Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chattanooga, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 16 grants totaling $350K. Net investment income was $242K.
Key facts about Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation
In short: Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation gave $350K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in California. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-6991937
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $349,603
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- Average grant
- $21,850
- Median grant
- $17,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (3 of 16, 2025)
- Total assets
- $7,948,963
- Primary geography
- California (64% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.9M
+38.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
+10.1% YoY
Grant Count
16
+6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $373K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 16 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SAN FRANCISCO SPCA San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| SF-MARIN FOOD BANK San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| FLORIDA HUMANE SOCIETY Pompano Beach, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $35,000 |
| ABANDONNED PET RESCUE INC Lauderdale, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| ROCKET DOG RESCUE INC San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| ALVARADO ELEMENTARY PTA San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE BAY AREA Oakland, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| WIND IN THE WILLOWS EARLY LEARNING CENTER San Francisco, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF BOWARD INC Fort Lauderdale, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BROWARD COUNTY Fort Lauderdale, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,948,963 | $5,754,222 | $5,454,195 |
| Revenue | $262,810 | $665,566 | $295,200 |
| Expenses | $406,372 | $363,420 | $373,078 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $378,539 | $330,307 | $338,449 |
| Net Investment Income | $241,736 | $634,817 | $256,180 |
| Distributable Amount | $373,064 | $349,603 | $322,379 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Truist Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2023) → $26K (2025)
Magnolia Trust Company
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$3K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Truist Bank FKA Suntrust Bank (2020) — Trustee
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
Frequently asked questions about Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation
How much does Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation give each year?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation gave $350K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $317K across 15 grants.
What is Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's typical grant size?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $17,500, and its average grant was $21,850, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation give grants?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation gives mostly in California: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (33%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (7 grants) and Fort Lauderdale, FL (2 grants).
Does Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's largest grantees?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include San Francisco Spca ($50,000), SF-Marin Food Bank ($50,000) and Florida Humane Society ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation reported $7.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $379K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $373K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chattanooga, TN. It holds $7.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's EIN?
Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-6991937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Shepard Milner Wardlaw Foundation by hand.
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