Van Sloun Foundation
The Van Sloun Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 by the late Neil Van Sloun, who owned a successful plant nursery in Westport, Massachusetts. Van Sloun also served as president of both the New England Nursery Association and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association. The foundation is based in Marion, Massachusetts and is now led by Joseph Van Sloun, Neil Van Sloun's nephew. The foundation maintains a low profile and does not maintain a public website or formal program announcements.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$28.9M
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Grant Count
88
Avg Grant Size
$14K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Van Sloun Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not provide a published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Van Sloun Foundation supports organizations working in the following areas:
- Education (K-12 and higher education)
- Environmental and animal conservation
- Health
- Human services
- Scholarships
At the K-12 level, the foundation focuses on private schools, charter schools, and special education. Education represents the foundation's largest area of giving.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. Grantseekers may submit inquiries to:
Grant Range
$250 - $175,000
Average Grant
varies by year
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Van Sloun Foundation prioritizes grantmaking in:
- Massachusetts (primary focus, where the foundation is based)
- Minnesota (where Joseph Van Sloun resides)
- Rhode Island
At the K-12 level in Massachusetts, the foundation has supported organizations including the Perkins School for the Blind, Friends Academy in North Dartmouth, and Our Sisters School in New Bedford. In Rhode Island, the foundation has supported Meeting Street.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $28,902,569
- 2023: $17,200,000
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $1,211,000
- 2023: $882,700
Revenue & Expenses:
- 2024 Revenue: $9,965,702
- 2024 Expenses: $1,429,489
- 2023 Revenue: $4,232,784
- 2023 Expenses: $1,024,218
Liabilities:
- 2023: $0
Staffing: The foundation operates with 0 employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $28,902,569 | $13,051,980 | $16,384,196 |
| Revenue | $9,965,702 | $106,102 | $576,686 |
| Expenses | $1,429,489 | $1,139,635 | $1,079,312 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,251,500 | $1,021,070 | $974,125 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,217,564 | $322,634 | $476,719 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,420,314 | $920,604 | $980,316 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alice Lloyd College ($55,000), Southcoast Community Foundation ($50,000), Minnesota Landscape Arboretum ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST AMHERST, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| PAUL SMITH'S COLLEGE PAUL SMITHS, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES MINNEAPOLIS, MN | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY LEXINGTON, KY | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| FAXON ANIMAL CARE & ADOPTION CENTER FALL RIVER, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| FAXON ANIMAL CARE & ADOPTION CENTER FALL RIVER, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOL WELLESLEY, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,750 |
| BOWDOIN COLLEGE BRUNSWICK, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| COMMUNITY NURSE HOME CARE FAIRHAVEN, MA | UNRESTRICTED | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joseph Van Sloun - Executive Director (compensation: $35,000 as of 2023)
Joseph Van Sloun is the nephew of founder Neil Van Sloun and currently leads the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH VAN SLOUN | EXECUTIVE DI | 10 | $40,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Van Sloun Foundation fund?
The foundation does not provide a published mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Van Sloun Foundation supports organizations working in the following areas: • Education (K-12 and higher education) • Environmental and animal conservation • Health • Human services • Scholarships At the K-12 level, the foundation focuses on private schools, charter schools, and special education. Education represents the foundation's largest area of giving.
How do I apply for a grant from Van Sloun Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical grant range: $250 - $175,000 • Majority of grants are $40,000 or less • Average grant size varies by year **Recent Activity:** • 2024: 74 grants distributed • 2023: 72 grants totaling $882,700 • Total giving (2024): $1,211,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry. Grantseekers may submit inquiries to: Joseph Van Sloun 3527 Jidana Lane Minnetonka, MN 55345 The foundation does not have a website or public phone/email contact i…
Where does Van Sloun Foundation make grants?
The Van Sloun Foundation prioritizes grantmaking in: • **Massachusetts** (primary focus, where the foundation is based) • **Minnesota** (where Joseph Van Sloun resides) • **Rhode Island** At the K-12 level in Massachusetts, the foundation has supported organizations including the Perkins School for the Blind, Friends Academy in North Dartmouth, and Our Sisters School in New Bedford. In Rhode Island, the foundation has supported Meeting Street.
What size grants does Van Sloun Foundation award?
In 2024, Van Sloun Foundation awarded 88 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Van Sloun Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Van Sloun Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Van Sloun Foundation's EIN?
Van Sloun Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6691809. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Van Sloun Foundation'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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