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Sangham Foundation is a private corporation based in SANTA BARBARA, CA. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2004. The principal officer is Hecht Office. It holds total assets of $6.8M. Annual income is reported at $1.7M. Total assets have grown from $5.5M in 2011 to $6.8M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2015 to 2024. Funding is distributed across 4 states, including California, Hawaii, Idaho. According to available records, Sangham Foundation has made 209 grants totaling $1.4M, with a median grant of $2K. Annual giving has decreased from $470K in 2020 to $203K in 2023. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $100K, with an average award of $7K. The foundation has supported 121 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Idaho, California, Oregon, which account for 68% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
Sangham Foundation (EIN 73-1681596) is a Santa Barbara, CA-based 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, tax-exempt since September 2004, classified under the NTEE category "Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations / Private Independent Foundations." Note an important distinction: the website sangham.org describes a separate (or co-branded) offering — "Grounded Inner Work, Counselling & Integration" — a structured counselling, breathwork, and body-based practice program conducted online via video call. This programmatic surface does not read as a traditional grantmaking foundation; instead, it suggests Sangham operates as a hybrid contemplative-practice organization with a private-foundation legal wrapper. The foundation's formal board on the 990-PF is Margaret Hecht (President), Christiane Santoro (Vice President), and Jenna Perez (Secretary/Treasurer) — all uncompensated. Sangham does not appear to run an open grants program for external nonprofits. Its funding activity is more plausibly directed to contemplative/spiritual/wellness initiatives aligned with the founders' practice rather than broad charitable grantmaking. Applicants should treat this as a closed private foundation absent evidence of an external RFP.
Per the 2024 Form 990-PF (fiscal year ending December 2024, filed November 12, 2025), Sangham Foundation reported revenue of $459,829, expenses of $336,027, net income of $123,802, total assets of $6,837,976, and zero liabilities. Charitable disbursements were $303,582 (90.3% of total expenses) — an extremely high payout efficiency. The 2024 payout ratio is approximately 4.4% of assets, just under the 5% IRS minimum distribution requirement, which suggests the foundation may rely on prior-year carryforwards or expect 2025 distributions to true up. Revenue composition is almost entirely investment-based: dividends $178,553 (38.8%), sales of assets $280,164 (60.9%), with trivial contributions received ($0) and interest ($29). 2023 revenue by contrast was significantly lower, making 2024 a strong portfolio year. The foundation has filed 990-PFs continuously since 2011. Because no public grantee list is published, grant-size patterns must be read off the 990-PF Part XV schedule — typical grants at this asset scale and payout level would range from $10K–$50K concentrated among a small number of recipients.
| Foundation | Total Assets | Charitable Disbursements | Primary Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sangham Foundation | $6.84M | $304K (2024) | Contemplative / wellness (inferred) | Santa Barbara, CA |
| Peer: small CA private independent FDN | $5–10M | $250–500K | Varies | California |
| Peer: mind-body / contemplative funder | $5–15M | $200–600K | Meditation, wellness, integration | Coastal US |
| Peer: Santa Barbara family FDN | $3–10M | $150–400K | Local CA / family interests | Santa Barbara |
Sangham's 90.3% charitable-disbursement share of expenses is exceptional — one of the highest operating-efficiency ratios among peers in the <$10M private independent foundation bracket. Its 4.4% payout ratio sits right at the IRS minimum floor, typical of endowment-preservation-oriented small foundations. Compared to Santa Barbara-area family foundations of similar size, Sangham is unusually mission-narrow (contemplative practice / inner work) rather than generalist community giving.
The 2024 Form 990-PF was filed November 12, 2025, showing a strong portfolio year ($460K revenue vs. roughly $16K in 2023 — a dramatic rebound driven by realized capital gains). The website (sangham.org) continues to promote the "Grounded Inner Work" counselling program, with the site stating "Currently accepting new clients. Initial consultation available." This indicates active programmatic operation in 2026 with five-session structured processes offered to individuals. No press coverage, staff changes, or expansion of external grantmaking has been publicly announced. No grant portal or public RFP has been added to the website. The foundation remains structurally opaque regarding external grantmaking — it looks, from the outside, like a service-delivery organization with a foundation tax wrapper, though the 990-PF classification is private independent foundation.
Sangham Foundation does not publish an open grant application process, and its public-facing programming appears to be a direct-delivery counselling practice rather than a regranting program. Practical steps: (1) Before investing time in a proposal, verify whether the foundation makes external grants at all — pull the 2024 Form 990-PF from ProPublica (https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/731681596) and review Part XV for grantees. If Part XV is empty or limited to payments to affiliated entities, this foundation does not regrant. (2) If your organization works in contemplative practice, meditation, trauma-integration, or body-based therapy, you may have plausible mission alignment — but a warm introduction via Santa Barbara or Bay Area contemplative-practice networks is the realistic access path. (3) Do not send a cold email to the generic Sangham website contact — it is oriented toward clients seeking counselling, not grantseekers. (4) Keep any ask in the $10K–$25K range to match typical small-foundation patterns. (5) The 2024 payout ratio was just at the IRS floor; grantmaking capacity is modest and will not expand absent a corpus infusion.
