The Sherman Family Foundation
The Sherman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Mission Woods, Kansas. Its 2024 filing shows grants supporting education, children’s literature, community outreach, and recovery services, with most grant dollars going to organizations in Missouri.
The Sherman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sherman Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 116 grants in 2024 (avg $47K), mostly in Missouri. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,494,474
- +4.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 116
- +0.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $47,366
- +3.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $39,657,521
- +1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (15 of 115, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (88% 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 Sherman Family 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: 2000 Shawnee Mission Parkway 320, Mission Woods, KS 66205-3606
Phone: (913) 258-2203
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sherman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Schoolsmart KC ($508K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
535 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 384 grants of 535 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri and 10% to recipients in Kansas. Massachusetts received 2%; Louisiana and Tennessee each accounted for less than 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 116 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sherman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 115 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 207% 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 $4.9M (2020) to $5.6M (2021). In 2024 it made 116 grants totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schoolsmart KC Kansas City, MO | To Support Wide-Based Efforts to Improve Area Schools. | $508,143 |
| Cristo Rey Kansas City Kansas City, MO | To Support Education at an Accredited School. | $450,408 |
| Rockhurst High School Kansas City, MO | To Further Education at an Accredited School. | $351,012 |
| Umkc Foundation Kansas City, MO | To Support Urban Education. | $275,494 |
| The Rabbit Hole North Kansas City, MO | To Support Children's Literature. | $250,000 |
| Operation Breakthrough Kansas City, MO | To Support Early Childhood Education. | $185,892 |
| Teach for America Kansas City, MO | To Support Education Programs and Promote Teacher Training. | $150,000 |
| National World War I Museum and Memorial Kansas City, MO | To Support Educational Programs for Youth. | $120,000 |
| Cornerstones of Care Kansas City, MO | To support educational programs at a non-traditional accredited school. | $100,595 |
| Welcome House Inc Kansas City, MO | Provide Residential and Recovery Services for Men. | $100,594 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sherman Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $39,657,521 | $6,716,826 | $6,274,544 | $5,494,474 | 116 | $5,994,367 | $3,992,614 | $2,901,367 |
| 2023 | $39,005,248 | $2,769,846 | $5,944,440 | $5,267,845 | 115 | $5,686,063 | $1,561,976 | $2,625,953 |
| 2022 | $41,548,194 | $14,481,973 | $6,242,875 | $5,533,458 | 122 | $5,962,709 | $2,278,165 | $2,219,022 |
| 2021 | $33,124,617 | $5,674,676 | $6,239,111 | $5,578,221 | 93 | $5,960,845 | $5,470,435 | $2,579,190 |
| 2020 | $34,482,696 | $3,888,169 | $5,433,454 | $4,895,136 | 89 | — | $3,710,857 | $2,233,286 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sherman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated areas of focus include early childhood, K–12 education, and children, youth, and families. Its 2024 grants include support for early childhood education, teacher training, urban education, and educational programs for youth.
Grantee missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Cristo Rey Kansas City describes its work as providing Catholic college-preparatory education to culturally diverse students with economic need. Operation Breakthrough says it provides a safe, loving, and educational environment for children in poverty while empowering their families. The UMKC Foundation says it supports academic programs and educational opportunities at the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Other 2024 recipients include a children’s literature organization, a World War I museum and memorial, and organizations providing recovery or community services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 116 grants totaling $5,494,474. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $508,143, with a median of $20,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $508,143 to SchoolSmart KC to support wide-based efforts to improve area schools; $450,408 to Cristo Rey Kansas City to support education at an accredited school; $351,012 to Rockhurst High School to further education at an accredited school; and $275,494 to the UMKC Foundation to support urban education. Other notable grants included $250,000 to The Rabbit Hole for children’s literature, $185,892 to Operation Breakthrough for early childhood education, and $150,000 to Teach For America for education programs and teacher training.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John Sherman as foundation manager; Mary Sherman as president and foundation manager; Amy Donnelly as director; Elizabeth Allen as executive director; and Joseph Allen as treasurer.
The Sherman Family Foundation is led by Elizabeth Allen, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Allen
Executive Director
Program Officer → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $105K (2024)
Mary Sherman
President - Foundation Manager
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Donnelly
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Allen
Treasurer
Vice President of Programs → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $76K (2024)
John Sherman
Foundation Manager
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $105K, to Elizabeth Allen (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sherman Family Foundation
How much does The Sherman Family Foundation give each year?
The Sherman Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 116 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.3M across 115 grants.
What is The Sherman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sherman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $47,366, across 116 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sherman Family Foundation that year got $68K on average.
Where does The Sherman Family Foundation give grants?
The Sherman Family Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Kansas City, MO (80 grants), Kansas City, KS (6 grants), Overland Park, KS (6 grants) and Lawrence, KS (3 grants).
Does The Sherman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 116 grants with a stated purpose on The Sherman Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Education at an Accredited School." (9 grants), "To Support Education Programs." (5 grants) and "To Support Programs for Youth." (4 grants).
Who are The Sherman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sherman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Schoolsmart KC ($508,143), Cristo Rey Kansas City ($450,408) and Rockhurst High School ($351,012), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sherman Family Foundation?
The Sherman Family Foundation reported $39.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sherman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated areas of focus include early childhood, K–12 education, and children, youth, and families. Its 2024 grants include support for early childhood education, teacher training, urban education, and educational programs for youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sherman Family 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 Sherman Family Foundation's EIN?
The Sherman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5667031. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Sherman 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sherman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sherman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sherman-family-foundation-morg_bb8c1e4f13d343ce9c635f81b58f06f9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205667031_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sherman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sherman-family-foundation-morg_bb8c1e4f13d343ce9c635f81b58f06f9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Sherman Family 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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