Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc
The Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation located in Jamestown, New York. Established in 1948 by Isabella Marvin Sheldon in memory of her husband Ralph C. Sheldon, a prominent Jamestown businessman, the foundation continues a legacy of philanthropy rooted in the family's entrepreneurial success. The foundation provides financial support to nonprofit organizations throughout southern Chautauqua County, New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.2M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
-19.2% YoY
Grant Count
68
-5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-14.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $746K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to continue the legacy of the Sheldon family through perpetuation of philanthropy, devoting financial assistance to advance the physical, educational, and cultural well-being of the people in southern Chautauqua County, New York.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Arts
- Education
- Environment
- Health and human resources
- Youth
Grantmaking
The foundation funds both operating and capital needs. The foundation believes operational investments allow nonprofit organizations to focus on meeting community needs, while capital investments promote growth and enhance key services.
Review Cycle
.
Grant Types
How to Apply
As of September 1, 2025, the grant application process has been updated for the 2026 funding cycle. The new process requires submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) six weeks prior to traditional grant deadlines.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Southern Chautauqua County, New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $11,226,604
- Total Revenue: $2,361,430
- Total Expenses: $3,326,532
- Number of Employees: 2
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,155,022 | $11,226,604 | $12,191,633 |
| Revenue | $2,697,731 | $2,361,430 | $2,901,531 |
| Expenses | $2,769,484 | $3,326,532 | $2,596,482 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,606,794 | $3,177,604 | $2,413,018 |
| Net Investment Income | $791,690 | $400,025 | $279,597 |
| Distributable Amount | $745,842 | $718,105 | $737,056 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Comedy Center ($326,750), Chaut Lake & Watershed Mgmt Alliance ($268,166), Chautauqua Institution ($217,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS COUNCIL INC FALCONER, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS OF WNY BUFFALO, NY | CHAUTAUQUA CO. DISASTER SERVICESDIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $10,500 |
| AUDUBON COMMUNITY NATURE CENTER JAMESTOWN, NY | UTILITY ROOM IMPROVEMENTSDIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $16,077 |
| BEMUS POINT LIBRARY BEMUS POINT, NY | EXTERIOR BUILDING RENOVATIONS | $19,000 |
| BEMUS POINT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH BEMUS POINT, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS(ROYAL FAMILY KIDS CAMP) | $500 |
| BEMUS POINT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BEMUS POINT, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $1,000 |
| BUFFALO-TORONTO PUBLIC MEDIA BUFFALO, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $250 |
| CAMP GROSS FOUNDATION INC CASSADAGA, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $250 |
| CAMP MISSION MEADOWS DEWITTVILLE, NY | CABIN EXPANSION PROJECT | $35,000 |
| CHAUTAUQUA AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY FREDONIA, NY | DIRECTOR/STAFF UNRESTRICTED GRANTS | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board:
- Alexis T. Singleton, President
- Kelly A. Dawson, CPA, First Vice President
- Thomas M. Becker, Second Vice President
- Tariq M. Khan, MD, Treasurer
- Hans P. Auer, Secretary
- Raymond J. Fashano, Director
- Ann M. Abdella, Director
Staff:
- Leigh J. Rovegno, Executive Director
- Janette B. Salter, Administrative Assistant
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETSY SHULTS | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KELLY A DAWSON | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| RAYMOND J FASHANO | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| LINDA SWANSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | $113,580 |
| THOMAS M BECKER | VICE-PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| TARIQ KHAN MD | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| HANS P AUER | ASST. TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent Grant Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grants made in 2023 include:
Reg Lenna Center for the Arts: $282,736 (new theater seats, operating support)
Jamestown Center City Development Corporation: $252,000
Chautauqua Institution: $224,500 (Bellinger Hall Renovation Project)
Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance: $500,000 (Jefferson Project's Tributary Monitoring Stations construction)
Chautauqua Lake & Watershed Management Alliance receives a $500,000 grant\The foundation also supported Healthcare Career Advantage Talent Pipeline Internships.
Sheldon Supports Healthcare Career Advantage Talent Pipeline Internships\Contact Information
Address: 217 N Main Street, Jamestown, NY 14701-5209
Phone: 716-664-9890
Website: www.rcsheldonfoundation.org
EIN: 16-6030502
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to continue the legacy of the Sheldon family through perpetuation of philanthropy, devoting financial assistance to advance the physical, educational, and cultural well-being of the people in southern Chautauqua County, New York. Primary funding focus areas include: • Arts • Education • Environment • Health and human resources • Youth
How do I apply for a grant from Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc?
The foundation funds both operating and capital needs. The foundation believes operational investments allow nonprofit organizations to focus on meeting community needs, while capital investments promote growth and enhance key services. Grant requests for $2,500 or less may be submitted on a rolling basis when a specific need arises. The foundation now grants between $1.7 and $2.2 million annually. Since its establishment, the foundation has awarded over $59 million to local organizations. In 2…
Where does Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc make grants?
Southern Chautauqua County, New York
What size grants does Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc awarded 68 grants totaling $2.4M — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $746K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc's EIN?
Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6030502. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ralph C Sheldon Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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