The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc is an Atlanta, Georgia-based private foundation that supports ecological health and Indigenous cultures throughout the world. Its 2025 filing reports $150,000 in grants across four awards.
Key facts about The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc
In short: The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc gave $150K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), top state Utah. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 58-2011000
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $150,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- Average grant
- $37,500
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $2,610,277
- Primary geography
- Utah (33% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing says no specific forms or materials are required. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing says applications should generally be submitted by March 15; it does not specify a year.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
+6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$150K
-48.8% YoY
Grant Count
4
-85.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+258.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission rests on the belief that life on Earth is interconnected. It seeks to protect and restore ecological health and support Indigenous cultures around the world.
Its 2024 filing says awards are restricted to individuals and organizations working directly for ecological health and cultural diversity and preservation. It also identifies a special interest in protecting pristine wilderness areas and supporting work that helps young people gain respect for the Earth.
Among its 2025 grantees, Escudilla International Conservation describes its work as bringing Indigenous traditional knowledge holders and conservation scientists together for large-scale wildlands conservation with community involvement. The grantee says its current activities in Botswana include training in sustainable land-use practices for wildlife conflict. Okefenokee Swamp Park says it provides visitor access and interpretive education intended to inspire conservation advocacy for the Okefenokee.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported four grants totaling $150,000. Awards ranged from $25,000 to $50,000, with a median of $37,500. Its 2024 filing reported 28 grants totaling $292,703; in 2023, it reported 14 grants totaling $157,900.
The 2025 grants included $50,000 each to Escudilla International Conservation and Wellkind Guatemala, and $25,000 each to Okefenokee Swamp Park Inc and The MOM Foundation - Nepal. The listed purposes were general support for the first three organizations and continued support for educational programs, among other purposes, for The MOM Foundation - Nepal.
Review Cycle
The filing says applications should generally be submitted by March 15; it does not specify a year.
How to Apply
The 2024 filing says no specific forms or materials are required. It lists Aulbrey F Drisaldi, c/o BNY Mellon, as the contact for applications. It also says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it supports ecological health and Indigenous cultures throughout the world. In 2025, its reported grant dollars went to recipients in Utah (33%), California (33%), and Georgia (17%); the remaining 17% is shown without a state designation.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $150K (2025) to $293K (2024). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $150K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Escudilla International Conservation ($50K). Together the top 4 received $150K.
Grant Size Distribution
93 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 93 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Escudilla International Conservation Salt Lake City, UT | General Support for Organization | $50,000 |
| Wellkind Guatemala Cazadero, CA | General Support for Organization | $50,000 |
| Okefenokee Swamp Park Inc Waycross, GA | General Support for Organization | $25,000 |
| The Mom Foundation - Nepal | Continued Support for Educational Programs, Etc. | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,610,277 | $436,978 | $273,710 | $150,000 |
| 2024 | $2,447,009 | $560,670 | $345,232 | $292,703 |
| 2023 | $2,231,571 | $199,506 | $200,908 | $157,900 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,610,277 | $2,447,009 | $2,231,571 |
| Revenue | $436,978 | $560,670 | $199,506 |
| Expenses | $273,710 | $345,232 | $200,908 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $231,868 | $296,239 | $159,960 |
| Net Investment Income | $403,040 | $547,346 | $160,379 |
| Distributable Amount | $235,989 | $223,995 | $201,486 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Aulbrey F Drisaldi as president and Dana H Halberg as treasurer. Directors listed are Thomas J Fuller V, Kenneth R Margolis, Dr Sarah G Candler, Jonathan Fuller, Blythe Lang, and Sristi Kamal.
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc is led by Aulbrey F. Drisaldi, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Aulbrey F. Drisaldi
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth R. Margolis
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah G. Candler
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Fuller V
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Blythe Lang
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Fuller
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sristi Kamal
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana H. Halberg
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Cynthia A. Fuller (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Samuel P. Fuller (2019–2020) — Director
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.
Contact
Application contact: Aulbrey F Drisaldi Co Bny Mellon
Mailing address: 3050 Peachtree Road Nw Ste 300, Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: (678) 538-2000
Website: https://thesweetgrassfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc
How much does The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc gave $150K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $293K across 28 grants.
What is The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $37,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's top state is Utah, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (33%) and Georgia (17%).
Does The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc?
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $232K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (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 Sweetgrass Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission rests on the belief that life on Earth is interconnected. It seeks to protect and restore ecological health and support Indigenous cultures around the world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing says no specific forms or materials are required. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sweetgrass Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2011000. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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