Sherwood Trust
Sherwood Trust is a private foundation established in 1991 in Walla Walla, Washington. Founded by Donald and Virginia Sherwood, the organization continues their legacy of community investment and philanthropic work. The trust operates as a place-based foundation serving the Walla Walla Valley region and functions as a catalyst for building nonprofit capacity and creating cohesive, vibrant communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$39.2M
+4.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-21.4% YoY
Grant Count
34
-10.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
-12.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sherwood Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: Everyone in the Walla Walla Valley has a sense of belonging and contributes to a thriving region. Sherwood Trust serves as a catalyst for building capacity, creating a cohesive, vibrant community.
Core Values: Collaboration, Empathy, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, and Sustainability.
The trust focuses on three major funding categories:
- Nonprofit Strengthening – Investments to strengthen nonprofit organizations
- Community Development – Funds to develop cohesive communities in the region
- Community Learning – Opportunities for unusual relationships and innovation
- Leadership Engagement – Programs for community leadership and engagement
Additional funding interests include support for economically disadvantaged and low-income individuals, arts and culture, performing arts, education, higher education, undergraduate education, education services, and human services.
Grantmaking
Sherwood Trust offers competitive Core grants guided by eligibility requirements, giving principles, and core values. The foundation encourages applicants to discuss grant proposals with the organization prior to submission.
Grant Range
$15,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Sherwood Trust operates primarily in Washington and Oregon, with specific focus on:
- Walla Walla and Columbia counties in Washington
- Milton-Freewater, Oregon
- Additional funding in cities including Seattle and Portland
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $39,169,463
- Total Revenue: $3,820,855
- Total Expenses: $1,832,292
Previous Year Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $37,405,088
- Total Revenue: $1,288,896
- Total Expenses: $2,120,023
Cumulative Impact: Since its founding in 1991, Sherwood Trust has invested over $40 million to strengthen nonprofits and improve communities in the Walla Walla Valley region.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,169,463 | $37,405,088 | $35,594,098 |
| Revenue | $3,820,855 | $1,288,896 | $2,731,515 |
| Expenses | $1,832,292 | $2,120,023 | $1,800,116 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,696,242 | $1,954,151 | $1,602,674 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,701,277 | $1,158,573 | $2,491,264 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,869,567 | $1,734,471 | $1,629,902 |
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
203 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sherwood Trust
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include STAR Project ($160,000), Christain Aid Center ($150,000), Carnegie Picture Lab ($116,563).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Social Venture Partners Seattle, WA | Invitational | $5,000 |
| Rural Development Initiatives Coburg, OR | Invitational | $111,101 |
| Community Council Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $50,000 |
| Blue Mountain Action Council Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $75,000 |
| Vital Wines Walla Walla, WA | Core Multiyear | $20,000 |
| Student Health Options DBA The Health Center Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $200 |
| Milton-Freewater Ministerial Association MiltonFreewater, OR | Invitational | $250 |
| Blue Mountain Heart to Heart Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $250 |
| Hope Street Walla Walls, WA | Invitational | $250 |
| Walla Walla Community Hospice Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Brian Hunt – CEO (40 hours/week, $145,000 annual compensation)
- Kazi Joshua – President (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Paul Schneidmiller – Director (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Toni Alvarado-Jackson – Vice President (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Allan Gillespie – Treasurer (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Jean H Adams – Director (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Chuck Fulton – Director (4 hours/week, $12,000 annual compensation)
- Cheris Brewer Current – Director (4 hours/week, no compensation)
The foundation has 2 employees on staff.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Hunt | CEO | 32 | $123,996 |
| Paul Schneidmiller | Director | 4 | $11,500 |
| Kazi Joshua | President | 4 | $11,500 |
| Toni Alvarado-Jackson | Vice President | 4 | $11,500 |
| Allan Gillespie | Treasurer | 4 | $11,500 |
| Jean H Adams | Director | 4 | $11,500 |
| Chuck Fulton | Director | 4 | $11,500 |
| Cheris Brewer Current | Director | 4 | $11,500 |
| Wendy Hernandez | Director | 4 | $3,833 |
| Nikki Sharp | Director | 4 | $3,833 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Sherwood Trust has maintained active grantmaking, with recent awards including support for legal aid services, early literacy tutoring programs, and community development initiatives. The foundation published updated 2026 Grant Guidelines and continues to accept grant applications from qualified nonprofit and community organizations aligned with its vision and values.
2026 Grant Guidelines - Sherwood TrustFrequently Asked Questions
What does Sherwood Trust fund?
**Vision:** Everyone in the Walla Walla Valley has a sense of belonging and contributes to a thriving region. Sherwood Trust serves as a catalyst for building capacity, creating a cohesive, vibrant community. **Core Values:** Collaboration, Empathy, Equity, Excellence, Integrity, and Sustainability. The trust focuses on three major funding categories: • **Nonprofit Strengthening** – Investments to strengthen nonprofit organizations • **Community Development** – Funds to develop cohesive communi…
How do I apply for a grant from Sherwood Trust?
Sherwood Trust offers competitive Core grants guided by eligibility requirements, giving principles, and core values. The foundation encourages applicants to discuss grant proposals with the organization prior to submission. **Grant Activity:** • Median grant size: $15,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $205,000 • Recent grants include: The STAR Project ($160,000), Carnegie Picture Lab ($116,563), and Rural Development Initiative ($111,101) • Total of 38 grants documented in recent filings **Applicat…
Where does Sherwood Trust make grants?
Sherwood Trust operates primarily in Washington and Oregon, with specific focus on: • Walla Walla and Columbia counties in Washington • Milton-Freewater, Oregon • Additional funding in cities including Seattle and Portland
What size grants does Sherwood Trust award?
In 2024, Sherwood Trust awarded 34 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sherwood Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sherwood Trust reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sherwood Trust's EIN?
Sherwood Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6337526. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sherwood Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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