Michael T Sherman Foundation
The Michael T Sherman Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. In 2025, it awarded 26 grants totaling $475,000 to charitable organizations working in areas including food assistance, disability services, health, housing, environmental conservation, and gun-violence prevention.
Michael T Sherman Foundation at a glance
In short: Michael T Sherman Foundation gave $475K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Massachusetts. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $475,000
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,269
- +4.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $16,125
- Total assets
- $3,724,147
- +6.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Michael T Sherman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: Hemenway Barnes PO Box 961209, Boston, MA 02196-1209
Phone: (617) 227-7940
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Michael T Sherman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Greater Boston Food Bank Inc ($32K). Together the top 10 received $253K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 122 grants of 122 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 10% to New York, 9% to California, 6% to the District of Columbia, and 5% to Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Michael T Sherman Foundation open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 96% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 153% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2019) to $475K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $475K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Boston Food Bank Inc Boston, MA | General Purpose | $32,250 |
| Perkins School for the Blind Watertown, MA | General Purpose | $32,250 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund New York, NY | General Purpose | $26,870 |
| Multiple Myeloma Research FD Inc Boston, MA | General Purpose | $26,870 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | General Purpose | $26,870 |
| ASPCA New York, NY | General Purpose | $21,500 |
| City of Phoenix Pediatric Health Care Initiative Fund Phoenix, AZ | Pediatric Health Care Initiative Fund | $21,500 |
| Franciscan Hospital for Children Inc Brighton, MA | General Purpose | $21,500 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc Americus, GA | General Purpose | $21,500 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA | Home Base Program | $21,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,724,147 | $789,929 | $554,960 | $475,000 | 26 | $483,156 | $369,730 | $316,754 |
| 2024 | $3,493,986 | $1,052,307 | $528,349 | $453,875 | 26 | $465,588 | $213,312 | $323,611 |
| 2023 | $3,169,650 | $396,759 | $360,357 | $300,000 | 25 | $308,935 | $95,948 | $254,341 |
| 2022 | $3,136,572 | $240,008 | $338,040 | $275,960 | 22 | $284,216 | $164,524 | $253,763 |
| 2021 | $3,260,970 | $637,310 | $303,237 | $243,000 | 23 | $252,341 | $344,092 | $269,217 |
| 2020 | $2,982,210 | $345,507 | $307,121 | $250,000 | 24 | — | $295,536 | $236,630 |
| 2019 | $2,944,906 | $845,491 | $254,119 | $200,000 | 20 | — | $271,146 | $216,555 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael T Sherman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $317K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, the Greater Boston Food Bank describes its work as acquiring, sorting, and distributing food through member agencies and direct-distribution sites. Perkins School for the Blind says it serves children and young adults with multiple disabilities and their families through education, accessibility, professional development, and innovation. Other grantees describe work in gun-violence prevention, environmental protection, service-dog support, affordable housing, and wildlife conservation.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $475,000. Grants ranged from $2,020 to $32,250, with a median of $16,125. The largest listed grants were $32,250 each to the Greater Boston Food Bank and Perkins School for the Blind. Other notable awards included $26,870 each to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, and Sierra Club Foundation; and $21,500 each to ASPCA, the City of Phoenix Pediatric Health Care Initiative Fund, Franciscan Hospital for Children, Habitat for Humanity International, Massachusetts General Hospital, NEADS, and World Wildlife Fund.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Arthur B. Page, Ryan McManus, Michael T. Sherman, Mark McCloskey, Lee Bodock, and Elizabeth O'Neil.
Michael T Sherman Foundation's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Arthur B. Page
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$11K (2019) → $18K (2025)
Lee Bodock
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$1K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Mark McCloskey
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
$1K (2019) → $1K (2025)
Ryan McManus
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
$18K (2025)
Michael T. Sherman
Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth O'Neil
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nancy B. Gardiner (2019–2024) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $18K, to Arthur B Page (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Michael T Sherman Foundation
How much does Michael T Sherman Foundation give each year?
Michael T Sherman Foundation gave $475K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $454K across 26 grants.
What is Michael T Sherman Foundation's typical grant size?
Michael T Sherman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $16,125, and its average grant was $18,269, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Michael T Sherman Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Michael T Sherman Foundation give grants?
Michael T Sherman Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (10%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (9 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Michael T Sherman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Michael T Sherman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Michael T Sherman Foundation's largest grantees?
Michael T Sherman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Greater Boston Food Bank Inc ($32,250), Perkins School for the Blind ($32,250) and Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund ($26,870), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Michael T Sherman Foundation?
Michael T Sherman Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $483K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $317K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Michael T Sherman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, the Greater Boston Food Bank describes its work as acquiring, sorting, and distributing food through member agencies and direct-distribution sites. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Michael T Sherman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Michael T Sherman Foundation's EIN?
Michael T Sherman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3842131. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Michael T Sherman Foundation 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.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 12, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in Michael T Sherman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Michael T Sherman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/michael-t-sherman-foundation-morg_a0c77290340549d580aaa02454abe28b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273842131_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Michael T Sherman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/michael-t-sherman-foundation-morg_a0c77290340549d580aaa02454abe28b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Michael T Sherman Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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