Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop's mission is to help kids grow smarter, stronger and kinder.
Sesame Workshop at a glance
In short: Sesame Workshop gave $3.2M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $801K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,204,724
- +101.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $801,181
- +51.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $523,900
- Total assets
- $584,866,720
- +1.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Sesame Workshop funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was New York University ($2.1M). Together the top 4 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 26 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Sesame Workshop gives
- Giving fell 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2024) to $22.6M (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York University New York, NY | Program Implementation | $2,146,924 |
| Sesame Workshop International Inc New York, NY | General Support | $1,017,800 |
| Center for US Global Leadership Washington, DC | General Support | $30,000 |
| Concordia Summit Inc New York, NY | General Support | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $584,866,720 | $180,674,492 | $169,692,246 | $3,204,724 | 4 | $11,946,529 |
| 2024 | $577,963,669 | $170,338,735 | $166,879,256 | $1,587,794 | 3 | $6,380,592 |
| 2023 | $558,526,883 | $186,926,322 | $192,265,065 | $8,922,523 | 6 | $4,364,574 |
| 2022 | $540,213,856 | $271,209,334 | $249,317,160 | $22,646,255 | 7 | $19,899,916 |
| 2021 | $567,105,457 | $195,548,598 | $184,062,415 | $22,603,107 | 6 | $4,787,478 |
| 2020 | $433,633,112 | $246,073,617 | $208,204,985 | $15,674,171 | 10 | $1,550,815 |
About Sesame Workshop
Based on IRS filings
Sesame Workshop is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $584.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $3.2M. Net investment income was $11.9M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sesame Workshop is led by Sherrie Rollins Westin, President & CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 14 of 32 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sherrie Rollins Westin
President & CEO
President → President & Interim CEO, 2024
President & Interim CEO → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$595K (2020) → $1.1M (2025)
Gabrielle Sulzberger
Chairman of the Board
Trustee → Chairman of the Board, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Beth Jordan PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Rubinstein Tisch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Weiss
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Mack
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Ganz Cooney
Honorary Trustee
Chairman of Executive Com. → Honorary Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen G. Elsesser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Eastman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael G. Manasse
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Lindley
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Varun Chandra
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Daniel Tatum
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carla Harris
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thasunda Brown Duckett
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Jarrett
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miriam Rivera
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Davis
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay N. Wilson Stallings
Executive Vice President, Creative & Production
On filings since 2020
60 hrs/week
$378K (2020) → $527K (2025)
Stephen Youngwood
Former CEO
President, Media, Edu. & COO → CEO, 2021
CEO → Former CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
$616K (2020) → $752K (2025)
Diana Lee
Former Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resource
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer → Executive Vice President & Chief Human Res., 2024
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Res. → Former Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resource, 2025
On filings since 2021
$418K (2021) → $163K (2025)
Shari Rosenfeld
Senior Vice President Int. Soc. Impact
Senior Vice President International Social Impact → Senior Vice President Int. Soc. Impact, 2025
On filings since 2021
60 hrs/week
$427K (2021) → $468K (2025)
Brett Robinson
CFO, Executive Vice President of Finance & Technology
Executive Vice President & CFO → CFO, Executive Vice President of Finance & Technology, 2025
On filings since 2023
60 hrs/week
$95K (2023) → $493K (2025)
Hillary W. Strong
Chief Development Officer
On filings since 2023
60 hrs/week
$409K (2023) → $411K (2025)
Jennifer Alison Bryant
Chief Res, Edu & Data
Chief Research, Edu., Data & Impact Officer → Chief Research, Edu. & Data, 2024
Chief Research, Edu. & Data → Chief Res, Edu & Data, 2025
On filings since 2023
60 hrs/week
$429K (2023) → $443K (2025)
Randle Whitfield Higgins
Executive Vice President & Head of Global Ent.
On filings since 2023
60 hrs/week
$346K (2023) → $445K (2025)
Shadrach Kisten
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer
On filings since 2023
60 hrs/week
$395K (2023) → $400K (2025)
Gabriela Arenas Rodriquez
Senior Vice President & Global Licensing
New on the 2025 filing
60 hrs/week
$374K (2025)
Lesley Bourns
Senior Vice President Int. Soc. Impact
New on the 2025 filing
60 hrs/week
$345K (2025)
Taska Carrigan
Senior Vice President, Business Affairs & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
60 hrs/week
$375K (2025)
Valerie Mitchell-Johnston
Executive Vice President & General Counsel
New on the 2025 filing
60 hrs/week
$437K (2025)
Joseph Giraldi
COO
New on the 2025 filing
60 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Frans Hijkoop (2020–2024) — Chairman of the Board
- Former: Jeffrey N. Watanabe (2020–2024) — Chairman Emeritus
- Former: Joseph P. Salvo (2020–2024) — Former Executive Vice President & General Counsel
- Former: Marlene Hess (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Samantha A. Saltiel (2021–2024) — Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
- Former: Valerie Mitchell (2024) — Executive Vice President & General Counsel
- Former: George E. Wells (2020–2023) — Executive Vice President, Head of Global Media & Education · Filing note: Thru 81522
- Former: Lloyd N. Morrisett (2020–2023) — Honorary Trustee · Filing note: Thru 1/2023
- Former: Daryl Mintz (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President & CFO
- Former: Gordon Scott Chambers (2020–2022) — Senior Vice President, Gm, Edu. Media & Licensing · Filing note: Thru 0415202
- Former: Jane Hartley (2020–2022) — Chairman of the Board
- Former: Jeffrey Dunn (2020–2022) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Milton Chen PhD (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Tanya Z. Haider (2020–2022) — Executive Vice President Strategy Research & Ventures · Filing note: Thru 9/31/2021
- Former: Benjamin Lehmann (2021–2022) — Senior Vice President, Head of Sesame Street & Life · Filing note: Thru 033122
- Former: Adam Frankel (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Rachel Hines (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Jean Brown Johnson (2020) — Executive Vice President & Creative Director
- Former: Michael H Levine (2020) — Chief Knowledge Officer · Filing note: Thru 10/2019
- Former: Sheila M. Kelly (2020) — Chief Development Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $1.1M, to Sherrie Rollins Westin (President & CEO). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sesame Workshop
How much does Sesame Workshop give each year?
Sesame Workshop gave $3.2M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 3 grants.
What is Sesame Workshop's typical grant size?
Sesame Workshop's median grant in 2025 was $523,900, and its average grant was $801,181, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sesame Workshop give grants?
Sesame Workshop gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Sesame Workshop give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of Sesame Workshop's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Sesame Workshop?
Sesame Workshop reported $584.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $180.7M.
What is Sesame Workshop?
Sesame Workshop is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in New York, NY. It holds $584.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Sesame Workshop's EIN?
Sesame Workshop's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2655731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Sesame Workshop down — hundreds of funders to go?