The Sawyer Foundation concentrates its giving on higher-education international programs and educational content creation, primarily funding a small set of repeat grantees. Major gifts support global education initiatives at specific colleges and universities, while a smaller stream of funding goes to youth-focused foster-care programming. The foundation appears to value capacity-building for educational institutions and producing educational media that amplifies learning and outreach.
Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr. stands out for backing global education at a small set of repeat recipients, with Hope College receiving three of the largest recent awards: $500,000 in 2024, $500,000 in 2025, and another $300,000 in 2025. That pattern points to sustained support rather than one-off project funding. The foundation also uses sizable grants to support educational media, including multiple awards to Loud Monk Media for educational video production, alongside funding for campus-based international initiatives and faith-linked education programs. The grant record shows a mix of large institutional gifts and smaller project grants. Higher education is the clearest anchor, but the foundation’s giving extends into foster-care programming, missionary support, global health education, and humanitarian work tied to clean drinking water and disaster response. Recipients range from colleges and universities to ministries and relief organizations, suggesting a portfolio built around education, outreach, and direct service. The presence of repeated support for the same grantees indicates an emphasis on continuity within selected initiatives rather than broad dispersion across many organizations.
Global education is the clearest theme. The foundation gave $200,000 to Messiah University for global education and $72,235 to Calvin University for global health education, showing support for academic programs that connect learning with international or health-related work. It also funded campus-centered international activity at faith-affiliated institutions, including Hope College’s global education programming. Educational media is another distinct lane. In 2025, Loud Monk Media received $272,650 and $125,000 for educational video production, following a $175,000 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. That repetition suggests the foundation treats media as an ongoing part of its education strategy. A third area is direct-service programming. Man Up and Go received $150,000 for foster care programming, while Operation Resolute received $25,000 for veteran support. These grants sit alongside faith-based ministry support, including multiple awards to Disciple Support Ministries and Poetice.
Typical grant size is concentrated in the midrange, with a p25 of $1,483, a median of $44,139, and a p75 of $106,250. The pattern includes both very large institutional grants and smaller project grants. Repeat funding is common. Hope College, Loud Monk Media, Disciple Support Ministries, and Poetice each appear more than once in the recent-grants list, sometimes across multiple years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants also show a project-specific style, with awards tied to defined purposes such as global education, missionary support, or clean drinking water.
$769K
$34K
$931K
$908K
Most grants fall between $1K and $106K, with a median of $44K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$44K
75th Percentile
$106K
Top 3 recipient countries by grant volume for Sawyer Foundation Charitable Tr.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 50 | $2.9M | 92.6% |
| 2 | Canada |
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Concentrated giving: relatively few, large grants mostly to repeat grantees (multiple gifts to the same colleges and a single media partner), with occasional support for youth-service nonprofits.
Notable grantees: Hope College, Loud Monk Media, Messiah University, Man Up And Go
Grantmaking is regional, with the highest concentration in California by grant count. Florida recipients make up 30% of grants, but the foundation’s giving is not limited to its headquarters state. Recent awards reached organizations in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, and Canada. Among the named recipients, Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Grand Rapids, and Holland recur within the U.S., while one grant went to a recipient in Folkestone, Kent in the UK.
Its recent grants cluster around global education, educational video production, missionary support, foster care programming, global health education, clean drinking water, disaster relief, Ukraine aid, and veteran support. The largest awards are mostly tied to higher-education international programming and educational media.
Yes. Hope College appears three times, Loud Monk Media appears three times, and Disciple Support Ministries and Poetice each appear multiple times in the recent-grants list. That suggests ongoing relationships with selected grantees.
The grant-size distribution centers at a median of $44,139, with a p25 of $1,483 and a p75 of $106,250. Recent awards range from small grants under $5,000 to major gifts of $500,000.
