The Sands Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Sands Family Foundation funds health, education and cultural work, and it states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, operating by invitation only, so cold applications are unlikely to get anywhere.
- Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has already funded, with 86% of its latest filing's grant dollars going to organisations also funded in its two prior filings, so this looks like a relationship-led funder rather than an open competition.
- A realistic request size is modest: about 8 in 10 of its 143 grants fall between $2,500 and $400,000, and half of all 143 grants were $32,500 or less, with the median grant at $32,500.
- Its filings show grants mainly in New York, though no geographic focus is stated as a rule.
- Given it does not accept unsolicited requests, a small nonprofit without an existing connection should focus on building a relationship rather than submitting a direct application.
Overview
The Sands Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Delray Beach, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (rochester.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation says it supports projects and organisations focused primarily on serving the health, educational and cultural needs of the community. Across its grants, it has supported hospitals and other health services, colleges and universities, schools, community foundations, arts organisations and food-access groups. Most of its recorded grant dollars went to New York, with a smaller share directed elsewhere. Most grants were for unrestricted programme use, with some directed to specific projects and institutional funds. Funding is often repeated across filings, with most latest-year grant dollars going to organisations previously supported.
Themes
- Health
- Education
- Culture
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 143 grants to organisations were $32,500 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 52% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations The Sands Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 56% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 55 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Rochester Area Community Foundation · Unrestricted program use$2,909,9002024 tax year
- Rochester Regional Health · Unrestricted program use$1,213,0002024 tax year
- Greater Rochester Of Commerce Foundation · Unrestricted program use$650,0002024 tax year
- University of Rochester · Unrestricted program use$570,0002024 tax year
- Nyu Langone Health · Unrestricted program use$500,0002024 tax year
- Canandaigua Area Development Corporation · Unrestricted program use$470,4482024 tax year
- Sound Future Foundation · Unrestricted program use$337,5002024 tax year
- Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation · Unrestricted program use$325,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Richard Sands — Vice President
- Robert Sands — President
- Meghan Schubmehl — Assistant Secretary
- Jennifer Garsin — Treasurer
- Ginny Clark — Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $15,035,147 | $14,314,124 | $258,407,992 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $16,075,134 | $10,450,526 | $280,710,224 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $13,988,369 | $9,961,899 | $300,996,673 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Sands Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Delray Beach, FL
Applying to The Sands Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Delray Beach, FL