The Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation is a private foundation based in Walla Walla, Washington. The foundation was established in 1987 to honor Harold and Helen Shepherd, who were active civic leaders in Garfield County. The foundation focuses on supporting educational opportunities and bettering the lives of people in Eastern Washington.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$400K
+22.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+23.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-0.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation reported a distributable amount of $397K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to better the lives of people in Eastern Washington, with a particular focus on Garfield County. The foundation prioritizes education and scholarships, with a specific emphasis on supporting students from Pomeroy High School who pursue higher education at Walla Walla Community College.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily in the form of scholarships. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
**: $2,000 to $122,000
Ready to take the next step with Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is concentrated in Washington State, with a primary focus on Garfield County. Scholarships specifically support students who have graduated from Pomeroy High School.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $1.7 million to $7.4 million (varying by reporting year)
- Annual Giving: $327,000 to $434,000
- Giving Rate: Approximately 19.9% of assets
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since August 1996
- EIN: 91-1708510
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,961,099 | $1,966,106 | $1,843,397 |
| Revenue | $473,780 | $547,421 | $203,692 |
| Expenses | $498,347 | $424,712 | $476,555 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $400,990 | $327,049 | $372,614 |
| Net Investment Income | $376,423 | $449,758 | $119,751 |
| Distributable Amount | $397,089 | $358,759 | $366,084 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Pomeroy ($122,303), Washingon State Univ Foundation ($40,000), Pomeroy School District ($36,570).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF POMEROY POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $122,303 |
| COLUMBIA COUNTY MARKSMEN POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,500 |
| FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY WALLA WALLA, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,500 |
| GARFIELD COUNTY POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $19,950 |
| GARFIELD COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $32,000 |
| GARFIELD COUNTY FOOD BANK POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| GARFIELD COUNTY HOSPITAL POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $14,896 |
| GARFIELD COUNTY SUPER CITIZENS POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $4,800 |
| PATAHA FLOUR MILL POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,000 |
| POMEROY ASSIST POMEROY, WA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Hayner - Trustee
- Andrew Houser - Trustee
- Gary Houser - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES HAYNER | TRUSTEE | — | $27,000 |
| ANDREW HOUSER | TRUSTEE | — | $20,000 |
| GARY HOUSER | TRUSTEE | — | $30,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to award scholarships annually through the Walla Walla Community College Foundation. In 2025-26, the foundation provided scholarships to five recipients: Raelin Borley, Chantle Kissner, Tabitha LaBelle Niles, Joshua Lakey, and Angelina Lopez. These scholarships enable students to pursue their educational dreams at Walla Walla Community College.
Five receive Harold and Helen Shepherd Foundation Scholarships - East WashingtonianSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to better the lives of people in Eastern Washington, with a particular focus on Garfield County. The foundation prioritizes education and scholarships, with a specific emphasis on supporting students from Pomeroy High School who pursue higher education at Walla Walla Community College.
How do I apply for a grant from Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation?
The foundation makes grants primarily in the form of scholarships. Recent grant activity shows: • **Grant Range**: $2,000 to $122,000 • **Median Grant Size**: $10,000 to $13,000 • **Annual Giving**: Approximately $327,000 to $434,000 • **Number of Grants**: Typically 17-20 grants annually • **Application Policy**: Accepts applications; geographic restriction limited to in-state (Washington) The foundation awards multiple scholarships annually to Pomeroy residents pursuing education at Walla Wal…
Where does Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation make grants?
The foundation's giving is concentrated in Washington State, with a primary focus on Garfield County. Scholarships specifically support students who have graduated from Pomeroy High School.
What size grants does Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation award?
In 2024, Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $400K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation reported a distributable amount of $397K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation's EIN?
Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1708510. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Thurgood Marshall PTA
SEATTLE, WA
Assets
$186K
Grants
1
Total Given
$224K
The Hare Bnb Rescue Spa and Boutique
LACEY, WA
Assets
$5K
Grants
1
Total Given
$400
Meadowdale Junior Football
EDMONDS, WA
Assets
$12K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Cmr Foundation
STANWOOD, WA
Assets
$1.0M
Grants
2
Total Given
$1.5M
Sequim Masonic Lodge Foundation
CARLSBORG, WA
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
12
Total Given
$30K
Foundation House at Northgate
GIG HARBOR, WA
Assets
$223K
Grants
16
Total Given
$159K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Harold & Helen Shepherd Foundation to a real strategy.