Shearwater Foundation Inc
Shearwater Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Norfolk, Virginia. Founded in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2001, it supports projects in biodiversity conservation, child welfare, education, health care for underserved populations, social justice and, in limited cases, primary ecological research.
Shearwater Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Shearwater Foundation Inc gave $4.7M across 27 grants in 2024 (avg $176K), mostly in Virginia. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,749,500
- +1630.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- +8.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $175,907
- +1502.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $16,601,948
- +362.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (2 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (99% 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 Shearwater Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 101 West Main St 7900, Norfolk, VA 23510
Phone: (757) 226-8434
Website: https://shearwaterfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Shearwater Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Virginia Museum of History & Culture ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $4.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
125 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 125 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 1% to New York and less than 1% to Massachusetts, as reported in rounded percentages. The listed grants included recipients in Norfolk, Richmond, Williamsburg, Lexington and Portsmouth, Virginia, as well as Roslyn, New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Shearwater Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 27 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $875K; repeat grants $120K. How we count
Medians: $875K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 93% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1605% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 941% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $249K (2020) to $4.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 27 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Museum of History & Culture Richmond, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $1,510,000 |
| Norfolk State University Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $1,500,000 |
| Access College Foundation Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $735,000 |
| Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Williamsburg, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $525,000 |
| VMI Foundation Lexington, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $250,000 |
| Buckley Country Day School Roslyn, NY | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $30,000 |
| Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $25,000 |
| Tidewater Friends of Foster Care Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $25,000 |
| United Way of South Hampton Roads Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $25,000 |
| Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (CHKD) Norfolk, VA | To Support Tax-Exempt Purpose of Organization | $10,000 |
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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 | $16,601,948 | $27,803,359 | $4,762,060 | $4,749,500 | 27 | $4,749,500 | $8,741,580 | $504,797 |
| 2023 | $3,587,236 | $868,610 | $276,575 | $274,500 | 25 | $274,500 | $866,535 | $251,953 |
| 2022 | $2,996,770 | $118,519 | $280,895 | $278,500 | 25 | $278,500 | $116,124 | $260,213 |
| 2021 | $3,159,146 | $119,657 | $278,954 | $278,500 | 25 | $278,500 | $128,873 | $259,454 |
| 2020 | $3,318,443 | $134,462 | $249,065 | $248,500 | 23 | — | $133,897 | $235,512 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated areas of support include biodiversity conservation, child welfare, education, health care for underserved populations, social justice and, in limited cases, primary ecological research. Its website identifies land purchase to protect biodiversity hotspots and environmental education as particular interests within biodiversity conservation.
The 2024 grants show support for organizations with a range of activities. For example, Access College Foundation describes its work as helping students with postsecondary planning, applications, financial aid and career assistance. The Friends of Foster Care describes its work as enriching the lives of foster children through support such as enrichment programs and tutoring or mentoring. United Way of South Hampton Roads says its mission is to bring people and resources together to solve community problems.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $4,749,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,510,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest awards included $1,510,000 to Virginia Museum of History & Culture, $1,500,000 to Norfolk State University, $735,000 to Access College Foundation, $525,000 to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and $250,000 to VMI Foundation. The stated purpose for each was to support the recipient’s tax-exempt purpose.
Other reported 2024 grants included $30,000 to Buckley Country Day School; $25,000 each to Eastern Virginia Medical School Foundation, Tidewater Friends of Foster Care and United Way of South Hampton Roads; and $10,000 each to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, Elizabeth River Project and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Conrad M. Hall, Burton M. Hall, Cosby M. Hall and Price Hall as directors.
Shearwater Foundation Inc's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Burton M. Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Conrad M. Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cosby M. Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Price Hall
Director
On filings since 2020
2 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 Shearwater Foundation Inc
How much does Shearwater Foundation Inc give each year?
Shearwater Foundation Inc gave $4.7M across 27 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $275K across 25 grants.
What is Shearwater Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Shearwater Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $175,907, across 27 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Shearwater Foundation Inc that year got $875K on average.
Where does Shearwater Foundation Inc give grants?
Shearwater Foundation Inc gives mostly in Virginia: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (15 grants), Richmond, VA (2 grants) and Williamsburg, VA (2 grants).
Who are Shearwater Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Shearwater Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Virginia Museum of History & Culture ($1,510,000), Norfolk State University ($1,500,000) and Access College Foundation ($735,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Shearwater Foundation Inc?
Shearwater Foundation Inc reported $16.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $505K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Shearwater Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated areas of support include biodiversity conservation, child welfare, education, health care for underserved populations, social justice and, in limited cases, primary ecological research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Shearwater Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Shearwater Foundation Inc 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 September 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). Shearwater Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/shearwater-foundation-inc-morg_a20c28c0dd1746839fa96c0af867c481
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208075507_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Shearwater Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/shearwater-foundation-inc-morg_a20c28c0dd1746839fa96c0af867c481},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Shearwater Foundation Inc'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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