Shearwater Foundation Inc
Shearwater Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Norfolk, Virginia. The organization was established in 2008 and holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. It operates as a grantmaking foundation with no employees, relying on a volunteer board of directors to guide its philanthropic activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.6M
+362.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.7M
+1630.2% YoY
Grant Count
27
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$176K
+1502.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shearwater Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $505K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Historical activities and historic preservation
- Education and higher education
- Environment and biodiversity conservation
- Philanthropy and nonprofit support
- Human services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 26 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2023). Recent grants include:
Grant Range
is approximately $10,000, with an average grant size of $11,100. Grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $1,510,000.
Average Grant
of $11,100. Grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $1,510,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple states and communities:
- Primary states: Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia
- Virginia communities: Lexington, Mathews, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Yorktown
- Other locations: New York and Massachusetts communities
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $3,587,236
- Total annual revenue: $868,610
- Total annual expenses: $276,575
- Total grants awarded: $274,500–$278,500
The foundation generates revenue through investment income and dividends on its asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,601,948 | $3,587,236 | $2,996,770 |
| Revenue | $27,803,359 | $868,610 | $118,519 |
| Expenses | $4,762,060 | $276,575 | $280,895 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,749,500 | $274,500 | $278,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,741,580 | $866,535 | $116,124 |
| Distributable Amount | $504,797 | $251,953 | $260,213 |
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
125 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Virginia Museum of History & Culture ($1,510,000), Norfolk State University ($1,500,000), Access College Foundation ($735,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS COLLEGE FOUNDATION NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $735,000 |
| BOOMER ESIASON FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| BUCKLEY COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL ROSLYN, NY | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $30,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KING'S DAUGHTERS (CHKD) NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION WILLIAMSBURG, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $525,000 |
| EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $25,000 |
| ELIZABETH RIVER PROJECT PORTSMOUTH, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| FOODBANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VA NORFOLK, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN FOUNDATION WILLIAMSBURG, VA | TO SUPPORT TAX-EXEMPT PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors:
- Conrad M. Hall (Vice President)
- Burton M. Hall (Director)
- Cosby M. Hall (Director)
- Price Hall (Director)
All board members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONRAD M HALL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| BURTON M HALL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| COSBY M HALL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PRICE HALL | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shearwater Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of initiatives across the following areas: • Arts and culture • Historical activities and historic preservation • Education and higher education • Environment and biodiversity conservation • Philanthropy and nonprofit support • Human services
How do I apply for a grant from Shearwater Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** The foundation made 26 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2023). Recent grants include: • Buckley Country Day School: $30,000 • Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: $25,000 • Tidewater Friends of Foster Care Incorporated: $25,000 The median grant size is approximately $10,000, with an average grant size of $11,100. Grant awards typically range from $1,000 to $1,510,000. **Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $3,587,236 (as of 2023) • Annual expenses: $276,575 (20…
Where does Shearwater Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple states and communities: • **Primary states:** Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia • **Virginia communities:** Lexington, Mathews, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Yorktown • **Other locations:** New York and Massachusetts communities
What size grants does Shearwater Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Shearwater Foundation Inc awarded 27 grants totaling $4.7M — an average of about $176K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shearwater Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shearwater Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $505K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shearwater Foundation Inc's EIN?
Shearwater Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8075507. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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