The Swartz Foundation
The Swartz Foundation is a private foundation based in Lloyd Harbor, New York. It supports theoretical and computational neuroscience research, including research conducted through university and scientific-institution centers, and sponsors neuroscience conferences, workshops, seminars, and public lectures.
The Swartz Foundation at a glance
In short: The Swartz Foundation gave $1.0M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $102K), top state Massachusetts. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,015,980
- -48.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $101,598
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $105,114
- Total assets
- $2,890,776
- -21.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (3 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (43% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Swartz Foundation
- 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. It does not provide funding directly to individuals; its website directs people seeking information about funding to contact one or more of the centers listed there.
- Contact
Mailing address: 6 Light House Pointroad, Lloyd Harbor, NY 11743
Phone: (631) 470-4761
Website: https://theswartzfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Swartz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Massachusetts Institute of Technolo ($165K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
63 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 44 grants of 63 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 43% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 35% to New York, 11% to California, and 10% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Swartz Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 10 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $115K; repeat grants $96K. How we count
Medians: $150K first-time, $104K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 722% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2025) to $2.2M (2020). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Institute of Technolo Cambridge, MA | Fund Research | $165,000 |
| Shanah Swartz-Gordon Fidelity DAF Lloyd Harbor, NY | Fund Research | $150,000 |
| Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Fund Research | $135,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | Fund Research | $135,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Fund Research | $106,000 |
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, NY | Fund Research | $104,227 |
| The Salk Institute La Jolla, CA | Fund Research | $75,000 |
| New York University New York, NY | Fund Research | $75,000 |
| Univ of Calif San Diego La Jolla, CA | Fund Research | $40,753 |
| The Brearley School New York, NY | Scholarship Fund | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Swartz Foundation?
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 | $2,890,776 | $443,801 | $1,107,373 | $1,015,980 | 10 | $1,055,805 | $421,468 | $146,272 |
| 2024 | $3,671,611 | $436,834 | $2,047,500 | $1,981,000 | 15 | $2,016,880 | $406,419 | $208,826 |
| 2023 | $4,851,571 | $82,521 | $1,840,261 | $1,748,771 | 13 | $1,800,025 | $57,741 | $278,468 |
| 2022 | $6,224,411 | $1,229,155 | $1,745,908 | $1,564,069 | 11 | $1,675,035 | $1,162,840 | $358,176 |
| 2021 | $9,800,286 | $639,142 | $1,955,059 | $1,785,588 | 14 | — | $546,702 | $484,385 |
| 2020 | $9,599,666 | $373,640 | $2,360,215 | $2,157,000 | 15 | — | $295,890 | $510,715 |
| 2019 | $11,546,791 | $974,085 | $2,096,770 | $1,894,750 | 14 | — | $851,339 | $575,570 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Swartz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K for 2025 — 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 foundation supports theoretical neuroscience research investigating basic principles and mechanisms of brain function. Its work includes supporting research centers and postdoctoral research, as well as informational programs such as conferences, workshops, seminars, and public lectures. The foundation’s website also describes a focus on theory-centered research that aims to develop formal accounts of brain function across levels.
Its 2025 grants included research support for universities and scientific institutions. The grantees describe their own missions in varied terms: Brandeis University identifies itself as a research university and liberal arts college; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory emphasizes basic research in molecular biology and genetics; New York University describes education, research and scholarship, and patient care as its primary missions. The foundation also awarded a scholarship-fund grant to The Brearley School, which describes itself as a private K–12 educational institution for girls.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 10 grants totaling $1,015,980 in 2025. Those grants ranged from $30,000 to $165,000, with a median of $105,114. Most of the listed grants supported research; the Brearley School grant was for a scholarship fund.
Notable 2025 grants included $165,000 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, $150,000 to the Shanah Swartz-Gordon Fidelity DAF, $135,000 each to Harvard University and Brandeis University, $106,000 to Yale University, and $104,227 to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists James P King, Dr Jerome Swartz, Joshua Swartz, Shanah Swartz Gordon, and Nathan Blumberg as trustees.
The Swartz Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James P King
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$25K (2025)
Jerome Swartz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua Swartz
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Blumberg
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shanah Swartz Gordon
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $25K, to James P King (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Swartz Foundation
How much does The Swartz Foundation give each year?
The Swartz Foundation gave $1.0M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.0M across 15 grants.
What is The Swartz Foundation's typical grant size?
The Swartz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $105,114, and its average grant was $101,598, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Swartz Foundation that year got $115K on average.
Where does The Swartz Foundation give grants?
The Swartz Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (35%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cambridge, MA (2 grants), La Jolla, CA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Swartz Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on The Swartz Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Fund Research" (9 grants).
Who are The Swartz Foundation's largest grantees?
The Swartz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Massachusetts Institute of Technolo ($165,000), Shanah Swartz-Gordon Fidelity DAF ($150,000) and Harvard University ($135,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Swartz Foundation?
The Swartz Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $146K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Swartz Foundation fund?
The foundation supports theoretical neuroscience research investigating basic principles and mechanisms of brain function. Its work includes supporting research centers and postdoctoral research, as well as informational programs such as conferences, workshops, seminars, and public lectures. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Swartz Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Swartz Foundation's EIN?
The Swartz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-6447242. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Swartz Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Swartz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Grant Thornton Foundation
Chicago, IL
In 2024, the Grant Thornton Foundation funded general support, educational institutions, and disaster relief, awarding 10 grants of $1,575 to $41,450 (median $19,060). It is based in Chicago, with 2024 grants concentrated in California, Arizona, and Florida. The foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$224K
Grants
10
Total Given
$181K
National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
New York, NY
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation funds scientific research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of serious mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $70,000 and supported research institutions across multiple U.S. states; the Young Investigator program is explicitly U.S.-based. Applicants use award-specific application processes, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$62.4M
Grants
80
Total Given
$8.4M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Russell Sage Foundation
New York, NY
The Russell Sage Foundation funds social science research on social, political, and economic issues affecting the United States, including inequality, race and immigration, work, and behavioral science. Its 2025 grants had a median of $37,500, while Core Research Grants can provide up to $200,000. It describes an application process through program-specific opportunities; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$492.6M
Grants
137
Total Given
$6.4M
The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
New York, NY
The Michael J. Fox Foundation funds basic, translational, and clinical research to advance a cure for Parkinson’s disease and improve treatments, supporting researchers in the United States and internationally. Its 2025 grants had a median award of about $426,000, though amounts varied widely. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals; applications are submitted through its grant portal for designated funding opportunities.
Assets
$639.2M
Grants
149
Total Given
$201.5M
Research Corporation dba Research
Tucson, AZ
Research Corporation supports early-stage basic scientific research, especially in the physical sciences, and academic scientists at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Its 2024 grants had a median of $55,000, with awards ranging from $74 to $193,142; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$241.5M
Grants
165
Total Given
$8.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Swartz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-swartz-foundation-morg_84917cc6f50a43068b89d62945a1c066
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_116447242_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Swartz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-swartz-foundation-morg_84917cc6f50a43068b89d62945a1c066},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Swartz Foundation'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 Swartz Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?