Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation
The Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation is a private non-operating foundation based in Sheridan, Wyoming. The foundation was established to support charitable, educational, and community-focused initiatives, with a particular emphasis on scholarships and grants to individuals and organizations serving the local community.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.1M
+0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$715K
-19.4% YoY
Grant Count
14
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$51K
-30.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $855K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's activities include:
- Gifts or grants to individuals (other than scholarships)
- Scholarships and other school-related activities
- Educational support and initiatives
- Foster care and family support services
- Community development and charitable giving
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded $886,580 in total giving according to the most recent 990 filing (2023). Recent grants documented include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in Sheridan, Wyoming and the surrounding region, including Johnson County.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (as of most recent filings):
- Total assets: $15,088,894
- Total giving: $886,580
- Form 990 revenue amount: $1,104,755
- Income: $9,581,888
Tax Status:
- EIN: 237135835
- Ruling date: September 1971
- Status: Unconditional Exemption
- Organization type: Private non-operating foundation, Corporation
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,128,716 | $15,088,894 | $15,375,554 |
| Revenue | $860,863 | $714,326 | $542,711 |
| Expenses | $824,759 | $996,181 | $974,665 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $734,009 | $888,164 | $890,758 |
| Net Investment Income | $780,714 | $635,634 | $463,138 |
| Distributable Amount | $855,260 | $778,710 | $791,920 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Sheridan Memorial Hospital ($350,000), Sheridan County Senior Center ($200,000), Sheridan College ($71,580).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT AREA YOUTH | $5,000 |
| COMPASS CENTER FOR FAMILIES SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT FAMILIES | $5,000 |
| GIRL SCOUTS SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| SHERIDAN COLLEGE SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL FUNCTIONS | $71,580 |
| SHERIDAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT PUBLIC LANDS AND TRAILS | $5,000 |
| SHERIDAN COUNTY SENIOR CENTER SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT COMMUNITY SENIOR CENTER | $200,000 |
| SHERIDAN FOSTER PARENT EXCHANGE SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT FOSTER PARENTS | $20,000 |
| SHERIDAN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT HOSPITAL FUNCTIONS | $350,000 |
| SHERIDAN YOUTH BASEBALL SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT YOUTH SPORTS | $5,000 |
| ST PETERS EPISCOPAL CHURCH SHERIDAN, WY | SUPPORT CHURCH ACTIVITES | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN C HARKER | PRESIDENT | 1 | $7,200 |
| KAREN GREEN | TREASURER | 1 | $7,200 |
| RONALD J DESTEFANO | SECRETARY | 1 | $7,200 |
| ANTHONY TARVER | DIRECTOR | 1 | $7,200 |
| MARK DEMPLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $7,200 |
Contact Information
Address: 2 N Main St Ste 401, Sheridan, WY 82801-6324
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation fund?
The foundation's activities include: • Gifts or grants to individuals (other than scholarships) • Scholarships and other school-related activities • Educational support and initiatives • Foster care and family support services • Community development and charitable giving
How do I apply for a grant from Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation awarded $886,580 in total giving according to the most recent 990 filing (2023). Recent grants documented include: • $20,000 to Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange for support of foster parents (2024) • $3,000 to Valor Academy / Harvest 61 Ministries Inc for education support (2024) • $400,000 pledged to Sheridan Memorial Hospital for an MRI Suite The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program focused on local Wyoming organizations and individuals in need.
Where does Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in Sheridan, Wyoming and the surrounding region, including Johnson County.
What size grants does Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation award?
In 2024, Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation awarded 14 grants totaling $715K — an average of about $51K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation reported a distributable amount of $855K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation's EIN?
Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7135835. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vernon & Rowena Griffith Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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