The Sheppard Foundation
The Sheppard Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1984 and based in Darien, Connecticut. The foundation operates as a charitable organization focused on supporting nonprofit work across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-43.4% YoY
Grant Count
4
-76.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$279K
+140.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sheppard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants with typical award sizes ranging from $4,000 to $1,215,112. Based on the most recent filing, the foundation distributed $1,117,060 in total giving.
Ready to take the next step with The Sheppard Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in:
- Missouri
- Georgia
- Connecticut
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $0
- Total Giving: $1,117,060
The foundation has filed a final return as of 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $1,082,991 | $2,902,981 |
| Revenue | $43,044 | $160,554 | $271,013 |
| Expenses | $1,126,035 | $1,980,544 | $335,075 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,117,060 | $1,975,244 | $325,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $39,997 | $160,554 | $123,908 |
| Distributable Amount | $53,835 | $144,143 | $274,071 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The John & Lynn Sheppard Family Fd ($850,191), The John & Lynn Sheppard Family Fd ($206,869), American Red Cross ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RED CROSS FARMINGTON, CT | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| THE JOHN & LYNN SHEPPARD FAMILY FD ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE | $850,191 |
| THE JOHN & LYNN SHEPPARD FAMILY FD ST LOUIS, MO | CHARITABLE | $206,869 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH GEORG THOMASVILLE, GA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN W SHEPPARD JR | MANAGING TRU | — | — |
| J WADE SHEPPARD III | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| ANN S MORES | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 10 Davis Lane Darien, CT 06820-6229 United States
EIN: 22-6388719
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sheppard Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Sheppard Foundation?
The foundation makes grants with typical award sizes ranging from $4,000 to $1,215,112. Based on the most recent filing, the foundation distributed $1,117,060 in total giving.
Where does The Sheppard Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in: • Missouri • Georgia • Connecticut
What size grants does The Sheppard Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sheppard Foundation awarded 4 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $279K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sheppard Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sheppard Foundation reported a distributable amount of $54K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sheppard Foundation's EIN?
The Sheppard Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6388719. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sheppard Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Christine E Moser Foundation
NEW BRITAIN, CT
Assets
$767K
Grants
7
Total Given
$36K
The Ravengate Foundation
OLD GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
3
Total Given
$70K
Alderman Family Foundation
SALISBURY, CT
Assets
$33K
Grants
5
Total Given
$650
Calf Island Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$172K
Grants
1
Total Given
$10K
Russel R Taylor Foundation
GREENWICH, CT
Assets
$2.6M
Grants
3
Total Given
$224K
Nancy a Larson Foundation Inc
OLD LYME, CT
Assets
$9K
Grants
8
Total Given
$12K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Sheppard Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Sheppard Foundation to a real strategy.