The Swanson Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Burlingame, CA EIN: 94-3211277

The Swanson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Burlingame, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $1.6M. Net investment income was $804K.

Key facts about The Swanson Foundation

EIN: 94-3211277
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $1,572,000
Grants made (2024): 8
Average grant: $196,500
Median grant: $175,000
Total assets: $21,122,751
Primary geography: California (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who The Swanson Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Swanson Foundation's 8 itemized 2024 grants were California (64%) and Massachusetts (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants). None of its 8 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).

How The Swanson Foundation gives

Giving grew 97% from 2021 to 2024. Method
In 2024 it paid out 135% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Next steps with The Swanson Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$21.1M

-0.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.6M

+4.8% YoY

Grant Count

+14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$197K

-8.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Swanson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About The Swanson Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

California $1.0M (64%)

Massachusetts $500K (32%)

New York $72K (5%)

Share of all 8 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

California Massachusetts New York

Cities

San FranciscoCambridgeBurlingameSan JoseSan MateoTruckeeNew York

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$21,122,751	$21,173,499	$22,060,598
Revenue	$1,985,933	$727,317	$1,295,334
Expenses	$1,616,828	$1,614,386	$1,301,583
Qualifying Distributions	$1,572,000	$1,500,000	$1,249,998
Net Investment Income	$804,059	$755,878	$799,001
Distributable Amount	$1,166,030	$1,062,233	$1,068,749

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include MIT - Ras (1969) Biotech Center of the Koch Inst of Integ Cancer Research ($500,000), Kqed ($300,000), San Francisco Ballet ($250,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
MIT - RAS (1969) BIOTECH CENTER OF THE KOCH INST OF INTEG CANCER RESEARCH Cambridge, MA	EDUCATION	$500,000
KQED San Francisco, CA	PUBLIC SERVICE	$300,000
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET San Francisco, CA	EDUCATION	$250,000
THE TECH San Jose, CA	TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION	$200,000
PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE San Mateo, CA	EDUCATION	$150,000
DAMON RUNYON CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION New York, NY	HEALTH CARE	$72,000
MILLS PENINSULA HOSPITAL FOUNDATION Burlingame, CA	HEALTH CARE	$50,000
TAHOE TRUCKEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Truckee, CA	PUBLIC SERVICE	$50,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Judy C Swanson	CEO/President	2	—
Tracy Gedenberg	Secretary	0.5	—
Alexandria Breitman	CFO/Treasurer	0.5	—
Christine Sherry	Vice President	0.5	—
Erica Swanson Gorski	Director	0.5	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Swanson Foundation?

The Swanson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Burlingame, CA. It holds $21.1M in total assets as of 2024.

How large is The Swanson Foundation?

As of 2024, The Swanson Foundation holds $21.1M in total assets with $2.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 8 grants totaling $1.6M in 2024.

Where does The Swanson Foundation operate?

The Swanson Foundation has awarded grants in California, Massachusetts, New York.

What size grants does The Swanson Foundation award?

In 2024, The Swanson Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $197K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

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

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Swanson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.