Semnani Family Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated themes are health, education, disaster relief, water and sanitation, research and civic initiatives, and it puts human health and the needs of society's most vulnerable first, so a charity working in one of those areas is a natural fit.
- Its stated priority is all around the world, with Utah also named.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $975 and $50,000, and half are $10,000 or less, so a request in that region is typical rather than a ceiling, though its largest grant was about $4,750,000.
- Applications are made by letter, and the filing gives no deadlines, so there is no set date to aim for.
- Because it particularly seeks charities that minimise administrative and indirect costs and monitors grantees' use of resources, the letter should show clear results and lean spending, and since 11% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had funded before, repeat relationships play some part, but the filing says nothing more about how competitive its giving is.
Overview
Semnani Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Salt Lake City, UT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Semnani Family Foundation focuses on health, education and disaster relief for marginalised communities around the world, and has a particular commitment to Utah and its people. Its mission combines prompt assistance to marginal and vulnerable communities facing immediate threats with research, education and civic initiatives that address longer-term risks. Its work also includes healthcare, sanitation and the availability of water. It partners with charities and programmes, both religious and secular, and with organisations and individuals that have demonstrated a record of lasting change. In choosing partners, it particularly seeks charities and programmes that minimise administrative and other indirect costs, and monitors resource use for consistent impact and a strong return. Human health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable remain its first priority.
Themes
- Health
- Education
- Disaster relief
- Water and sanitation
- Research
- Civic initiatives
Geographic Focus
Priority: All around the world; Utah.
How to apply
Applications should be mailed in the form of a letter.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 11% 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 166 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation puts human health and the needs of vulnerable communities first, including their immediate needs.
- It partners with organisations and individuals with a demonstrated record of significant, sustainable and lasting change.
- It particularly seeks charities and programmes that minimise administrative and other indirect costs.
- It monitors grantees to ensure efficient use of resources and consistent impacts.
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 55% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 11% of grant dollars went to organisations Semnani Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 82% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 64 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,250 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Vanguard Donor Advised Fund · General cont$3,965,7502024 tax year
- Utah Community Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship · General cont$500,0002024 tax year
- Catholic Relief Services · General cont$250,0002024 tax year
- Neighborhood House Association · General cont$125,0002024 tax year
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society · General cont$110,0542024 tax year
- Advancing American Freedom Foundation · General cont$100,0002024 tax year
- Shriners Hospital for Children · General cont$75,0002024 tax year
- Westminster College · General cont$60,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Taymour Semnani — Director
- Ghazaleh Semnani — Director
- Shirin Kia — Director
- Khosrow Semnani — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,709,424 | $5,822,269 | $133,939,867 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,020,452 | $5,286,341 | $146,004,844 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,551,479 | $5,626,367 | $143,661,162 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Semnani Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (801) 321-7725
- info@semnanifamilyfoundation.org
- Salt Lake City, UT
- semnanifamilyfoundation.org
Applying to Semnani Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (801) 321-7725
- info@semnanifamilyfoundation.org
- Salt Lake City, UT
- semnanifamilyfoundation.org