The Swyer Family Foundation Inc

ALBANY, NY EIN: 34-2056927

The Swyer Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 2005 and based in Albany, New York. The foundation operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving to charitable organizations.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$5.5M

-18.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.9M

+198.7% YoY

Grant Count

28

+16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$103K

+156.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Swyer Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $266K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary funding interests include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services

The foundation primarily funds unrestricted grants to 501(c)(3) organizations, with a particular emphasis on supporting legal education and community development initiatives in the Capital Region and beyond.

Grantmaking

The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. It only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range

$5,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with particular emphasis on the Capital Region.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Cities

AlbanyCohoesKentLake LuzerneNew YorkPattersonvilleSaratoga SpringsSchenectadySlingerlandsTroyVoorheeseville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 2024:

  • Total assets: $5,495,339
  • Total revenues: $3,447,205
  • Total expenses: $2,928,416
  • Total giving: $2,888,000
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$4M$5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$5,495,339$6,705,846$5,644,118
Revenue$3,447,205$1,105,072$4,303,432
Expenses$2,928,416$1,001,694$937,180
Qualifying Distributions$2,888,000$966,800$918,407
Net Investment Income$2,485,388$304,900$29,792
Distributable Amount$265,907$299,880$213,840

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$722K$1M$2M$3M13 grants20209 grants202116 grants202224 grants202328 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ALBANY LAW SCHOOL$2.5MJEWISH FEDERATION OF NE …$95KFOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION$50KFRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DE…$50KST PETER'S HEALTH FOUNDA…$50KCAPITAL ROOTS$25KNATURAL HERITAGE TRUST$15KFAMILIES IN NEED OF ASSI…$13KIPH$13KTHE LEGAL PROJECT$10K

Grant Size Distribution

90 grants across all recorded years

72<$50K8$50–100K2$100–250K3$250–500K2$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Albany Law School ($2,500,000), Jewish Federation of Ne New York ($95,000), Foreign Policy Association ($50,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
15-LOVE ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$5,000
ALBANY INSTITUTE OF HISTORY AND ART ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$1,000
ALBANY LAW SCHOOL ALBANY, NYRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$2,500,000
ALBANY PROMUSICA TROY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$2,500
ALBANY SYMPHONY ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$3,000
ARCHIVES PARTNERSHIP TRUST ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$5,000
CAPITAL ROOTS TROY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$25,000
CENTER FOR DISABILITY SERVICES ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$5,000
COMMUNITY HOSPICE FOUNDATION ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$1,000
DESTROYER ESCORT HISTORICAL MUSEUM ALBANY, NYUNRESTRICTED GRANT TO 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION$2,500

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Edward P. Swyer — President/Trustee (1 hour per week, no compensation)
  • Michele Clancy — Treasurer/Trustee (1 hour per week, no compensation)

The foundation has limited staffing with no paid employees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
EDWARD P SWYERPRESIDENT / TRUSTEE1
MICHELE CLANCYTREASURER / TRUSTEE1

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

**2024:** The foundation made a $2,500,000 grant to Albany Law School.

Albany Law School Announces Gift from the Swyer Family Foundation to Support
2023

**2023:** Albany Law School renamed The Justice Center in honor of Edward P. Swyer in recognition of over three decades of support from Swyer and the foundation. The foundation had previously created an endowment to support The Justice Center in perpetuity in 2019.

Albany Law School Announces Gift from the Swyer Family Foundation to Support
2019

**2019:** The foundation, in conjunction with the Ethereal Fund, provided a $500,000 gift to Albany Law School to support the Community Development Clinic and The Justice Center. These funds were designated to support and expand clinic programs providing legal and business expertise to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits in the Capital Region.

Albany Law School Announces Gift from the Swyer Family Foundation to Support

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Swyer Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation primarily funds unrestricted grants to 501(c)(3) organizations, with a particular emphasis on supporting legal education and community development initiatives in the Capital Region and beyond.

How do I apply for a grant from The Swyer Family Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 28 grants in the most recent tax year (2024) • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $2,500,000 • Total giving in 2024: $2,888,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected basis only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. It only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Notable Grants:** • Albany Law School: $2,500,000 (2024) • Friends of the Israel Defense Forces: $50,000 (2024) • For…

Where does The Swyer Family Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in New York, with particular emphasis on the Capital Region.

What size grants does The Swyer Family Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Swyer Family Foundation Inc awarded 28 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $103K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Swyer Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Swyer Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $266K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Swyer Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Swyer Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-2056927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Swyer Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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