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), top state Maryland. 58% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $333,960
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,689
- -17.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $9,983,686
- -1.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 58% first-time grantees (7 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maryland (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Sky Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sky Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Digital Harbor Foundation Inc ($150K). Together the top 10 received $331K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 43 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Maryland (45%), New York (22%), California (16%), and Massachusetts (15%); North Carolina received 1%. The listed grants also include a $2,000 grant to Wikimedia Foundation Inc in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sky Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
58%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 12 grantees (58%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $37K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $21K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 293% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2021) to $342K (2023). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $334K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Harbor Foundation Inc Baltimore, MD | General & Unrestricted | $150,000 |
| Cascade Climate Inc Somerville, MA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Spark Climate Solutions Inc Covina, CA | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Ms 297 Parent Teacher Association Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $21,160 |
| Waterwell Productions Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $16,000 |
| New York International Childrens Film Festival Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $15,800 |
| Waterwell Productions Inc New York, NY | 75 Morton Program | $9,000 |
| The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $6,500 |
| Foundation for National Progress San Francisco, CA | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Sure We Can Inc Brooklyn, NY | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sky Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,983,686 | $269,227 | $451,387 | $333,960 | 13 | $379,774 | $354,238 | $470,352 |
| 2023 | $10,165,846 | $271,437 | $489,014 | $342,000 | 11 | $492,101 | $834,547 | $402,903 |
| 2022 | $10,383,423 | $158,129 | $376,589 | $247,545 | 15 | $307,408 | $103,783 | $452,364 |
| 2021 | $10,661,132 | $4,245,336 | $218,320 | $85,000 | 4 | $120,727 | $2,909,224 | $377,312 |
| 2020 | $6,574,867 | $6,601,115 | $26,248 | — | — | — | $3,023,634 | $61,195 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sky Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $470K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose missions, as described by the grantees, include digital equity and technology for the public good (Digital Harbor Foundation); climate interventions and solutions (Cascade Climate and Spark Climate Solutions); student development (MS 297 Parent Teacher Association); and civic storytelling, community engagement, and education (Waterwell Productions).
Other 2024 grantees describe their work as supporting social inclusion, environmental awareness, and economic empowerment through recycling (Sure We Can), and covering the transition to clean energy through nonprofit journalism (Canary Media).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $333,960 through 13 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $9,000. The largest grants were $150,000 to Digital Harbor Foundation, $50,000 each to Cascade Climate and Spark Climate Solutions, and $21,160 to MS 297 Parent Teacher Association. Other listed grants included $16,000 and $9,000 to Waterwell Productions, $15,800 to New York International Children’s Film Festival, and $6,500 to The New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Doug Daniels as director; Jennifer Young as director, secretary, and vice president; and Kenneth Young as director, president, and treasurer.
The Sky Foundation Inc is led by Kenneth Young, Director, President & Treasurer since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kenneth Young
Director, President & Treasurer
Director → Director, President & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doug Daniels
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Young
Director, Secretary & Vice President
Director → Director, Secretary & Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Sky Foundation Inc
How much does The Sky Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sky Foundation Inc gave $334K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $342K across 11 grants.
What is The Sky Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sky Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $9,000, and its average grant was $25,689, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sky Foundation Inc that year got $37K on average.
Where does The Sky Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sky Foundation Inc's top state is Maryland, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (22%) and California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants).
Does The Sky Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of The Sky Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sky Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Sky Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Digital Harbor Foundation Inc ($150,000), Cascade Climate Inc ($50,000) and Spark Climate Solutions Inc ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sky Foundation Inc?
The Sky Foundation Inc reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $380K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $470K (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 does The Sky Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s own mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sky Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sky Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sky Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-2640958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Sky Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sky Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Zegar Family Foundation
New York, NY
The Zegar Family Foundation supports environment and sustainability, justice and human rights, science, education, and community development, with most 2024 funding going to organizations in New York, California, and Washington, D.C. Its 105 grants in 2024 ranged from $10,000 to about $3.23 million, with a median of $125,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$297.7M
Grants
105
Total Given
$27.0M
Bernard and Anne Spitzer
New York, NY
The Bernard and Anne Spitzer Foundation funds a broad range of charitable work, including environmental protection, democracy, education, health, and the arts, with 2024 grants totaling $55.6 million and a median award of $25,000. Its giving is concentrated in Washington, DC, Massachusetts, and New York. The filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and directs applicants to contact fund managers.
Assets
$326.7M
Grants
213
Total Given
$55.6M
The Rockefeller Foundation
New York, NY
The Rockefeller Foundation funds initiatives in energy access, sustainable food systems, health, climate, economic opportunity, and finance in the United States and around the world. In 2024, it made 381 grants, with a median grant of about $171,000, though awards ranged widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$6.4B
Grants
381
Total Given
$233.2M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation
Palo Alto, CA
The Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation funds scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area, with grants ranging from $50 to $20 million and a 2024 median award of $200,000. Its stated geographic focus includes the Bay Area, and its grants also support work in other U.S. locations and internationally. It funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests or grant proposals.
Assets
$11.5B
Grants
920
Total Given
$403.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Delaware
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sky Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sky-foundation-inc-morg_be3b7a77cb114c9a8bf19c7a9fcc5403
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_852640958_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sky Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sky-foundation-inc-morg_be3b7a77cb114c9a8bf19c7a9fcc5403},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Sky Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Sky Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?