Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. Founded in 1998, it supports programs that give youth at risk opportunities to participate in the arts, with an emphasis on reaching vulnerable young people through waived fees or scholarships.
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc gave $739K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $739,000
- +81.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -48.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,973
- +253.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,000
- Total assets
- $17,842,087
- +13.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (3 of 37, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its website says it is no longer accepting applications for funding.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3376 Sentinel Dr, Boulder, CO 80301
Phone: (303) 443-5348
Website: https://sheilafortunefoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc
Who Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was St Francis in the Fields Episocopal Church ($336K). Together the top 10 received $453K.
Grant Size Distribution
376 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 375 grants of 376 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Colorado, Indiana, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania as its program states. In 2025, reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (64%), Colorado (18%), New Mexico (9%), Indiana (8%), and North Carolina (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 37 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $119K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $12K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $407K (2024) to $739K (2025). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $739K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| St Francis in the Fields Episocopal Church Malvern, PA | Program Support | $336,000 |
| Barnstone Art for Kids Phoenixville, PA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Beyond the Bars Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $15,000 |
| El Sistema Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Arts Council of Southern Indiana New Albany, IN | Program Support | $12,000 |
| EcoArts Connections Boulder, CO | Program Support | $12,000 |
| El Sistema Colorado Denver, CO | Program Support | $12,000 |
| Georgia E Gregory School of Music Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $12,000 |
| Girls First Norristown, PA | Program Support | $12,000 |
| Greater Philadelphia YMCA Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,842,087 | $3,064,983 | $882,435 | $739,000 | 37 | $805,320 | $1,401,615 | $945,932 |
| 2024 | $15,662,617 | $10,685,815 | $537,023 | $407,000 | 72 | $483,993 | $2,608,022 | $604,100 |
| 2023 | $5,517,090 | $835,219 | $545,707 | $464,500 | 79 | $524,928 | $740,040 | $343,289 |
| 2022 | $5,230,245 | $574,820 | $621,209 | $538,000 | 101 | $594,996 | $488,426 | $372,296 |
| 2021 | $5,273,122 | $678,643 | $544,764 | $457,500 | 87 | $513,320 | $586,309 | $425,438 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $946K for 2025 — 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 mission is to help youth at risk take part in the arts and experience personal creativity. It considers a broad range of artistic activities, including writing, theatre, music, dance, painting, film, and poetry. Its funding criteria emphasize measurable program delivery and breadth of reach; the foundation also says it defers to other qualified organizations for young people’s physical or emotional care.
Its grantees include arts and youth programs with varied approaches. For example, Barnstone Art for Kids describes its work as using art and community connection to foster resilience in children facing adversity. Beyond the Bars describes itself as a community-based music and career-planning program supporting youth impacted by violence. Girls First says it uses arts exploration, academic reinforcement, and emotional learning to build character and life skills.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 37 grants totaling $739,000. Grants ranged from $8,000 to $336,000, with a median of $12,000. Earlier reported giving was $407,000 across 72 grants in 2024 and $464,500 across 79 grants in 2023.
The largest 2025 grant listed was $336,000 to St Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church in Malvern, Pennsylvania, for program support. Other listed grants included $15,000 each to Barnstone Art for Kids and Beyond the Bars in Pennsylvania, and El Sistema Indianapolis in Indiana. Grants of $12,000 included awards to EcoArts Connections and El Sistema Colorado, among others.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc is led by Ellen Feeney, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ellen Feeney
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
$52K (2021) → $59K (2025)
Sophia Gold
President
Vice President & Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica L. Broderick
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert W. Conner
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark King
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michele Winebrenner-Nizam
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Sheila Fortune (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Marc A. Hetzner (2021–2023) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $59K, to Ellen Feeney (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc
How much does Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc give each year?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc gave $739K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $407K across 72 grants.
What is Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $12,000, and its average grant was $19,973, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc that year got $119K on average.
Where does Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc give grants?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (18%) and New Mexico (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (8 grants), Denver, CO (3 grants), Indianapolis, IN (2 grants) and Norristown, PA (2 grants).
Does Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (37 grants).
Who are Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include St Francis in the Fields Episocopal Church ($336,000), Barnstone Art for Kids ($15,000) and Beyond the Bars ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc reported $17.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $805K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $946K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to help youth at risk take part in the arts and experience personal creativity. It considers a broad range of artistic activities, including writing, theatre, music, dance, painting, film, and poetry. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1467131. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Sheila Fortune 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sheila-fortune-foundation-inc-morg_72af869b31504fd3ae4fb0155f784e0b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_841467131_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sheila-fortune-foundation-inc-morg_72af869b31504fd3ae4fb0155f784e0b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Sheila Fortune 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.
Sheila Fortune Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?