The Rhimes Foundation
The Rhimes Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. Its 2024 filing lists Shonda Rhimes as trustee. In 2024, it reported 33 grants totaling $3,328,674 to charitable organizations.
The Rhimes Foundation at a glance
In short: The Rhimes Foundation gave $3.3M across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $101K), top state Connecticut. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,328,674
- +87.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +26.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $100,869
- +47.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $26,550
- Total assets
- $8,497,167
- +26.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (6 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (48% 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 The Rhimes Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Rhimes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Southport School Inc ($1.0M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($250,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
112 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 112 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (48%), Mississippi (23%), California (10%), New York (8%), and New Hampshire (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Rhimes Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 23 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $58K; repeat grants $176K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 799% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.8M (2023) to $5.0M (2020). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Emmett Till Interpretive Center Sumner, MS | Barn Fund | $750,000 |
| The Southport School Inc Southport, CT | Southport Schools CoLab Programs | $500,000 |
| The Southport School Inc Southport, CT | Southport School's CoLab Program | $500,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $250,000 |
| Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Inc New York, NY | General & Unrestricted | $250,000 |
| Iama Theatre Company Los Angeles, CA | General & Unrestricted | $200,000 |
| Filling in the Blanks Inc Norwalk, CT | Mobile Pantry Fund | $79,922 |
| Filling in the Blanks Inc Norwalk, CT | Q3 Mobile Pantry Fund | $79,817 |
| Filling in the Blanks Inc Norwalk, CT | Q1 Mobile Pantry Fund | $78,810 |
| Civic Nation Carol Stream, IL | When We All Vote | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Rhimes Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported that its 2024 distributions from sources other than current income totaled $3,328,674, an amount equal to 25% or more of its net assets at the beginning of the taxable year, measured at fair market value. It stated that it had no plans for dissolution.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,497,167 | $5,317,310 | $3,539,983 | $3,328,674 | 33 | $3,492,173 | $139,142 | $436,979 |
| 2023 | $6,719,840 | $5,189,373 | $2,011,262 | $1,776,350 | 26 | $1,971,375 | $85,818 | $288,419 |
| 2022 | $3,541,729 | $7,910,978 | $4,587,727 | $4,425,000 | 19 | $4,564,275 | $10,864 | $80,732 |
| 2021 | $218,478 | $2,755,000 | $2,908,386 | $2,826,000 | 15 | $2,908,386 | — | $8,097 |
| 2020 | $371,864 | $5,350,225 | $5,098,241 | $5,013,000 | 19 | — | — | $18,784 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Rhimes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $437K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations in education, the performing arts, food access, and civil rights history. The Emmett Till Interpretive Center describes its mission as preserving and educating the public about civil rights history and cultural legacy. The Southport School says it provides transformative educational experiences and engages the learning-differences community. Filling in the Blanks says it aims to fight childhood hunger by providing weekend meals to children in need.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 33 grants totaling $3,328,674. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $750,000, with a median grant of $26,550. Among its largest grants were $750,000 to the Emmett Till Interpretive Center for its Barn Fund; two grants of $500,000 each to The Southport School for CoLab programs; $250,000 to Greens Farms Academy for the Vera Rhimes Scholarship Fund; $250,000 to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for general and unrestricted purposes; and $200,000 to IAMA Theatre Company for general and unrestricted purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Shonda Rhimes is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
The Rhimes Foundation is led by Shonda Rhimes, Trustee since 2022 (on filings since 2020) — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Shonda Rhimes
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Rhimes Foundation
How much does The Rhimes Foundation give each year?
The Rhimes Foundation gave $3.3M across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 26 grants.
What is The Rhimes Foundation's typical grant size?
The Rhimes Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $26,550, and its average grant was $100,869, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Rhimes Foundation that year got $58K on average.
Where does The Rhimes Foundation give grants?
The Rhimes Foundation's top state is Connecticut, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Mississippi (23%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Norwalk, CT (5 grants), Hanover, NH (5 grants), Westport, CT (5 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (4 grants).
Does The Rhimes Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 42% of The Rhimes Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Event" (6 grants).
Who are The Rhimes Foundation's largest grantees?
The Rhimes Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Southport School Inc ($1,005,000 across 3 grants), Emmett Till Interpretive Center ($750,000) and Filling in the Blanks Inc ($275,099 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($250,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Rhimes Foundation?
The Rhimes Foundation reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $437K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Rhimes Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations in education, the performing arts, food access, and civil rights history. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Rhimes Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 The Rhimes Foundation's EIN?
The Rhimes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-6544162. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Rhimes 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 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
Live grants for the work The Rhimes Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Rhimes Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Rhimes Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-rhimes-foundation-morg_3ef1b1c6640247419aa15e36d867ad8d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_816544162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Rhimes Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-rhimes-foundation-morg_3ef1b1c6640247419aa15e36d867ad8d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Rhimes 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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