The Swanson Foundation
The Swanson Foundation is a private foundation, 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.
The Swanson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Swanson Foundation gave $1.6M across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $197K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,572,000
- +4.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $196,500
- -8.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $175,000
- Total assets
- $21,122,751
- -0.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (64% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Swanson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was MIT - Ras (1969) Biotech Center of the Koch Inst of Integ Cancer Research ($500K). Together the top 8 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 7 grants of 24 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $650K (2020) to $1.6M (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $21,122,751 | $1,985,933 | $1,616,828 | $1,572,000 | 8 | $1,572,000 | $804,059 | $1,166,030 |
| 2023 | $21,173,499 | $727,317 | $1,614,386 | $1,500,000 | 7 | $1,500,000 | $755,878 | $1,062,233 |
| 2022 | $22,060,598 | $1,295,334 | $1,301,583 | $1,250,000 | 6 | $1,249,998 | $799,001 | $1,068,749 |
| 2021 | $22,122,004 | $1,208,329 | $918,130 | $800,000 | 2 | $807,502 | $740,921 | $1,158,557 |
| 2020 | $21,776,623 | $4,412,490 | $720,124 | $650,000 | 1 | — | $3,986,724 | $913,836 |
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.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Swanson Foundation is led by Judy C. Swanson, CEO & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Judy C. Swanson
CEO & President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erica Swanson Gorski
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Sherry
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandria Breitman
CFO & Treasurer
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Gedenberg
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Erica Swanson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mary Lynn Bell (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Ruth Peterson (2020–2021) — CFO & Treasurer
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 Swanson Foundation
How much does The Swanson Foundation give each year?
The Swanson Foundation gave $1.6M across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 7 grants.
What is The Swanson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Swanson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $175,000, and its average grant was $196,500, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Swanson Foundation give grants?
The Swanson Foundation gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does The Swanson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Swanson Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are The Swanson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Swanson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include MIT - Ras (1969) Biotech Center of the Koch Inst of Integ Cancer Research ($500,000), Kqed ($300,000) and San Francisco Ballet ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Swanson Foundation?
The Swanson Foundation reported $21.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Swanson Foundation's EIN?
The Swanson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3211277. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Swanson Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Swanson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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