Private foundation · Litchfield Park, AZ

John Sperling Foundation

View org profile →Find similar funders →Invitation only
Typical grant size
$15K $60K $131K
25th · median · 75th percentile
Unique recipients
41
Repeat grantees
19
funded 2+ years

Application procedures · from 2023 990-PF

Leadership · from 2023 990-PF

Darby E Shupp
SECRETARY TREASURER DIRECT
$247K
Terri C Bishop
CHAIRMAN & DIRECTOR
$71K
Peter V Sperling
VP & DIRECTOR

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part VII. Officers, directors, and trustees as reported by the foundation.

Payout rate · TY 2023
4.7%
grants paid ÷ assets · ~5% IRS minimum
'15
'16
'19
'20
'21
'22
'23
108
Total grants awarded
$15.4M
Total amount
$142K
Average grant
$1.0M
Largest grant

Giving by year

2023
$3.8M
19 grants
2022
$3.2M
20 grants
2021
$3.2M
20 grants
2020
$2.6M
28 grants
2019
$2.4M
16 grants
2016
$167K
2 grants
2015
$65K
3 grants

Top recipients

5 grants · CA · ✓ Exact match
$4.2M
5 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$1.5M
3 grants · OR · ✓ Exact match
$1.5M
Western Environmental Law Center
2 grants · NM
$1.0M
2 grants · NY · ≈ likely match
$1.0M
3 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$900K
ACLU Foundation
2 grants · NY
$700K
5 grants · CA · ✓ Exact match
$550K
5 grants · DC · ✓ Exact match
$500K
5 grants · MT · ✓ Exact match
$450K

Recipient names are as reported on the 990-PF. ✓ Exact match = EIN matched to IRS records by exact name + state; ≈ likely match = EIN inferred from a closely similar name. The recipient EIN is never stated on the form — it is DoubleNine’s match.

Recent grants · most recent filings first

Earthjustice
THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM
CA · TY 2023
$1.0M
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
VOTING RIGHTS PROJECT
NY · TY 2023
$500K
Western Environmental Law Center
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR DEFENDING PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S
OR · TY 2023
$500K
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
PROTECT ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
NY · TY 2023
$500K
Center for Science in the Public Interest
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM
DC · TY 2023
$300K
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR CONSCIOUSNESS WITHOUT CRIMINALIZATION: PSYCHEDELIC DRUG POLICY REFORM AND SEN…
CA · TY 2023
$125K
Food & Water Watch
PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER CAMPAIGN
DC · TY 2023
$100K
Los Padres Forestwatch
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC LANDS OF THE CENTRAL COAST OF CALIFORNIA
CA · TY 2023
$100K
Center for Humane Technology
FOR SUPPORT OF ELECTION INTEGRITY AND AI WORK
CA · TY 2023
$100K
World Central Kitchen
FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS
DC · TY 2023
$100K
Israaid
FOR CRISIS RELIEF EFFORTS
CA · TY 2023
$100K
National Forest Foundation
THIRD INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR PINE CANYON RESTORATION AND WATERSHED PROTECTION PROJECT
MT · TY 2023
$100K
Western Resource Advocates
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER
CO · TY 2023
$75K
Arizona Community Foundation
TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE
AZ · TY 2023
$50K
Gaviota Coast Conservancy
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2023
$45K
West Valley Arts Council
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
AZ · TY 2023
$20K
Institute of Noetic Sciences
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2023
$15K
Sustainable Lafayette
FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN
CA · TY 2023
$15K
John Muir Land Trust
RESTRICTED TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY HARVEST FARM
CA · TY 2023
$10K
Earthjustice
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM
CA · TY 2022
$1.0M
Western Environmental Law Center
SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S.
OR · TY 2022
$500K
ACLU Foundation
FOR ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
NY · TY 2022
$450K
Environmental Working Group
FARM POLICY
DC · TY 2022
$300K
Center for Science in the Public Interest
ADVOCATING FOR A SAFER AND MORE TRANSPARENT FOOD SYSTEM
DC · TY 2022
$300K
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR MAPS' POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK IN THE AREAS OF DRUG POLICY AND CRIMINAL JUSTIC…
CA · TY 2022
$125K
National Forest Foundation
SECOND INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN RESTORATION: THINNING FORESTS TO PROTECT COMMUNI…
MT · TY 2022
$100K
Food & Water Watch
TO PROTECT CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES FROM AGRICULTURAL AND FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ABUSE
DC · TY 2022
$100K
Western Resource Advocates
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR PROTECTIONS OF THE COLORADO RIVER
CO · TY 2022
$75K
19th News
SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
TX · TY 2022
$75K
Institute of Noetic Sciences
SECOND AND FINAL INSTALLMENT OF AN 18 MONTH GRANT FOR THE LUCID DREAMING RESEARCH STUDY
CA · TY 2022
$50K
Gaviota Coast Conservancy
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2022
$20K
American Library Association
FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM FOR THE UNITE AGAINST BOOK BANS CAMPAIGN
IL · TY 2022
$20K
Los Padres Forest Watch
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2022
$15K
John Muir Land Trust
RESTRICTED TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY HARVEST FARM
CA · TY 2022
$10K
Sustainable Lafayette
FOR LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY GARDEN
CA · TY 2022
$10K
Park Theater Trust
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2022
$10K
St Mary's Food Bank
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
AZ · TY 2022
$8K
Brooklyn Public Library
FOR THE BOOKS UNBANNED INITIATIVE
NY · TY 2022
$8K
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
CA · TY 2022
$5K
Earthjustice
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE CLIMATE AND ENERGY PROGRAM
CA · TY 2021
$1.0M
Western Environmental Law Center
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT TO DEFEND THE PUBLIC LANDS ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S
NM · TY 2021
$500K
Center for Science in the Public Interest
FOR ADVOCACY INITIATIVES. WITH THE OPTION TO USE THE JSF NAME FOR A MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE
DC · TY 2021
$300K
Environmental Working Group
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY WORK
DC · TY 2021
$300K
ACLU Foundation
FOR ADVOCACY WORK RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
NY · TY 2021
$250K
Civic Nation
FOR WHEN WE ALL VOTE
DC · TY 2021
$250K
Food & Water Watch
SUPPORT FOR THE PUBLIC WATER FOR ALL CAMPAIGN
DC · TY 2021
$100K
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
FINAL INSTALLMENT OF A TWO-YEAR GRANT FOR MDMA-ASSISTED THERAPY FOR PTSD: TRAINING AND PATIENT ACCESSIBILITY FOR HEALTH …
CA · TY 2021
$100K
Institute of Noetic Sciences
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF AN 18 MONTH GRANT FOR THE LUCID DREAMING RESEARCH STUDY
CA · TY 2021
$100K
National Forest Foundation
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A THREE YEAR GRANT FOR THE BILL WILLIAMS MOUNTAIN RESTORATION: THINNING FORESTS TO PROTECT COMMUNIT…
MT · TY 2021
$100K
19th News
FIRST INSTALLMENT OF A TWO YEAR GRANT FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
TX · TY 2021
$75K

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV. Up to 50 most recent grants shown.