Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
The Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas, incorporated in 1965. The foundation manages substantial assets and distributes grants to charitable organizations across multiple states, with a focus on education, human services, and the arts.
Key facts about Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
- EIN
- 75-6045366
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $544,700
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $41,900
- Median grant
- $6,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (2 of 13, 2024)
- Total assets
- $7,196,686
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 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.
Who Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation's 13 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (50%) and Texas (49%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (6 grants). None of its 13 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Charitable Activities" (13 grants).
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. 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 IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation
- How to evaluate Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.2M
+5.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$545K
+9.0% YoY
Grant Count
13
-18.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
+34.2% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Historic preservation
- Human services
- The arts
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,200 to $265,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in multiple states including:
- Texas
- Massachusetts
- Ohio
- California
- New York
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 13 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total assets: $7,196,686
- Total revenues: $1,180,437
- Total expenses: $697,216
- Total grants awarded: $544,700
Contact Information:
- Address: 2626 Cole Ave, Dallas, TX 75204-1083
- Telephone: 972-221-6202
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,196,686 | $6,832,328 | $6,386,887 |
| Revenue | $1,180,437 | $1,047,000 | $395,634 |
| Expenses | $697,216 | $617,995 | $624,073 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $544,700 | $499,700 | $500,747 |
| Net Investment Income | $817,162 | $647,010 | $225,594 |
| Distributable Amount | $621,743 | $542,154 | $549,089 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include St James Place ($265,000), Service Dogs Inc ($100,000), In-Sync Exotics ($75,000).
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Susan F. Sharp — President and Director (volunteer, 4 hours/week, no compensation)
- Sally S. Harris — Vice President and Director (volunteer, 4 hours/week, no compensation)
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sally S Harris | Vice President & Director | 4 | — |
| Susan F Sharp | President & Director | 4 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Higher education • Historic preservation • Human services • The arts • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation?
The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations in multiple states including: • Texas • Massachusetts • Ohio • California • New York • Virginia • Washington, D.C.
What size grants does Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation award?
In 2024, Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $545K — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ruth C and Charles S Sharp Foundation reported a distributable amount of $622K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.