The Sharks Foundation
The Sharks Foundation is a public charity based in San Jose, California. Established in 1994 as the San Jose Sharks’ official charity arm, it supports youth education and wellness programs and equitable access to hockey.
The Sharks Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sharks Foundation gave $870K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $869,710
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,415
- +35.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $847,966
- -45.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Sharks Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says Community Assist Grants are offered on a rolling basis. Applicants must be public 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the IRS for at least five years, have current status with the California Department of Justice Registry of Charitable Trusts, and serve residents of Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, and/or Santa Cruz counties. Proposed programs must have existed for at least three years, align with at least one focal area, and exclusively benefit residents of those counties. Selected applicants must be available for a site visit. The foundation does not fund political organizations, general operating deficits, fundraiser or gala sponsorships, endowments or reserve funds, PTAs, booster clubs, or donations to individuals. Faith-based organizations may apply for secular, inclusive programs aligned with its focal areas; funds may not be used for religious instruction or activities.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Mailing address: 525 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 287-7070
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sharks Foundation
Who The Sharks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Peninsula College Fund ($115K). Together the top 10 received $588K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 88 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grant guidance specifies service to residents of Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, and/or Santa Cruz counties. For filing year 2025, the reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were California 99%, Maryland 1%, and the District of Columbia 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Sharks Foundation gives
- 24% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $673K (2021) to $919K (2023). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $870K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Peninsula College Fund Milpitas, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $115,000 |
| Npower San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $115,000 |
| Braven San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $115,000 |
| Sharks Alumni Foundation San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $63,433 |
| Boys & Girls Club Silicon Valley San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Kids & Art Foundation Burlingame, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Bill Wilson Center Santa Clara, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| Local Color San Jose, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
| SF Earthquakes LGBTQ Ice Hockey Club Sacramento, CA | General Charitable Contribution | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $847,966 | $1,701,275 | $1,733,638 | $869,710 | 21 | $12,438 |
| 2024 | $1,554,941 | $1,424,811 | $1,345,729 | $854,300 | 28 | $235 |
| 2023 | $1,017,347 | $1,572,127 | $1,547,187 | $918,978 | 37 | $152 |
| 2022 | $668,276 | $1,322,204 | $1,304,825 | $906,327 | 1 | $27 |
| 2021 | $508,240 | $911,167 | $986,272 | $673,213 | 1 | $223 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to empower youth through education and wellness programs while advancing equitable access to hockey for all. Its grant guidance identifies four focal areas: healthy living for youth ages 0–18; STEAM or literacy programs in grades TK–12; education equity for young adults ages 18–26, including career pathways and job placement; and access to hockey for communities including female, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Its grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. The Peninsula College Fund says it assists low-income, underserved, often first-generation college students with educational and career goals. Bill Wilson Center describes its work as improving lives through housing, mental health care, supportive services, and advocacy. Special Olympics Northern California says it provides athletic opportunities to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $869,710. Grants ranged from $5,200 to $115,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest awards included $115,000 each to The Peninsula College Fund, NPower, and Braven, and $63,433 to Sharks Alumni Foundation. Other listed grants included $30,000 each to Boys & Girls Club Silicon Valley, Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, Kids & Art Foundation, Bill Wilson Center, Local Color, SF Earthquakes LGBTQ Ice Hockey Club, Special Olympics Northern California, and Walden West Foundation. The filing described the listed grants as general charitable contributions.
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes a 2024–25 education equity campaign with SAP that provided three $115,000 grants to NPower, The Peninsula College Fund, and Braven to assist more than 700 local first-generation college students, military veterans, and/or BIPOC individuals pursuing further education or strong first jobs. The filing also says its 2024–25 Goals for Kids program provided $29,715 to each of seven nonprofit beneficiaries.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kevin Brown as executive director; Doug Bentz as senior vice president and chief marketing officer; Glenn Martin as general manager; and Greg Matthews as chief financial officer. It lists Dan Rusanowsky, James Hamnett, Neda Tebatabaie, Erin Tucci, Allison Covey, and Brandon Weiss as board members.
The Sharks Foundation is led by Kevin Brown, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kevin Brown
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
$111K (2025)
Doug Bentz
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
President → Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Hamnett
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Neda Tebatabaie
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Rusanowksy
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allison Covey
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Weiss
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Tucci
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Glenn Martin
General Manager
Board Member → General Manager, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Matthews
Chief Financial Officer
Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Malia Bates
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Jonathan White (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Cassie McBride (2024) — Secretary
- Former: Mary Edman (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Grace Miller (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Mike McCarroll (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Heather Hooper (2023) — Director
- Former: Dan Rusanowsky (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Ken Caveney (2021–2022) — Officer
- Former: Regan Hahesy (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Rocha (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Stacy McGranor (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Cara Browning (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Wilson (2022) — Honorary Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $111K, to Kevin Brown (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Sharks Foundation
How much does The Sharks Foundation give each year?
The Sharks Foundation gave $870K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $854K across 28 grants.
What is The Sharks Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sharks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $41,415, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Sharks Foundation give grants?
The Sharks Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Jose, CA (6 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does The Sharks Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Sharks Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are The Sharks Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sharks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Peninsula College Fund ($115,000), Npower ($115,000) and Braven ($115,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sharks Foundation?
The Sharks Foundation reported $848K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What does The Sharks Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to empower youth through education and wellness programs while advancing equitable access to hockey for all. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sharks Foundation?
The foundation’s website says Community Assist Grants are offered on a rolling basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sharks Foundation's EIN?
The Sharks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0374062. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sharks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sharks Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sharks-foundation-morg_cfd45ec08a0544b9862a2352739dfc2b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_770374062_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sharks Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sharks-foundation-morg_cfd45ec08a0544b9862a2352739dfc2b},
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 The Sharks 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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