Sherman Phoenix Foundation logo

Sherman Phoenix Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Milwaukee, WI EIN: 85-4125394 Website

The Sherman Phoenix Foundation builds inclusive and just economies for communities of color through strategies that support entrepreneurship, wellness, workplace inclusion, and economic empowerment.

Sherman Phoenix Foundation at a glance

In short: Sherman Phoenix Foundation gave $27K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$26,800
-70.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
2
-33.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$13,400
-55.3% vs 2023
Median grant
$13,400
Total assets
$620,376
-27.2% vs 2023
Primary geography
Illinois (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Sherman Phoenix Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 2 recipients in 2024

Nkenge Gallery: $14KNkenge Gallery$14KYoung Enterprising Society: $13KYoung Enterprising Society$13K

The largest 2024 recipient was Nkenge Gallery ($14K). Together the top 2 received $27K.

Grant Size Distribution

8 grants across all recorded years

7<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 8 (88%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.

Cities

MilwaukeeChicago

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$25K$50K$75K$100K0 grants2021 3 grants2022 3 grants2023 2 grants2024

From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2022) to $90K (2023). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $27K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Nkenge Gallery Chicago, ILFiscal Sponsorship$13,800
Young Enterprising Society Milwaukee, WIGuidewire Funds$13,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$620,376$865,144$1,331,691$26,8002$-281,802
2023$852,058$1,248,019$1,537,902$90,0003$620
2022$291,010$668,697$411,180$7,3103$81
2021$31,501$194,847$171,358———

About Sherman Phoenix Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Sherman Phoenix Foundation is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Milwaukee, WI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $620K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $27K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Sherman Phoenix Foundation is led by Stacia Thompson, CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Stacia Thompson

    CEO

    Executive Director → CEO, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $96K (2022) → $167K (2024)

  • Damira Grady

    President

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Danielle Bly

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Leana Nakielski

    Director

    Director → Treasurer, 2023

    Treasurer → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ramel Bly

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charlotte Cannon-Sain

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deidre Garret

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dina Abercrombie

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shakia Smith

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sherri Jordan

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Korbey White

    Vice President

    New on the 2024 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (12)
  • Former: Angela Adams (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Anthony Cobb (2021–2023) — Vice President
  • Former: Joanne Sabir (2021–2023) — Director
  • Former: Kenge Adams (2021–2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Ron Adams (2021–2023) — President
  • Former: Adija Greer Smith (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jocelyn Burks (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jon Frost (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Kaycee Frost (2021–2022) — Vice President
  • Former: Maanaan Sabir (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Oren Burks (2021–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Reginald Adams (2021–2022) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Stacia Thompson — CEO: $167KStacia ThompsonCEO$167K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $167K, to Stacia Thompson (CEO).

Frequently asked questions about Sherman Phoenix Foundation

How much does Sherman Phoenix Foundation give each year?

Sherman Phoenix Foundation gave $27K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $90K across 3 grants.

How large is Sherman Phoenix Foundation?

Sherman Phoenix Foundation reported $620K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $865K.

What is Sherman Phoenix Foundation?

Sherman Phoenix Foundation is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Milwaukee, WI. It holds $620K in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Sherman Phoenix Foundation operate?

Sherman Phoenix Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois, Wisconsin.

What is Sherman Phoenix Foundation's EIN?

Sherman Phoenix Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4125394. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(3)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  3. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Sherman Phoenix Foundation'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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