Shearman Foundation
The Shearman Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The foundation supports philanthropic initiatives across multiple states and focus areas, with a particular presence in Louisiana, New York, and Texas.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
-6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$297K
-41.4% YoY
Grant Count
38
-22.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-24.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shearman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $499K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus beyond these general categories.
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $100,000 to $115,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including:
- Louisiana (primary focus, including Anacoco, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles)
- New York (including New York City and Boston area)
- Texas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,551,473 |
| Total Giving | $296,850 |
| Recent Expenses | $604,783 |
| Recent Revenue | $229,329 |
EIN: 72-0920599
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,551,473 | $3,792,058 | $4,167,512 |
| Revenue | $164,142 | $229,329 | $196,195 |
| Expenses | $404,727 | $604,783 | $423,776 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $402,901 | $602,093 | $423,568 |
| Net Investment Income | $56,265 | $131,261 | $193,543 |
| Distributable Amount | $498,785 | $466,443 | $435,690 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Imperial Calcasieu Museum ($100,000), Lcmh Foundation ($27,500), Fishers Island Recreational Path Fdn ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANACOCO HIGH SCHOOL Anacoco, LA | DONATION | $1,250 |
| AR MITCHELL MUSEUM Trinidad, CO | DONATION | $5,000 |
| AUTISM SERVICES OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| BANNERS AT MCNEESE Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| BIG RED TIGER BACKERS Dequincy, LA | DONATION | $1,500 |
| CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $2,000 |
| CARC Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $5,000 |
| CARE HELP OF SULPHUR Sulphur, LA | DONATION | $100 |
| CHRISTUS ST PATRICK FOUNDATION Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $2,500 |
| CYI Lake Charles, LA | DONATION | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of trustees serving without compensation:
- Thomas B Shearman III
- Susan Cook
- Thad Cook
- Thaddeus Stakely Cook
- Isabella Shearman
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas B Shearman III | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Susan Cook | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Thad Cook | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Thaddeus Stakely Cook | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Isabella Shearman | Trustee | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shearman Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus beyond these general categories.
How do I apply for a grant from Shearman Foundation?
**Grant Amounts** Typical awards range from $100,000 to $115,000. **Recent Grants** Recent documented grants include: • $100,000 to Imperial Calcasieu Museum (2025) • $2,500 to Lake Charles Symphony (2025) • $1,000 to Junior League of Lake Charles (2025) **Total Annual Giving** The foundation reported total giving of $296,850 in its most recent fiscal period.
Where does Shearman Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities, including: • **Louisiana** (primary focus, including Anacoco, Baton Rouge, and Lake Charles) • **New York** (including New York City and Boston area) • **Texas** • **Colorado** • **Connecticut** • **Florida** • **Illinois** • **Massachusetts**
What size grants does Shearman Foundation award?
In 2025, Shearman Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $297K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shearman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Shearman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $499K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shearman Foundation's EIN?
Shearman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-0920599. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shearman Foundation'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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