The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation
The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Seattle, Washington. The foundation was created by Jon A. Shirley, former President and Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft (1983-1990), and his late wife Mary Shirley, who passed away in 2013. Jon Shirley played a pivotal role in Microsoft's transformation from a 350-employee company with $50 million in revenue into a billion-dollar enterprise, overseeing the company's initial public offering in 1986 and overseeing the development of the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.4M
+50.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+7.9% YoY
Grant Count
44
-22.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$62K
+39.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for the arts, with emphasis on support for art museums. Additional funding areas include:
- Arts and cultural institutions
- Art museums
- Educational institutions
- Human services organizations addressing youth mental health
- Homelessness and community need support
- General support for select organizations
- Youth anxiety initiatives
- Visual arts support
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national giving scope with particular emphasis on:
- Seattle and Washington state
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $33,398,086
- Total revenues: $13,852,840
- Total expenses: $2,814,921
- Total distributions: $2,729,787
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) private foundation
- EIN: 94-3163120
- Tax-exempt since September 1992
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,398,086 | $22,150,872 | $23,826,249 |
| Revenue | $13,852,840 | $873,581 | $1,087,163 |
| Expenses | $2,814,921 | $2,569,520 | $3,053,637 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,729,787 | $2,534,933 | $3,016,094 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,787,046 | $846,494 | $1,053,026 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,952,321 | $1,963,464 | $2,140,521 |
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
244 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Hill School Office of Advancement ($600,000), Calder Foundation ($415,405), New York Presbyterian Fund ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KNKX TACOMA, WA | PLEDGE PAYMENT 2 OF 3 | $50,000 |
| HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR HIRSHHORN ANNUAL LUNCHEON SUPPORT AND FREE ART EDUCATION INITIATIVE | $45,000 |
| PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM LOS ANGELES, CA | 2024 MEMBERSHIP DUES | $1,944 |
| INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MOMA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL | $12,500 |
| THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT POTTSTOWN, PA | ANNUAL GIVING - THE HILL FUND $100,000 CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIRLEY QUADRIVIUM CENTER $500,000 | $600,000 |
| SEATTLE ART MUSEUM SEATTLE, WA | CALDER'S MOUNTAINS EXPENSES $105,938, CONTRIBUTORS CIRCLES 2023-2024 $100,000, STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY FUND $1,000, SPRING INTO ART 2024 SPONSORSHIP $1,500, PARTY IN THE PARK $35,000, RICE FELLOWSHIP $5,000 | $248,438 |
| TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | TRUSTEE CONTRIBUTION $25,000, NA ACQUISITIONS CMTE MEMBERSHIP 2023-2024 $15,000 | $40,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE CENTER HAMILTON, NJ | SUPPORT OF 2025 ISC STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE AWARD EXHIBITION $25,000, FOR NIGHT OF EXCELLENCE ARTIST TABLE $5,000 | $55,000 |
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM SEATTLE, WA | ONE OCEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 5 | $50,000 |
| VETSAID FALLS CHURCH, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jon A. Shirley - Director (listed as Governor in state records)
- Jerold T. Everard - Registered agent and contact representative
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JON A SHIRLEY | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 300 East Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98122
Phone: (206) 832-1480 or (425) 462-8353
Agent Contact: Jerold T. Everard
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for the arts, with emphasis on support for art museums. Additional funding areas include: • Arts and cultural institutions • Art museums • Educational institutions • Human services organizations addressing youth mental health • Homelessness and community need support • General support for select organizations • Youth anxiety initiatives • Visual arts support
How do I apply for a grant from The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 44-65 grants annually in recent years • 2024: 65 grants totaling approximately $2.7 million in distributions **Grant Sizes:** • Median grant: $25,000 • Grant range: $25,000 to $600,000 • Typical awards: $500,000–$600,000 **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Calder Foun…
Where does The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national giving scope with particular emphasis on: • Seattle and Washington state • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $62K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation's EIN?
The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3163120. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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