Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $2,000,000
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Not publicly available
- Grant Range: $50,000 - $500,000
- Geographic Focus: National, with emphasis on Massachusetts, Washington DC, and Florida
Contact Details
No public contact information available. The foundation operates as a private foundation without a public website or listed contact methods.
Overview
The Sidney A Swensrud Foundation is a private foundation established in 1959, operating from Boston, Massachusetts. Named after Sidney A. Swensrud (1900-1996), the former president and chairman of Gulf Oil Corporation who led the company's major expansion in the mid-20th century, the foundation currently holds approximately $36 million in assets and distributes around $2 million annually in grants. The foundation has been tax-exempt since January 1959 and has successfully funded youth mental health efforts for over 25 years, along with supporting education, public policy research, health initiatives, and environmental causes.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
The foundation makes grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $75,000. In 2024, they made 23 grants totaling approximately $2 million.
Priority Areas
- Education (primary focus)
- Youth Mental Health - Over 25 years of focused funding on affordability and access to early mental health treatment and prevention for youth
- Public Policy Research
- Health - Including Alzheimer's research and healthcare access
- Environment - Conservation and botanical garden support
What They Don't Fund
Not specified in available documentation, though the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Governance and Leadership
Trustees:
- Nancy S Anthony - Trustee (3 hours/week, no compensation)
- Francis Brown - Trustee (0.5 hours/week, $5,000 annual compensation)
The foundation's trustees have shared that their focus on youth mental health developed from personal experiences with mental health challenges in their extended family and friends' families, providing a deeply personal commitment to this funding area.
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have identified through their networks and research.
Getting on Their Radar
Based on the foundation's funding patterns and trustee interviews, organizations may become known to the foundation through:
- Demonstrating innovative pilot programs with promising potential in their priority areas
- Building reputation for effective work in youth mental health, particularly around early intervention and parent involvement
- Establishing credibility in education, public policy research, or environmental conservation
- The foundation particularly values programs that can demonstrate clear deliverables and maintain strong communication schedules
Application Success Factors
Based on trustee interviews and funding patterns:
- Youth Mental Health Programs: The foundation specifically looks for programs focusing on early intervention, parent/caretaker involvement, and reducing the typical 10-year delay between first symptoms and first treatment
- Pilot Programs: They favor funding pilot programs with potential for broader implementation
- Clear Metrics: Programs like their "Building Bridges of Understanding" succeeded by showing measurable outcomes (primary care providers' confidence in treating mental health increased from 49% to 99%)
- Innovation in Delivery: They value accelerating implementation of medical innovations rather than basic research
- Parent Involvement: For youth programs, parent education and involvement is considered essential
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- This is an invitation-only funder with no public application process - relationships and reputation are essential
- Strong track record in youth mental health initiatives spanning 25+ years demonstrates deep commitment to this area
- Median grant of $75,000 suggests they prefer making multiple medium-sized grants rather than a few large ones
- Focus on practical, implementable solutions rather than theoretical research
- Value measurable outcomes and clear communication of program progress
- Trustees are personally motivated by family experiences with mental health challenges, suggesting authentic commitment to mission
References
- Grantmakers.io Profile - Sidney A Swensrud Foundation (accessed January 2025)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Sidney A Swensrud Foundation (accessed January 2025)
- "A Funding Strategy for Youth Mental Health: An Interview with The Sidney A. Swensrud Foundation" - Philanthropy Roundtable (accessed January 2025)
- Chicago Tribune - "Gulf Oil Executive Sidney Swensrud" obituary (1996)
- Various nonprofit databases including Instrumentl, GuideStar, Charity Navigator, and Candid Foundation Directory (accessed January 2025)