Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
About Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation
The Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation concentrates large, mission-driven gifts to faith-based and service organizations, with a strong tilt toward Catholic parish education, Christian leadership formation, and international media/mission work in Asia. They favor operational and program support (school operations, fellows, staffing and equipment) and commonly award multi-installment grants to repeat beneficiaries rather than many small one-offs.
Focus Areas
Catholic parish school operations (supporting local parish elementary/primary school budget needs)Christian leadership formation and fellowships (e.g., clergy/lay formation programs like Anselm House)Faith-based volunteer mobilization and capacity building (recruiting operations staff, volunteer/leader development)Christian media and mission engagement in Asia (film/education programming, equipment, staff support)Child welfare and adoption-related Christian services (general operations for organizations like Show Hope)
Who They Fund
refugees and displaced populations (Myanmar/North Burma, Ukraine, Haiti)
About Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation
Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation is based in Lakeville, MN. It reported $14,598,235 in annual grants and $70,422,038 in total assets in the latest 990 year on file, 2025. Its giving is national, though most grants go to Minnesota recipients. The foundation funds individuals and does not make program-related investments. Recent grantmaking is concentrated in Christian schools, churches, church-sponsored organizations, youth evangelization, and related operating support. The largest recent grants show that pattern clearly. Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church received $1,225,009 in 2024 for general operations and $1,219,371 in 2025 for general school operations. Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Holland, MI received $1,196,555 in 2023 for its Haiti Relief Program. Anselm House received $1,000,000 in 2023 for its Fellows Program. Other large grants include $900,000 to Together for Good for recruitment and volunteer development, and $463,300 to Project Video for Asia staff, equipment, U.S. programming, and film-related work. Grant sizes are substantial, with a typical range centered around tens of thousands to low six figures. The foundation commonly uses operational and program support, capital support, and multi-year or repeat awards to named organizations.
What Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation Funds
Recent grantmaking spans Christian education, leadership formation, humanitarian relief, workforce and supportive services, and media and mission engagement. Notable grants include $1,219,371 to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church for general school operations, $1,000,000 to Anselm House for its Fellows Program, and $1,196,555 to Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church for the Haiti Relief Program. Other examples include $300,000 to Northwestern Health Sciences University for WorkSiteRight, $220,000 to The Center for Victims of Torture for general operating support and Ukraine healing and justice work, and $100,000 to The Sanneh Foundation for workforce development and nutritional services. The foundation also funded Project Video for Asia staff, equipment, U.S. programming, and India-related work.
How Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation Gives
Harry & Jan Sweere Foundation’s typical grant size is $25,000 at the 25th percentile, $47,500 at the median, and $78,750 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards show a pattern of larger operating, program, and capital grants to Christian schools, churches, church-sponsored ministries, and service organizations. It also funds organizations working on volunteer development, retreat centers, media production, refugee feeding, and humanitarian relief. The active program described is General Grantmaking, which is by invitation and does not accept unsolicited applications. Awards appear regularly across multiple years, including repeated grants to the same recipients.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$4.2M
Total Assets
$70.4M
Total Revenue
$5.3M
Total Expenses
$6.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $79K, with a median of $48K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$48K
75th Percentile
$79K
Geographic Reach
Regional21 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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