Sherwood Trust
Sherwood Trust is a private foundation based in Walla Walla, Washington, that supports organizations and public agencies working to strengthen connection, belonging, and well-being in the Walla Walla Valley. Founded by Donald and Virginia Sherwood in 1991, it describes its role as a catalyst for building capacity and creating a cohesive, vibrant community.
Sherwood Trust at a glance
In short: Sherwood Trust gave $1.2M across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), mostly in Washington. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,201,100
- -21.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- -10.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,326
- -12.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $39,169,463
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (7 of 34, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (89% 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 Sherwood Trust
- How to Apply
-
The competitive Core process has three steps: a Letter of Interest, an application for organizations whose letters are approved, and a site visit. Applicants submit materials online; the Trust advises reading the grant guidelines and encourages organizations to discuss proposals with it in advance. Its 2026 guidelines describe eligibility requirements, while the 2024 filing states that awards are for religious, charitable, and educational purposes within the Walla Walla geographical area.
- Review Cycle
- For the 2026 Core cycle, the Letter of Interest deadline is February 4, 2026, and the application deadline is March 4, 2026. The Trust says funding is awarded in June, pending signed grant agreements.
- Deadline
- For the 2026 Core cycle, the Letter of Interest deadline is February 4, 2026, and the application deadline is March 4,…
- Contact
Application contact: Brian Hunt Ceo Sherwood Trust
Mailing address: PO Box 1855, Walla Walla, WA 99362
Phone: (509) 529-2791
Website: https://sherwoodtrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sherwood Trust
Who Sherwood Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was STAR Project ($160K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 165 grants of 203 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Sherwood Trust focuses on the Walla Walla Valley. Its stated eligibility region includes Walla Walla County and Columbia County, Washington, and Milton-Freewater, Oregon. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington and 11% to recipients in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sherwood Trust open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 34 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $56K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $59K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% 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 (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 $1.2M (2022) to $1.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STAR Project Walla Walla, WA | Core | $160,000 |
| Christain Aid Center Walla Walla, WA | Core | $150,000 |
| Carnegie Picture Lab Walla Walla, WA | Legacy/Core | $116,563 |
| Rural Development Initiatives Coburg, OR | Invitational | $111,101 |
| City of Walla Walla Walla Walla, WA | Core | $100,000 |
| Trilogy Recovery Community Walla Walla, WA | Core | $100,000 |
| Blue Mountain Action Council Walla Walla, WA | Invitational | $75,000 |
| Blue Mountain Health Cooperative Walla Walla, WA | Core | $70,115 |
| Communities in Schools of the Blue Mountain Region Federal Way, WA | Core | $70,000 |
| Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless Walla Walla, WA | Core | $58,621 |
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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 | $39,169,463 | $3,820,855 | $1,832,292 | $1,201,100 | 34 | $1,696,242 | $3,701,277 | $1,869,567 |
| 2023 | $37,405,088 | $1,288,896 | $2,120,023 | $1,529,000 | 38 | $1,954,151 | $1,158,573 | $1,734,471 |
| 2022 | $35,594,098 | $2,731,515 | $1,800,116 | $1,188,373 | 45 | $1,602,674 | $2,491,264 | $1,629,902 |
| 2021 | $39,581,265 | $3,306,803 | $2,085,773 | $1,593,259 | 44 | $1,943,308 | $2,398,241 | $1,870,855 |
| 2020 | $36,454,216 | $706,425 | $1,749,644 | $1,262,763 | 42 | — | $351,123 | $1,611,866 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Sherwood Trust’s vision is for everyone in the Walla Walla Valley to feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a thriving region. Its stated values include collaboration, equity, empathy, integrity, excellence, and sustainability.
The Trust funds projects in three areas: Community, including efforts that bring people together and deepen community well-being; Capacity, such as staffing, planning, systems improvements, and new initiatives; and Capital, including building improvements, equipment, and other physical assets. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public agencies, and fiscally sponsored projects serving Walla Walla County, Columbia County, or Milton-Freewater. Its website also says applicants must meet its vision and values and, if they previously received a Core Grant, at least two full grant cycles must have passed. It does not fund scholarships, door prizes, raffles, or individuals.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of work supported. Carnegie Picture Lab describes its mission as empowering young people’s creative discovery of art. Trilogy Recovery Community says it supports youth, adults, and families in the Walla Walla Valley on paths to recovery from addiction or substance misuse. Blue Mountain Health Cooperative says it offers accessible mental health services and a learning environment for future providers. Walla Walla Alliance for the Homeless describes providing low-barrier shelter and food, alongside peer support, to adults in need in the region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Sherwood Trust reported 34 grants totaling $1,201,100. Grants ranged from $200 to $160,000, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards included $160,000 to STAR Project, $150,000 to Christain Aid Center, $116,563 to Carnegie Picture Lab, $111,101 to Rural Development Initiatives, and $100,000 each to the City of Walla Walla and Trilogy Recovery Community. The filing labels these awards with purposes including “Core,” “Legacy/Core,” and “Invitational.”
