Sholley Foundation
The Sholley Foundation is a private foundation based in Pennington, New Jersey. In its 2026 filing, it reported 60 grants totaling $190,500 to charitable organizations, including a hospital, arts organizations, schools, a library, and a college.
Sholley Foundation at a glance
In short: Sholley Foundation gave $191K across 60 grants in 2026 (avg $3K), mostly in Massachusetts. 23% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $190,500
- +20.2% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 60
- +9.1% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $3,175
- +10.2% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $1,719,331
- +2.7% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (14 of 60, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (67% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sholley Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1532 Aft, Pennington, NJ 08534
Phone: (888) 866-3275
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sholley Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Brigham & Womens Hospital Inc ($30K). Together the top 10 received $116K.
Grant Size Distribution
279 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 279 grants of 279 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2026, Massachusetts organizations received 67% of grant dollars, followed by Rhode Island (12%), Florida (6%), Maine (4%), and New York (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sholley Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 14 of 60 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 75% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving grew 28% from 2023 to 2026. Method
- In 2026 it paid out 88% 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 (2021–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $112K (2021) to $191K (2026). In 2026 it made 60 grants totaling $191K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brigham & Womens Hospital Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $30,000 |
| Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $20,000 |
| Coolidge Corner Theatre Fdn Inc Brookline, MA | Unrestricted General | $12,500 |
| San Miguel School Providence, RI | Unrestricted General | $12,500 |
| West Falmouth Library Inc West Falmouth, MA | Unrestricted General | $10,000 |
| Falmouth Academy Inc Falmouth, MA | Unrestricted General | $7,500 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | Unrestricted General | $7,000 |
| Theater Offensive Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $6,000 |
| Chapoquoit Yacht Club West Falmouth, MA | Unrestricted General | $5,000 |
| Friends of WLRN Miami, FL | Unrestricted General | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,719,331 | $270,610 | $232,198 | $190,500 | 60 | $212,138 | $247,052 | $240,321 |
| 2025 | $1,674,450 | $212,924 | $213,663 | $158,500 | 55 | $181,095 | $192,760 | $218,092 |
| 2024 | $1,676,936 | $542,787 | $175,537 | $141,500 | 58 | $159,877 | $526,323 | $176,649 |
| 2023 | $1,309,689 | $73,530 | $184,310 | $148,500 | 53 | $166,610 | $59,606 | $154,989 |
| 2022 | $1,417,558 | $192,927 | $175,127 | $140,000 | 53 | $159,534 | $177,217 | $174,271 |
| 2021 | $1,400,145 | $46,365 | $144,607 | $112,000 | 43 | — | $42,723 | $150,753 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sholley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $240K for 2026 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as health care, arts and culture, education, and community services. For example, West Falmouth Library describes its mission as maintaining a welcoming, accessible historic library and serving community educational, cultural, social, and informational needs. The Theater Offensive describes its mission as presenting art by, for, and about queer and trans people of color.
Grantmaking
In 2026, the foundation reported 60 grants totaling $190,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $30,000, with a median of $1,250. The largest reported grants included $30,000 to Brigham & Women’s Hospital, $20,000 to Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, and $12,500 each to Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation and San Miguel School. These grants were designated for unrestricted general support.
Other 2026 grantees included West Falmouth Library ($10,000), Falmouth Academy ($7,500), Bowdoin College ($7,000), and The Theater Offensive ($6,000). The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Joan Moynagh Sholley as secretary and trustee, J Adam Sholley as president and trustee, and Lucinda Sholley and Peter Sholley as trustees.
Sholley Foundation is led by J. Adam Sholley, President & Trustee on every filing since 2021; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
J. Adam Sholley
President & Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Moynagh Sholley
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$7K (2021) → $7K (2026)
Lucinda Sholley
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Sholley
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mary Kathleen O'Connell (2021) — Treasurer & Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $7K, to Joan Moynagh Sholley (Secretary/Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Sholley Foundation
How much does Sholley Foundation give each year?
Sholley Foundation gave $191K across 60 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $159K across 55 grants.
What is Sholley Foundation's typical grant size?
Sholley Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $1,250, and its average grant was $3,175, across 60 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sholley Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Sholley Foundation give grants?
Sholley Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Rhode Island (12%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (7 grants), Great Barrington, MA (5 grants), Boston, MA (4 grants) and West Falmouth, MA (4 grants).
Does Sholley Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sholley Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (60 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sholley Foundation's largest grantees?
Sholley Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Brigham & Womens Hospital Inc ($30,000), Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Inc ($20,000) and Coolidge Corner Theatre Fdn Inc ($12,500), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Sholley Foundation?
Sholley Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $212K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $240K (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 Sholley Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants show support for organizations working in areas such as health care, arts and culture, education, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sholley Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sholley Foundation's EIN?
Sholley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6014010. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
Does Sholley Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 10, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sholley Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sholley-foundation-morg_d2cdbf7c89b44417b88ea0f87e3b4be2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046014010_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sholley Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sholley-foundation-morg_d2cdbf7c89b44417b88ea0f87e3b4be2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Sholley 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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