The Sweetgrass Foundation
The Sweetgrass Foundation is a private foundation, based in Canton, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $51K. Net investment income was $46K.
The Sweetgrass Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sweetgrass Foundation gave $51K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,500
- -1.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,313
- +10.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,117,428
- +7.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Sweetgrass Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Massena Arts and Theater ($13K). Together the top 8 received $51K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Sweetgrass Foundation gives
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2020) to $61K (2023). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massena Arts and Theater Massena, NY | ARTS | $12,500 |
| Frederic Remington Art Museum Ogdensburg, NY | ARTS | $10,000 |
| Traditional Arts in Upstate New Canton, NY | ARTS | $10,000 |
| Morristown Gateway Museum Morristown, NY | ARTS | $6,000 |
| Orchestra of Northern New York Potsdam, NY | ARTS | $4,000 |
| Norwood Village Green Concert Norwood, NY | Public Events | $3,000 |
| WPBS Watertown Watertown, NY | Education | $3,000 |
| Northern New York Community Watertown, NY | Scholarships | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,117,428 | $46,073 | $99,126 | $50,500 | 8 | $50,500 | $46,073 | $52,489 |
| 2024 | $1,036,172 | $75,976 | $61,793 | $51,268 | 9 | $51,268 | $75,976 | $50,191 |
| 2023 | $1,006,907 | $76,553 | $70,939 | $60,844 | 9 | $60,844 | $76,553 | $47,497 |
| 2022 | $953,534 | $40,513 | $51,642 | $42,000 | 4 | $42,000 | $40,513 | $49,683 |
| 2021 | $1,158,410 | $72,168 | $63,111 | $51,834 | 10 | $51,834 | $72,168 | $55,470 |
| 2020 | $1,091,920 | $30,842 | $44,395 | $34,502 | 9 | — | $30,842 | $48,582 |
| 2019 | $1,036,557 | $49,631 | $60,194 | $50,416 | 9 | — | $49,631 | $48,804 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sweetgrass Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Sweetgrass Foundation is led by Allan Newell, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Allan Newell
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Scarlett
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Ann Narenkivicius
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Newell
Vice President & Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Sweetgrass Foundation
How much does The Sweetgrass Foundation give each year?
The Sweetgrass Foundation gave $51K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $51K across 9 grants.
What is The Sweetgrass Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sweetgrass Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,313, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sweetgrass Foundation give grants?
The Sweetgrass Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, NY (2 grants).
Does The Sweetgrass Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Sweetgrass Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts" (5 grants).
Who are The Sweetgrass Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sweetgrass Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Massena Arts and Theater ($12,500), Frederic Remington Art Museum ($10,000) and Traditional Arts in Upstate New ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sweetgrass Foundation?
The Sweetgrass Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $51K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (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 is The Sweetgrass Foundation's EIN?
The Sweetgrass Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1414871. 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.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Sweetgrass 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.
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