The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, established in 2001. It supports programs across the United States focused on supportive care for serious illnesses, social impact theatre, and economic opportunity through workforce development and career and technical education.
Key facts about The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
In short: The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation gave $4.8M across 82 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 47-0998912
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,773,611
- Grants made (2024)
- 82
- Average grant
- $58,215
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $7,129,796
- Primary geography
- California (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- 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. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The next Social Impact Theatre Grant Program cycle is scheduled to open in May 2027; no application deadline for that…
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.1M
+9.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.8M
+25.1% YoY
Grant Count
82
-4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
+31.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $413K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation gives
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 180% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to advance access to supportive cancer care, social impact theatre, and economic opportunity. Its website describes supportive care as whole-person support for patients with cancer or other serious illnesses and their caregivers, including clinical, emotional, and spiritual needs. In theatre, it supports work that sparks dialogue about social issues, engages audiences, and strengthens the theatre ecosystem. Its economic opportunity work focuses on workforce development and career and technical education.
Its 2024 grants included organizations working in these areas. For example, City of Hope, which received $2 million, describes its mission as serving people touched by cancer and diabetes. CareerWorks, which received $1,123,211, says it connects young adults from under-resourced communities to stable careers through free training. Theatre recipients included the Latino Theater Company, Geffen Playhouse, and Portland Center Stage; those organizations describe their work as producing and presenting theatre and engaging their communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 82 grants totaling $4,773,611. Individual grants ranged from $150 to $2 million, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $2 million to City of Hope and $1,123,211 to CareerWorks, both for general operating support. Other notable grants included $230,094 to The 5th Avenue Theatre for its Rising Star Project, and $190,000 each to Educational Service District 105 and Educational Service District 112 for career-connected learning initiatives.
The foundation’s Social Impact Theatre Grant Program provides production-specific support. Its stated eligibility requirements include nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, a sole mission of producing and presenting theatre, at least two consecutive years of bringing theatre to the community, and annual operating revenue of at least $1 million in the most recently completed fiscal year. Eligible productions must meet program requirements, including at least 15 fully produced public performances and a cast that is at least 75% professional actors. The 2026 cycle is closed; the next cycle is scheduled to open in May 2027.
Review Cycle
The next Social Impact Theatre Grant Program cycle is scheduled to open in May 2027; no application deadline for that cycle is stated.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The Social Impact Theatre Grant Program has a separate application cycle.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds programs throughout the United States. Its Social Impact Theatre Grant Program is directed to theatres in Western states. For 2024, 55% of grant dollars went to California recipients and 38% to Washington recipients; smaller shares went to recipients in the District of Columbia, Oregon, and New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $4.8M (2024). In 2024 it made 82 grants totaling $4.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was City of Hope ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
329 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 286 grants of 329 (87%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| City of Hope Duarte, CA | General Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| Careerworks Inc Seattle, WA | General Operating Support | $1,123,211 |
| The 5TH Avenue Theatre Seattle, WA | (1) description: 1,800 shares of capital one financial corporation securities (2) book value: $ 238,248 (3) method used to determine book value: average of the high/low on the date the securities were received by the foundation. (4) method used to determine fair market value: average of the high/low on the date the securities were donated. (5) date of the gift: 01/11/2024 (6) purpose:the 5th avenue theatre's rising star project | $230,094 |
| Educational Service District 105 Yakima, WA | Career Connected Learning Initiatives | $190,000 |
| Educational Service District 112 Vancouver, WA | Career Connected Learning Initiatives | $190,000 |
| Operation Hope Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Purchaser Business Group on Health San Francisco, CA | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| Latino Theater Company Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc Princeton, NJ | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Geffen Playhouse Inc Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $45,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,129,796 | $7,318,117 | $6,828,835 | $4,773,611 | 82 |
| 2023 | $6,495,377 | $802,329 | $5,317,957 | $3,815,539 | 86 |
| 2022 | $11,150,589 | $365,141 | $4,962,493 | $3,777,990 | 108 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,129,796 | $6,495,377 | $11,150,589 |
| Revenue | $7,318,117 | $802,329 | $365,141 |
| Expenses | $6,828,835 | $5,317,957 | $4,962,493 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,809,635 | $5,287,267 | $4,746,635 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,825,684 | $1,134,517 | $729,357 |
| Distributable Amount | $413,342 | $486,632 | $657,665 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sheri Biller as President and Chair and Les Biller as Secretary/Treasurer and Vice Chair. It also lists Howard Behar, Yvonne Bell, Lindsey Kozberg, John R Ohanesian, Pedro Marti, Rick Powell, and Sarah Lyding as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Audrey Haberman as its CEO.
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation is led by Sheri Biller, President & Chair since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sheri Biller
President & Chair
Chair & President → Co-Chair & President, 2023
Co-Chair & President → President & Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Howard Behar
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John R. Ohanesian
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Kozberg
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pedro Marti
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Powell
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne Bell
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Lyding
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Les Biller
Secretary, Treasurer & Vice Chair
Secretary & Treasurer → Co Chair & Secretary, 2023
Co Chair & Secretary → Secretary, Treasurer & Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alex Cappello (2020) — Director
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 400 University St Ste 300, Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: (206) 535-7543
Website: https://billerfamilyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
How much does The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation give each year?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation gave $4.8M across 82 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.8M across 86 grants.
What is The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $58,215, across 82 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation give grants?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Seattle, WA (12 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants) and San Francisco, CA (4 grants).
Does The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 91% of The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (75 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include City of Hope ($2,000,000), Careerworks Inc ($1,123,211) and The 5TH Avenue Theatre ($252,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation reported $7.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $413K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to advance access to supportive cancer care, social impact theatre, and economic opportunity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's EIN?
The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0998912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Sheri and Les Biller Family 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 October 2026.
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