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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 36-7244615

The Searle Freedom Trust

A private foundation in Madison, WI. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 80 grants and $18.9 million paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

5 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $18,866,185

    Grants listed
    80
    Assets, end of year
    $22,377,003

  • Tax year 2023

    $19,997,457

    Grants listed
    102
    Assets, end of year
    $54,469,398

  • Tax year 2022

    $24,383,160

    Grants listed
    120
    Assets, end of year
    $76,871,981

  • Tax year 2021

    $24,063,039

    Grants listed
    120
    Assets, end of year
    $94,348,355

  • Tax year 2020

    $22,227,592

    Grants listed
    115
    Assets, end of year
    $105,094,955

Grants paid in 2024

80 grants, largest first

As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.

  1. American Enterprise InstituteWashington, DC

    Research

    $1,100,000
  2. George Mason University FoundationFairfax, VA

    Education and outreach

    $1,000,000
  3. State Policy NetworkArlington, VA

    Research

    $885,650
  4. Foundation for Government AccountabilityNaples, FL

    Research

    $800,000
  5. Individual

    Journalism

    $500,000
  6. Pacific Legal FoundationSacramento, CA

    Litigation

    $500,000
  7. Competitive Enterprise InstituteWashington, DC

    Research

    $500,000
  8. Philanthropy RoundtableWashington, DC

    Education and outreach

    $400,000
  9. New Civil Liberties AllianceArlington, VA

    Journalism

    $400,000
  10. Committee to Unleash ProsperityPotomac, MD

    Research

    $400,000
  11. Georgia Center for OpportunityPeachtree Cor, GA

    Research

    $400,000
  12. Tax FoundationWashington, DC

    Research

    $400,000
  13. Texas Public Policy FoundationAustin, TX

    Journalism

    $380,000
  14. Defense of Freedom InstituteAlexandria, VA

    Education and outreach

    $350,000
  15. Emergent Order FoundationAustin, TX

    Fellowships

    $300,000
  16. Moving Picture InstituteNew York, NY

    Fellowships

    $300,000
  17. Reason FoundationLos Angeles, CA

    Fellowships

    $300,000
  18. Franklin News FoundationChicago, IL

    Fellowships

    $300,000
  19. VMTS Education IncBrooklyn, NY

    Fellowships

    $300,000
  20. Real Clear FoundationNorthbrook, IL

    Film and new media

    $300,000
  21. Institute for JusticeArlington, VA

    Journalism

    $300,000
  22. National Taxpayers Union FoundationWashington, DC

    Journalism

    $300,000
  23. America First Policy InstituteFort Worth, TX

    Research

    $300,000
  24. Federalist SocietyWashington, DC

    Education and outreach

    $295,000
  25. Property and Environment Research CenterBozeman, MT

    Journalism

    $275,000
  26. Independent CenterAlexandria, VA

    Education and outreach

    $250,000
  27. Napolitan InstituteMcKinney, TX

    Education and outreach

    $250,000
  28. Parents Defending EducationArlington, VA

    Education and outreach

    $250,000
  29. American Legislative Exchange CouncilArlington, VA

    Research

    $250,000
  30. Economic Policy Innovation CenterWashington, DC

    Research

    $250,000
  31. State Policy NetworkArlington, VA

    Research

    $250,000
  32. Texas Public Policy FoundationAustin, TX

    Research

    $250,000
  33. Federalist SocietyWashington, DC

    Education and outreach

    $248,500
  34. Hamilton Lincoln Law InstituteWashington, DC

    Journalism

    $225,000
  35. George Mason University FoundationFairfax, VA

    Research

    $225,000
  36. Property and Environment Research CenterBozeman, MT

    Research

    $225,000
  37. Cato InstituteWashington, DC

    Education and outreach

    $200,000
  38. Sagamore InstituteIndianapolis, IN

    Education and outreach

    $200,000
  39. George Mason University FoundationFairfax, VA

    Film and new media

    $200,000
  40. George Mason University FoundationFairfax, VA

    Journalism

    $200,000
  41. Pacific Legal FoundationSacramento, CA

    Journalism

    $200,000
  42. Manhattan InstituteNew York, NY

    Research

    $200,000
  43. Manhattan InstituteNew York, NY

    Research

    $200,000
  44. Georgetown UniversityWashington, DC