The Trust’s website lists 2026 Core Grant awards totaling $881,500 to 11 organizations. Examples include $250,000 to Blue Mountain Heart to Heart for a learning center, $100,000 to Mano a Mano for after-school programming, and $75,000 to St. Frances Cabrini Charitable Services for ADA bathrooms and capital improvements. The Trust also says it expects to distribute a total of $1.3 million in grants in 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing listed Brian Hunt as CEO; Kazi Joshua as President; Toni Alvarado-Jackson as Vice President; Allan Gillespie as Treasurer; and Paul Schneidmiller, Jean H Adams, Chuck Fulton, Cheris Brewer Current, Wendy Hernandez, and Nikki Sharp as directors.
Sherwood Trust is led by Brian Hunt, CEO on every filing since 2020; all 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Brian Hunt
CEO
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $124K (2024)
Kazi Joshua
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $12K (2024)
Jean H Adams
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Chuck Fulton
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$10K (2021) → $12K (2024)
Paul Schneidmiller
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $12K (2024)
Cheris Brewer Current
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
$12K (2024)
Nikki Sharp
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Wendy Hernandez
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
$4K (2024)
Allan Gillespie
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Toni Alvarado-Jackson
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $12K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: William A. Albee (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert L. Zagelow (2020–2021) — Director Unitl June
- Former: Charles N. Fulton (2020) — President
- Former: Danielle Garbe Reser (2020) — CEO
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $124K, to Brian Hunt (CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sherwood Trust
How much does Sherwood Trust give each year?
Sherwood Trust gave $1.2M across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 38 grants.
What is Sherwood Trust's typical grant size?
Sherwood Trust's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $35,326, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sherwood Trust that year got $56K on average.
Where does Sherwood Trust give grants?
Sherwood Trust gives mostly in Washington: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Walla Walla, WA (26 grants) and Milton-Freewater, OR (2 grants).
Does Sherwood Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on Sherwood Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Legacy" (11 grants), "Invitational" (10 grants) and "Core" (10 grants).
Who are Sherwood Trust's largest grantees?
Sherwood Trust's largest 2024 grantees include STAR Project ($160,000), Christain Aid Center ($150,000) and Carnegie Picture Lab ($116,563), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sherwood Trust?
Sherwood Trust reported $39.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (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 Sherwood Trust fund?
Sherwood Trust’s vision is for everyone in the Walla Walla Valley to feel a sense of belonging and contribute to a thriving region. Its stated values include collaboration, equity, empathy, integrity, excellence, and sustainability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sherwood Trust?
The competitive Core process has three steps: a Letter of Interest, an application for organizations whose letters are approved, and a site visit. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
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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Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Walla Walla, WA
The trust’s 2024 grants supported Washington organizations working in community services, education, culture, and recreation, including endowments, school programs, literacy, scholarships, and general operations. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,629,629, with a median of $3,500. It did not limit giving to preselected organizations, and no application form was required; however, the trust terminated in 2024 after donating its remaining assets to Blue Mountain Community Foundation.
Assets
—
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Total Given
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Blue Mountain Community Foundation
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Yancey P Winans Testamentary Trust
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The trust primarily funds youth programs, especially summer programs for children and young people, with other charitable purposes considered secondarily. It generally awards up to $5,000 per grant to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in the Walla Walla, Washington, area. Organizations can request an application from Baker Boyer Bank Wealth Management; the filing does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
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Mary Garner Esary Trust
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The trust supported scholarships, education, community services, literacy, arts, recovery, and recreation in Walla Walla and Eastern Washington. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $3,303,881, with a median of $3,500, but the trust has since terminated after transferring its remaining assets to Blue Mountain Community Foundation. While it previously accepted requests with a letter describing the proposed use, a 501(c)(3) determination letter, and a budget, it is no longer operating.
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Estate of Joseph L Stubblefield
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United Way of the Blue Mountains
Walla Walla, WA
United Way of the Blue Mountains funds local nonprofit and community programs addressing health, education, financial stability, and related family and children’s needs across parts of Washington and Oregon. Its reported giving includes mini-grants and community grants, with $43,500 and $32,000 invested in those categories, respectively, in its 2024–2025 fiscal year; it provides application processes for these grants, but the listed deadlines have passed.
Assets
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sherwood Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sherwood-trust-morg_927565ca8a05483b90def27425bae340
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_916337526_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sherwood Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sherwood-trust-morg_927565ca8a05483b90def27425bae340},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Sherwood Trust'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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