Towards Sustainability Foundation
Towards Sustainability Foundation is a private foundation based in Saugus, Massachusetts. It supports 501(c)(3) public charities that help promote the efficient use of the earth’s natural resources and human capital toward a balanced carrying capacity that can support all living organisms fairly and justly.
Towards Sustainability Foundation at a glance
In short: Towards Sustainability Foundation gave $849K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), top state Massachusetts. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $849,150
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $33,966
- -1.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $14,494,111
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Towards Sustainability Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants should contact Susan K Syversen and submit a cover letter requesting a grant, details on how the requested funds will be used and how that use would further the foundation’s stated purpose, the applicant’s most current financial statement, its IRS determination letter, and its most recently filed Form 990, Part IV, Schedule A. The foundation states that it intends to support only 501(c)(3) public charities meeting its stated purpose.
- Review Cycle
- August 15 for consideration for the foundation’s fiscal year ending September 30.
- Deadline
- August 15 for consideration for the foundation’s fiscal year ending September 30.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan K Syversen
Mailing address: 16 Homestead Road, Marblehead, MA 01945
Phone: (617) 897-1124
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Towards Sustainability Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cornell University - Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future ($110K). Together the top 10 received $575K.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 112 grants of 132 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Massachusetts recipients received 36% of grant dollars, New York recipients 28%, Iowa recipients 13%, and recipients in Washington, DC, and Maryland 6% each. The listed 2025 grants also included recipients in New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Towards Sustainability Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 25 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $764K (2021) to $851K (2022). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $849K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University - Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future Boone, IA | Sustainable Biodiversity Research Program | $110,000 |
| Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Ithaca, NY | Organic Farming Research Program | $110,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America New York, NY | General Support | $100,000 |
| Tufts University - Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy Boston, MA | AFE/New Entry Sustainable Farming | $95,000 |
| Food Project Lincoln, MA | General Purposes | $30,000 |
| Womens Microfinance Initiative Cabin John, MD | General Purposes | $30,000 |
| Essex County Greenbelt Essex, MA | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Green America Washington, DC | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| GreenPeace Fund Washington, DC | Protecting Ocean Biodiversity | $25,000 |
| Madre Etna, NH | Advancing Climate Justice Initiative | $25,000 |
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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 | $14,494,111 | $1,180,458 | $1,122,054 | $849,150 | 25 | $849,150 | $920,749 | $956,125 |
| 2024 | $14,443,649 | $1,214,108 | $1,046,007 | $825,000 | 24 | $825,000 | $1,002,232 | $881,460 |
| 2023 | $14,282,470 | $1,266,290 | $1,073,631 | $845,000 | 28 | $845,000 | $1,055,184 | $789,532 |
| 2022 | $14,111,127 | $1,683,669 | $1,102,303 | $851,000 | 27 | $851,000 | $1,453,336 | $842,420 |
| 2021 | $13,539,376 | $1,879,134 | $1,022,657 | $764,000 | 28 | — | $1,645,851 | $875,544 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Towards Sustainability Foundation reported a distributable amount of $956K 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’s stated funding purpose is to support 501(c)(3) public charities working toward the efficient use of natural resources and human capital, with the aim of supporting living organisms fairly and justly.
Its grants show support for research, conservation, sustainable agriculture, and other charitable work. For example, the Cornell University grants supported a Sustainable Biodiversity Research Program and an Organic Farming Research Program. Among other 2025 grantees, Greenpeace Fund describes its work as supporting environmental research, public education, and advocacy, including efforts focused on climate, oceans, and forests. Massachusetts Audubon Society describes its mission as protecting Massachusetts nature through education, land conservation, advocacy, research, and habitat stewardship and restoration. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $849,150. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $110,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards were $110,000 each to Cornell University’s Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future for its Sustainable Biodiversity Research Program and Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for its Organic Farming Research Program. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for general support and $95,000 to Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy for AFE/New Entry Sustainable Farming.
Additional 2025 grants included $30,000 each to The Food Project and Womens Microfinance Initiative; $25,000 each to Essex County Greenbelt, Green America, Greenpeace Fund, MADRE, Massachusetts Audubon Society, and the Nature Conservancy’s Massachusetts Chapter; and $20,000 each to Lloyd Center for the Environment and Creative Action Institute. Grant purposes included general support, ocean biodiversity, and climate justice, as well as the research and farming programs noted above.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Cambridge Trust as Trustee and Susan K Syversen and John R Dunnell as members of the Advisory Committee.
Towards Sustainability Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cambridge Trust
Trustee
On filings since 2024
10 hrs/week
$139K (2024) → $171K (2025)
John R Dunnell
Advisory Committee
On filings since 2021
2.5 hrs/week
$37K (2021) → $41K (2025)
Susan K Syversen
Advisory Committee
On filings since 2021
2.5 hrs/week
$37K (2021) → $41K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Eastern Bank (2021–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $171K, to Cambridge Trust (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Towards Sustainability Foundation
How much does Towards Sustainability Foundation give each year?
Towards Sustainability Foundation gave $849K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $825K across 24 grants.
What is Towards Sustainability Foundation's typical grant size?
Towards Sustainability Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $33,966, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Towards Sustainability Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Towards Sustainability Foundation give grants?
Towards Sustainability Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (28%) and Iowa (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants), Lincoln, MA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Towards Sustainability Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of Towards Sustainability Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Towards Sustainability Foundation's largest grantees?
Towards Sustainability Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cornell University - Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future ($110,000), Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ($110,000) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Towards Sustainability Foundation?
Towards Sustainability Foundation reported $14.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $849K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $956K (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 Towards Sustainability Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated funding purpose is to support 501(c)(3) public charities working toward the efficient use of natural resources and human capital, with the aim of supporting living organisms fairly and justly. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Towards Sustainability Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Towards Sustainability Foundation's EIN?
Towards Sustainability Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3397681. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Towards Sustainability Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/towards-sustainability-foundation-morg_90c698f1dd49411a8ca536351ffa8f51
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043397681_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Towards Sustainability Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/towards-sustainability-foundation-morg_90c698f1dd49411a8ca536351ffa8f51},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Towards Sustainability 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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