Wilson Sheehan Foundation
The Wilson Sheehan Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2014 and based in Springfield, Ohio. Founded by Chris and Lorraine (Sheehan) Wilson, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to investing in people and organizations working to create meaningful change in communities.
Key facts about Wilson Sheehan Foundation
- EIN
- 32-6266976
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,706,306
- Grants made (2025)
- 79
- Average grant
- $135,523
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $65,686,603
- Primary geography
- Indiana (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not consider requests for scholarships, mass funding appeals, or sponsorships.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Wilson Sheehan Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Wilson Sheehan Foundation's 79 itemized 2025 grants were Indiana (40%), Ohio (16%) and Pennsylvania (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Springfield, OH (22 grants), Columbus, OH (6 grants), Dayton, OH (5 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants). 11% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$65.7M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$10.7M
-2.7% YoY
Grant Count
79
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$136K
-5.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wilson Sheehan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To ensure more people get the opportunity to build a fulfilling life by investing in organizations that help prevent and alleviate poverty.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education
- Economic mobility
- Thriving families and children
The foundation seeks out visionary changemakers and works to understand and support what they need most. The organization emphasizes curiosity, commitment to rigorous study of results, and values trust and transparency in its grantmaking approach.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not consider requests for scholarships, mass funding appeals, or sponsorships.
Grant Range
$25,000
Average Grant
amount: $130,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Wilson Sheehan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, which account for 59% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 23 states, with concentration in Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 79 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (Most Recent Data):
- Total assets: $65.7 million (2024)
- Annual income: $37.4 million
- Total giving: $10.7 million (2025)
- Total expenses: $6.6 million (2024)
- Total liabilities: $19.3 million (2023)
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $9.3 million in 2012 to $65.7 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,686,603 | $59,701,254 | $63,234,860 |
| Revenue | $17,743,530 | $9,463,097 | $18,076,267 |
| Expenses | $8,423,545 | $6,576,807 | $8,860,924 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $11,195,511 | $11,485,780 | $11,250,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,577,895 | $4,348,958 | $9,565,470 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,836,913 | $3,580,102 | $3,133,021 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
345 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include University of Notre Dame ($4,000,000), The Drexel Funds (dba the Drexel Fund) ($1,275,635), World Vision ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME NOTRE DAME, IN | ENDOWMENT OF EXCELLENCE | $4,000,000 |
| THE DREXEL FUNDS (DBA THE DREXEL FUND) PHILADELPHIA, PA | MULTIPLE SCHOOLS GRANT, OPERATIONS 2024-27 | $1,275,635 |
| WORLD VISION FEDERAL WAY, WA | ZAMBIA WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) | $500,000 |
| MODERN CLASSROOMS PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | SCALING CURRICULUM-EMBEDDED SOLUTIONS | $333,334 |
| PER SCHOLAS COLUMBUS, OH | BUILDING CAPABILITIES TO SCALE EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS | $333,333 |
| ROCKING HORSE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER SPRINGFIELD, OH | JAMES E. SHEEHAN HEALTH BUS | $315,533 |
| CORNER TO CORNER NASHVILLE, TN | THE ACADEMY: INVITATION INTO SUSTAINING PARTNERSHIP | $300,000 |
| PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS NEW YORK, NY | EXPANDING THE IMPACT OF PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS IN CLEVELAND AND BEYOND | $300,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA ALEXANDRIA, VA | LIFTING NEW MOTHERS OUT OF POVERTY | $207,573 |
| CRISTO REY NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | UNIVERSITY PARTNERS: MAXIMIZING IMPACT | $190,881 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Christopher E. Wilson – Trustee (15 hours/week, unpaid)
- Lorraine Wilson – Trustee (15 hours/week, unpaid)
- Maureen S. Massaro – Executive Director (40 hours/week, $219,000 annual compensation)
- Andrea O'Connor – Grants Manager (40 hours/week, $87,000 annual compensation)
The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees and operates with 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER E WILSON | TRUSTEE | 15 | — |
| LORRAINE WILSON | TRUSTEE | 15 | — |
| MAUREEN S MASSARO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $219,250 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Wilson Sheehan Foundation received the Greater Springfield Partnership's Community Impact Award, recognizing the foundation's contributions to the community. The foundation's investments are supported by partnerships with nonprofit leaders across its funded organizations, including the Springfield Museum of Art, Clark County Park District, and Rocking Horse Community Health Center.
Local nonprofit fellowships funded by Wilson Foundation - Olean Times HeraldSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wilson Sheehan Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To ensure more people get the opportunity to build a fulfilling life by investing in organizations that help prevent and alleviate poverty. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education • Economic mobility • Thriving families and children The foundation seeks out visionary changemakers and works to understand and support what they need most. The organization emphasizes curiosity, commitment to rigorous study of results, and values trust and transparency in its grantmaking approach.
How do I apply for a grant from Wilson Sheehan Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Median grant size: $25,000 • Grant range: $500 to $4,000,000 • Average grant amount: $130,000 • Total grants made: 509 grants totaling $66.3 million (across available records) • Recent annual giving: $10.7 million (2025 data) **Application Process:** The foundation does not consider requests for scholarships, mass funding appeals, or sponsorships. **Recent Grantees Include:** • World Vision (Zambia Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) - $500,000 • Saint Mary's College (Student …
Where does Wilson Sheehan Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois, which account for 59% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 23 states, with concentration in Ohio.
What size grants does Wilson Sheehan Foundation award?
In 2025, Wilson Sheehan Foundation awarded 79 grants totaling $10.7M — an average of about $136K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wilson Sheehan Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Wilson Sheehan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wilson Sheehan Foundation's EIN?
Wilson Sheehan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-6266976. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wilson Sheehan 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.