Sholley Foundation
The Sholley Foundation is a private foundation based in Pennington, New Jersey. Established in 1945 in Massachusetts, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since May 1947. The foundation functions as a grantmaking entity, providing unrestricted general support to nonprofit organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$159K
+12.0% YoY
Grant Count
55
-5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+18.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sholley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $218K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations in the following areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation made 53 grants in the most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $30,000.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Rhode Island
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of April 2025)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,674,450 |
| Total Revenues | $212,924 |
| Total Expenses | $213,663 |
| Total Giving | $158,500 |
| Investment Income & Dividends | $87,952 |
Staffing
The foundation operates with zero employees.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,674,450 | $1,676,936 | $1,309,689 |
| Revenue | $212,924 | $542,787 | $73,530 |
| Expenses | $213,663 | $175,537 | $184,310 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $181,095 | $159,877 | $166,610 |
| Net Investment Income | $192,760 | $526,323 | $59,606 |
| Distributable Amount | $218,092 | $176,649 | $154,989 |
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
243 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Brigham & Womens Hospital Inc ($30,000), Commonwealth Shakespeare Company Inc ($20,000), West Falmouth Library Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOWDOIN COLLEGE BRUNSWICK, ME | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $2,500 |
| SEA THE WORLD - CIRCUIT ARTS WEST TISBURY, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $1,000 |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $5,000 |
| WBUR BOSTON UNIVERSITY BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $1,500 |
| DANA HALL SCHOOLS WELLESLEY, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $2,000 |
| MILTON ACADEMY MILTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $1,000 |
| SCHOOL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS AT TUFTS UN BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $2,500 |
| BANCROFT SCHOOL WORCESTER, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $1,000 |
| NOBLE AND GREENOUGH SCHOOL ACHIEVE DEDHAM, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $3,000 |
| ST MICHAEL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MILTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $4,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN MOYNAGH SHOLLEY | SECRETARY/TRUSTEE | 2 | $6,700 |
| J ADAM SHOLLEY | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LUCINDA SHOLLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PETER SHOLLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address PO Box 1532 Pennington, NJ 08534-0691
Telephone 888-866-3275
EIN 04-6014010
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sholley Foundation fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations in the following areas: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Sholley Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Frequency** The foundation made 53 grants in the most recent fiscal year. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $30,000. **Recent Grant Activity** Recent grantees include: • Professional Nurses Chapter of the Brigham and Women's Hospital ($30,000) • Commonwealth Shakespeare Company ($20,000) • West Falmouth Library ($10,000) All grants are designated as unrestricted general support. **Application Process** No formal application process information is available in verified so…
Where does Sholley Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Massachusetts • New York • Rhode Island
What size grants does Sholley Foundation award?
In 2025, Sholley Foundation awarded 55 grants totaling $159K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sholley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Sholley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $218K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sholley Foundation'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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