Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family

Private foundation · Grantmaker Wilmington, DE EIN: 20-8607863

The Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2025 grants included support for university scholarships and student programs, community services, and other charitable organizations.

Key facts about Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family

In short: Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family gave $176K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Michigan. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-8607863
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$176,000
Grants made (2025)
15
Average grant
$11,733
Median grant
$2,000
New grantees (estimate)
17% first-time grantees (2 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$532,536
Primary geography
Michigan (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$533K

+21.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$176K

+20.1% YoY

Grant Count

15

-40.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$12K

+100.2% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family open to new grantees?

17%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 12 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $17K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 719% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 725% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for higher education and student programs, as well as organizations working in areas including healthcare, youth assistance, community services, and cancer support.

The University of Detroit Mercy describes its mission as providing student-centered undergraduate and graduate education in an urban context, integrating students’ intellectual, spiritual, ethical, and social development. Gateway Healthcare says it provides affordable, compassionate primary and urgent care, with a focus on people who are uninsured, underinsured, or face barriers to quality healthcare. Detroit Impact says it assists low-income and at-risk youth. Cancer Care describes its work as helping people cope with the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer. These are grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $176,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $80,000, with a median grant of $2,000.

The largest awards included $80,000 to the University of Detroit Mercy for the Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family Foundation Scholarship Fund; $42,000 to Wayne State University for the Washington Detroit Scholars Program; and $15,000 to the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program for system maintenance costs for people in the country who need assistance. Wayne State University also received $12,500 for the Detroit Fellows Tutoring Project and $12,500 for the Detroit Fellows Tutor Program. Other 2025 recipients included the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order ($3,000), Gateway Healthcare ($2,000), and United Friends of the Children ($1,000).

How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation is based in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan and 9% to recipients in Alabama. The filing also reports shares for California, New York, and Missouri of 1% each.

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

DetroitHoustonWashingtonChicagoLos AngelesMontgomeryOaklandBostonMaplewoodBingham FarmsGaryMidlandRosenbergSelmaBethesdaHighland ParkNew YorkSeattleAltadenaBraintree

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K12 grants2019 14 grants2020 17 grants2021 20 grants2022 21 grants2023 25 grants2024 15 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2021) to $223K (2023). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $176K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of Detroit Mercy: $82K across 2 grantsUniversity of Detroit Mercy$82K · 2 grantsWayne State University: $67K across 3 grantsWayne State University$67K · 3 grantsBlack Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program: $15KBlack Belt UnincorporatedWastewater Program$15KProvince of St Joseph of the Capuchin Order Inc: $3KProvince of St Joseph of theCapuchin Order Inc$3KGateway Healthcare: $2KGateway Healthcare$2KAvalon Village Inc: $1KAvalon Village Inc$1KCancer Care Inc: $1KCancer Care Inc$1KDetroit Impact Inc: $1KDetroit Impact Inc$1KPasadena Waldorf School: $1KPasadena Waldorf School$1KProject Peanut Butter: $1KProject Peanut Butter$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of Detroit Mercy ($82K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $174K.

Grant Size Distribution

98 grants across all recorded years

94<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 94 grants of 98 (96%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MILawrence and Sherian Washington Family Foundation Scholarship Fund$80,000
Wayne State University Detroit, MIWashington Detroit Scholars Program$42,000
Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program Montgomery, ALSystem Maintenance Costs For those in the Country who need Assistance$15,000
Wayne State University Detroit, MIDetroit Fellows Tutoring Project$12,500
Wayne State University Detroit, MIDetroit Fellows Tutor Program$12,500
Province of St Joseph of the Capuchin Order Inc Detroit, MIGeneral & Unrestricted$3,000
Gateway Healthcare Midland, MIGeneral & Unrestricted$2,000
University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MIDean Lawrence Canjar Endowed Student Support Fund$2,000
Avalon Village Inc Highland Park, MIGeneral & Unrestricted$1,000
Cancer Care Inc New York, NYGeneral & Unrestricted$1,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $532,536 $279,284 $186,983 $176,000
2024 $439,235 $121,715 $156,300 $146,500
2023 $472,820 $93,179 $230,845 $222,500
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$532,536$439,235$472,820
Revenue$279,284$121,715$93,179
Expenses$186,983$156,300$230,845
Qualifying Distributions$182,743$153,079$228,025
Net Investment Income$199,787$102,040$49,987
Distributable Amount$25,197$24,473$27,030

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 21, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 3, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 18, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 25, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 10, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists John O Hampton, Christopher J Roberson, Danielle R Washington, and Lori D Washington as vice presidents; Sherian Ann Washington as co-president and director; Staci L Washington Roberson as secretary and vice president; and Lawrence J Washington Jr as co-president and director.

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family is led by Sherian Ann Washington, Co- President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Sherian Ann Washington

    Co- President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lawrence J Washington Jr.

    Co-Pres & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christopher J Roberson

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Danielle R Washington

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John O Hampton

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lori D Washington

    Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Staci L Washington Roberson

    Secretary & Vice President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754

Frequently asked questions about Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family

How much does Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family give each year?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family gave $176K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $147K across 25 grants.

What is Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's typical grant size?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $11,733, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family that year got $1K on average.

Where does Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family give grants?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family gives mostly in Michigan: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alabama (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (7 grants).

Does Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family give general operating support?

Yes: 60% of Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's largest grantees?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's largest 2025 grantees include University of Detroit Mercy ($82,000 across 2 grants), Wayne State University ($67,000 across 3 grants) and Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family reported $533K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $183K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for higher education and student programs, as well as organizations working in areas including healthcare, youth assistance, community services, and cancer support. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family?

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's EIN?

Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8607863. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Lawrence and Sherian Washington Family accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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