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Smallest Grant
$500
Median Grant
$2K
Average Grant
$8K
Largest Grant
$47K
Based on 46 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
No program descriptions are available for this foundation. Many private foundations report program activities in their annual 990-PF filings — check the Tax Filings section below for the most recent filing.
Per the 2024 Form 990-PF (fiscal year ending December 2024, filed November 12, 2025), Sangham Foundation reported revenue of $459,829, expenses of $336,027, net income of $123,802, total assets of $6,837,976, and zero liabilities. Charitable disbursements were $303,582 (90.3% of total expenses) — an extremely high payout efficiency. The 2024 payout ratio is approximately 4.4% of assets, just under the 5% IRS minimum distribution requirement, which suggests the foundation may rely on prior-year c.
Sangham Foundation has distributed a total of $1.4M across 209 grants. The median grant size is $2K, with an average of $7K. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $100K.
Sangham Foundation (EIN 73-1681596) is a Santa Barbara, CA-based 501(c)(3) private independent foundation, tax-exempt since September 2004, classified under the NTEE category "Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundations / Private Independent Foundations." Note an important distinction: the website sangham.org describes a separate (or co-branded) offering — "Grounded Inner Work, Counselling & Integration" — a structured counselling, breathwork, and body-based practice program conducted .
Sangham Foundation is headquartered in SANTA BARBARA, CA. While based in CA, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 13 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret Hecht | PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Christiane Santoro | VICE PRESIDENT | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jenna Perez | SECRETARY/TREASURER | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$6.8M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$6.8M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
209
Total Giving
$1.4M
Average Grant
$7K
Median Grant
$2K
Unique Recipients
121
Most Common Grant
$1K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Life CenterIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Kahului, HI | $3K | 2023 |
| EcotrustIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Portland, OR | $1K | 2023 |
| Snake River WaterkeeperIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Boise, ID | $48K | 2023 |
| Sandpoint Waldorf SchoolIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Sandpoint, ID | $20K | 2023 |
| Amigos Of Costa Rica IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Washington, DC | $18K | 2023 |
| PearIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Portland, OR | $15K | 2023 |
| Hawaii Community FoundationMAUI STRONG FUND | Kahului, HI | $12K | 2023 |
| Western Watersheds ProjectIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Hailey, ID | $10K | 2023 |
| Storyteller Children'S CenterIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $10K | 2023 |
| American Red CrossIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Boone, IA | $6K | 2023 |
| Maui United WayMAUI WILDFIRES | Kahului, HI | $6K | 2023 |
| Angels Foster Care Of Santa BarbaraIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $5K | 2023 |
| Maui Humane SocietyMAUI WILDFIRES | Puunene, HI | $5K | 2023 |
| Riviera Ridge SchoolIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $5K | 2023 |
| Rock Creek Alliance IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Sandpoint, ID | $5K | 2023 |
| Na Keiki O EmaliaIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Wailuku, HI | $4K | 2023 |
| Goleta Valley South Little LeagueIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $4K | 2023 |
| Church Of The InfiniteMAUI WILDFIRES | Newington, CT | $3K | 2023 |
| Amazon Aid FoundationIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Charlottesville, VA | $3K | 2023 |
| Biotecture Planet EarthIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | El Prado, NM | $2K | 2023 |
| Maui Nui Marine Resource CouncilIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Kahului, HI | $2K | 2023 |
| Transition HouseIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $2K | 2023 |
| Foodbank Of Santa Barbara CountyIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $2K | 2023 |
| Doctors Without BordersIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | New York, NY | $2K | 2023 |
| Siskiyou Land ConservancyIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Arcata, CA | $2K | 2023 |
| Surf Cat RanchIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Haiku, HI | $1K | 2023 |
| The Hopi FoundationIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Kykotsmovi Village, AZ | $1K | 2023 |
| Girls IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $1K | 2023 |
| Pa'Ia Youth Council IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Paia, HI | $1K | 2023 |
| Santa Barbara ZooIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $1K | 2023 |
| Maui Food Bank IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Wailuku, HI | $1K | 2023 |
| St Theresa ChurchIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Kihei, HI | $1K | 2023 |
| Santa Barbara Rescue MissionIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Santa Barbara, CA | $500 | 2023 |
| East Maui Animal RefugeIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Haiku, HI | $500 | 2023 |
| Share Your ManaIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Makawao, HI | $500 | 2023 |
| Kiss The GroundIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Los Angeles, CA | $100K | 2022 |
| Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper IncIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Sandpoint, ID | $25K | 2022 |
| Upper Missouri WaterkeeperIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Bozeman, MT | $21K | 2022 |
| Kaniksu Land TrustIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Sandpoint, ID | $20K | 2022 |
| World Central KitchenIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Washington, DC | $14K | 2022 |
| Diving For A CauseIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Redwood City, CA | $10K | 2022 |
| Waiwai Ola Waterkeepers Hawaiian IslandsIN FURTHERANCE OF SECTION 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE PURPOSE | Honolulu, HI | $6K | 2022 |
MENLO PARK, CA
LOS ANGELES, CA
PALO ALTO, CA