Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
The Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports $544,700 in grants to 13 charitable organizations, including organizations in Texas and Massachusetts.
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation at a glance
In short: Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation gave $545K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), mostly in Massachusetts. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $544,700
- +9.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -18.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,900
- +34.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $6,000
- Total assets
- $7,196,686
- +5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
- 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2626 Cole Ave Lb 24, Dallas, TX 75204
Phone: (972) 221-6202
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St James Place ($265K). Together the top 10 received $535K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 70 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing lists grants to recipients in Massachusetts, Texas, Ohio, and Connecticut. The largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts (50%) and Texas (49%); the filing also reports 1% each for Ohio and Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 13 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $6K repeat.
- 69% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 88% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $408K (2021) to $545K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $545K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St James Place Great Barrington, MA | Support Charitable Activities | $265,000 |
| Service Dogs Inc Dripping Springs, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $100,000 |
| In-Sync Exotics Wylie, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $75,000 |
| Salvation Army Dallas, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $52,500 |
| Denison Forum Dallas, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $10,000 |
| Foundation of the Callier Center Dallas, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $10,000 |
| Glory B Garland, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $6,000 |
| Rea's Hope Dallas, TX | Support Charitable Activities | $6,000 |
| Esselstyn Foundation Cleveland, OH | Support Charitable Activities | $5,000 |
| Gould Farm Monterey, MA | Support Charitable Activities | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,196,686 | $1,180,437 | $697,216 | $544,700 | 13 | $544,700 | $817,162 | $621,743 |
| 2023 | $6,832,328 | $1,047,000 | $617,995 | $499,700 | 16 | $499,700 | $647,010 | $542,154 |
| 2022 | $6,386,887 | $395,634 | $624,073 | $497,400 | 12 | $500,747 | $225,594 | $549,089 |
| 2021 | $6,613,237 | $706,589 | $525,302 | $408,000 | 15 | $412,118 | $593,405 | $536,106 |
| 2020 | $6,444,070 | $288,248 | $598,569 | $499,500 | 14 | — | $270,505 | $475,651 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation reported a distributable amount of $622K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for charitable organizations such as animal rescue and care organizations, service-dog organizations, and other charitable groups. In-Sync Exotics describes its mission as exotic animal rescue and care, including food, medical care, supplies, and rescue services. Vickery Trading Company describes its mission as providing job training and educational programs to people in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $544,700. Grants ranged from $1,200 to $265,000, with a median grant of $6,000. The largest listed awards were $265,000 to St James Place in Great Barrington, Massachusetts; $100,000 to Service Dogs Inc in Dripping Springs, Texas; $75,000 to In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, Texas; and $52,500 to the Salvation Army in Dallas, Texas. Other listed grants included $10,000 each to Denison Forum and the Foundation of the Callier Center, both in Dallas.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan F Sharp as president and director and Sally S Harris as vice president and director.
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation is led by Susan F. Sharp, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan F. Sharp
President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sally S. Harris
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
How much does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation give each year?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation gave $545K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $500K across 16 grants.
What is Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's typical grant size?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $6,000, and its average grant was $41,900, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation give grants?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (49%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (6 grants).
Does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Charitable Activities" (13 grants).
Who are Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's largest grantees?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St James Place ($265,000), Service Dogs Inc ($100,000) and In-Sync Exotics ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $545K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $622K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants include support for charitable organizations such as animal rescue and care organizations, service-dog organizations, and other charitable groups. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation?
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 Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's EIN?
Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6045366. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-c-and-charles-s-sharp-foundation-morg_1501cf524666425290e2afc9542235a7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_756045366_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ruth-c-and-charles-s-sharp-foundation-morg_1501cf524666425290e2afc9542235a7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Ruth C and Charles S Sharp 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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