Yes. Most grants go to U.S. recipients, but the recipient-country distribution also includes 3 grants to Canada and 1 to the UK. A recent grant went to Amor Europe in Folkestone, Kent.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $11K |
5.6% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 1 | $17K | 1.9% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOPE COLLEGE | HOLLAND, MI | $500,000 | 2025 | GLOBAL EDUCATION |
| HOPE COLLEGE | HOLLAND, MI | $300,000 | 2025 | GLOBAL EDUCATION |
| LOUD MONK MEDIA | CLEARWATER, FL | $272,650 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION |
| MESSIAH UNIVERSITY | MECHANICSBURG, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | GLOBAL EDUCATION |
| MAN UP AND GO | ODESSA, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | FOSTER CARE PROGRAM |
| LOUD MONK MEDIA | CLEARWATER, FL | $125,000 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION |
| DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES | PINELLAS PARK, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES | PINELLAS PARK, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| CALVIN UNIVERSITY | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $72,235 | 2025 | GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION |
| THE BUCKET MINISTRY | FATE, TX | $48,778 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| OPERATION RESOLUTE | BELLHAVEN, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | VETERAN SUPPORT |
| AMOR EUROPE | FOLKESTONE KENT | $16,667 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| POETICE | COVINGTON, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| POETICE | COVINGTON, LA | $10,000 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| ALEBACHEW MAMMO ALEMAYEHU | ON | $10,000 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| MATT ARNETT | ROCKWALL, TX | $7,500 | 2025 | GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION |
| HARVEST AVIATION | PINELLAS PARK, FL | $4,903 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| WATER BY WOMEN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $3,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| RIPPLAFFECT | GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $3,250 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| ONE ATTA TIME | TRUCKEE, CA | $2,582 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| THE BUCKET MINISTRY | FATE, TX | $2,195 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| WE SEE JESUS MINISTRIES | LITTLE FERRY, NJ | $1,800 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| TEAM RUBICON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,552 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF (CLEAN DRINKING WATER) |
| CHILDREN INSPIRING HOPE | SAVANNAH, GA | $1,500 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| ENRIQUE LEON | TACOMA, WA | $1,431 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| CHILDHOPE | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $1,400 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| KINGDOM VENTURES | SHELBY, AL | $1,400 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| WAVES FOR WATER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,400 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| AFRICA OASIS | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $1,300 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| HOPE FOR HAITI | NAPLES, FL | $1,300 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| WATER HANDS HOPE | HONOLULU, HI | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| HOPE FOR HAITI | NAPLES, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| SURFING SERVANTS | SAN DIEGO, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| CONVOY OF HOPE | SPRINGFIELD, MO | $1,000 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| MAMA PROJECT | PENNSBURG, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| WATER BY WOMEN | LOUISVILLE, KY | $696 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| VETERANS WITHOUT ORDERS | PARKVILLE, MO | $570 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| DISASTER AID | LANHAM, MD | $560 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| HOPE FOR BRAZIL | LAKELAND, FL | $519 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| MISSION 823 | CLERMONT, FL | $500 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| ANCORA MINISTERIES | KYLE, TX | $500 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| SETH FORDHAM | THETIS ISLAND BC, BC | $470 | 2025 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
| THE SONDER PROJECT | SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL | $409 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| HEALTHY NATIONS INC | OHSWEKEN, ON | $325 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| ONE ATTA TIME | TRUCKEE, CA | $300 | 2025 | PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER |
| TEAM RUBICON | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF (CLEAN DRINKING WATER) |
| GROUNDED BOOTS RELIEF | HENDERSONVILLE, NC | $50 | 2025 | DISASTER RELIEF |
| HOPE COLLEGE | HOLLAND, MI | $500,000 | 2024 | GLOBAL EDUCATION |
| LOUD MONK MEDIA | CLEARWATER, FL | $175,000 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION |
| DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES | PINELLAS PARK, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | MISSIONARY SUPPORT |
HOPE COLLEGE
$500,000GLOBAL EDUCATION
HOPE COLLEGE
$300,000GLOBAL EDUCATION
LOUD MONK MEDIA
$272,650EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION
MESSIAH UNIVERSITY
$200,000GLOBAL EDUCATION
MAN UP AND GO
$150,000FOSTER CARE PROGRAM
LOUD MONK MEDIA
$125,000EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION
DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES
MISSIONARY SUPPORT
DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES
$100,000MISSIONARY SUPPORT
OPERATION RESOLUTE
$25,000VETERAN SUPPORT
AMOR EUROPE
$16,667PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
POETICE
$10,000MISSIONARY SUPPORT
POETICE
$10,000MISSIONARY SUPPORT
ALEBACHEW MAMMO ALEMAYEHU
$10,000MISSIONARY SUPPORT
MATT ARNETT
$7,500GLOBAL HEALTH EDUCATION
HARVEST AVIATION
$4,903DISASTER RELIEF
WATER BY WOMEN
$3,500PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
RIPPLAFFECT
$3,250PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
ONE ATTA TIME
$2,582PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
WE SEE JESUS MINISTRIES
$1,800PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
CHILDREN INSPIRING HOPE
$1,500PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
ENRIQUE LEON
$1,431MISSIONARY SUPPORT
CHILDHOPE
$1,400PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
KINGDOM VENTURES
$1,400PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
WAVES FOR WATER
$1,400PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
AFRICA OASIS
$1,300PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
WATER HANDS HOPE
$1,000PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
SURFING SERVANTS
$1,000PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
CONVOY OF HOPE
$1,000DISASTER RELIEF
MAMA PROJECT
$1,000PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
WATER BY WOMEN
$696PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
VETERANS WITHOUT ORDERS
$570DISASTER RELIEF
DISASTER AID
$560DISASTER RELIEF
HOPE FOR BRAZIL
$519PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
MISSION 823
$500DISASTER RELIEF
ANCORA MINISTERIES
$500PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
SETH FORDHAM
$470MISSIONARY SUPPORT
THE SONDER PROJECT
$409PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
HEALTHY NATIONS INC
$325PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
ONE ATTA TIME
$300PROVIDE CLEAN DRINKING WATER
GROUNDED BOOTS RELIEF
$50DISASTER RELIEF
HOPE COLLEGE
$500,000GLOBAL EDUCATION
LOUD MONK MEDIA
$175,000EDUCATIONAL VIDEO PRODUCTION
DISCIPLE SUPPORT MINISTRIES
$100,000MISSIONARY SUPPORT