    Online education

    $185,000
  45. Daily Caller News FoundationWashington, DC

    Fellowships

    $150,000
  46. Texas Public Policy FoundationAustin, TX

    Film and new media

    $150,000
  47. American TransparencyThe Villages, FL

    Litigation

    $150,000
  48. Buckeye InstituteColumbus, OH

    Litigation

    $150,000
  49. Institute for the American WorkerHamilton, VA

    Education and outreach

    $125,000
  50. Players Philanthropy FundTowson, MD

    Education and outreach

    $125,000
  51. Center for Independent ThoughtBala Cynwyd, PA

    Fellowships

    $125,000
  52. Advancing American Freedom FoundationWashington, DC

    Film and new media

    $125,000
  53. Global Liberty Institute USAStanford, CA

    Litigation

    $125,000
  54. UCLA School of LawLos Angeles, CA

    Litigation

    $120,000
  55. University of ChicagoChicago, IL

    Education and outreach

    $104,000
  56. Encounter for Culture and Education IncNew York, NY

    Education and outreach

    $100,000
  57. Institute for Citizen Focused Service IncAlexandria, VA

    Education and outreach

    $100,000
  58. Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and InstituteSimi Valley, CA

    Education and outreach

    $100,000
  59. Investor Choice Advocates NetworkLos Angeles, CA

    Film and new media

    $100,000
  60. Liberty Justice CenterAustin, TX

    Film and new media

    $100,000
  61. Cato InstituteWashington, DC

    Litigation

    $100,000
  62. Cato InstituteWashington, DC

    Litigation

    $100,000
  63. CO2 CoalitionFairfax, VA

    Litigation

    $100,000
  64. Do No HarmGlen Allen, VA

    Litigation

    $100,000
  65. Manhattan InstituteNew York, NY

    Litigation

    $100,000
  66. Pacific Research InstitutePasedena, CA

    Litigation

    $100,000
  67. Pepperdine UniversityMalibu, CA

    Education and outreach

    $75,000
  68. Student Free Press AssociationHillsdale, MI

    Fellowships

    $75,000
  69. Goldwater InstitutePhoenix, AZ

    Film and new media

    $75,000
  70. American Culture FoundationChicago, IL

    Litigation

    $75,000
  71. Truth in AccountingGlencoe, IL

    Education and outreach

    $67,000
  72. Institute for Energy ResearchWashington, DC

    Litigation

    $65,000
  73. Kinship Trust FoundationMadison, WI

    Education and outreach

    $60,000
  74. American Enterprise InstituteWashington, DC

    Education and outreach

    $50,000
  75. Work First FoundationNew York, NY

    Education and outreach

    $50,000
  76. Heartland InstituteSchaumburg, IL

    Litigation

    $50,000
  77. Independent InstituteOakland, CA

    Litigation

    $50,000
  78. New York UniversityNew York, NY

    Education and outreach

    $45,500
  79. Federalist SocietyWashington, DC

    Litigation

    $35,000
  80. Flow Through Contributions From AdvisorsMadison, WI

    The unrestricted use of the charity

    $535

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education18 grants $4,384,50029% of the total
  2. Public affairs20 grants $4,047,00027% of the total
  3. Civil rights6 grants $2,160,65014% of the total
  4. Social science4 grants $1,525,00010% of the total
  5. Arts and culture5 grants $1,250,0008% of the total
  6. Crime and legal aid3 grants $800,0005% of the total
  7. 3 other causes5 grants $790,0005% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. District of Columbia20 grants $5,428,500
  2. Virginia15 grants $4,585,650
  3. California10 grants $1,670,000
  4. Texas5 grants $1,330,000
  5. New York8 grants $1,295,500
  6. Illinois8 grants $1,146,000
  7. Florida1 grant $800,000
  8. Maryland2 grants $525,000
  9. Montana2 grants $500,000
  10. Georgia1 grant $400,000

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • D Gideon SearleTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $0
  • Michael D SearleFAMILY ADVISOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Steven F HaywardGRANT ADVISOR Hours 1Pay $11,000
  • Kimberly O DennisEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 40Pay $598,139
  • Stephen MooreGRANT ADVISOR Hours 1Pay $11,000
  • James PieresonGRANT ADVISOR Hours 1Pay $11,000
  • Kinship Trust Company LLCTRUSTEE Hours 10Pay $325,000
  • Ethan O MeersFAMILY ADVISOR Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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