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The Sherman Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

The Sherman Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$575k
Granted FY2024still arriving
10
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$400k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0187% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Health$1.8MHuman Services$329kAnimals$248kHousing & Shelter$175kFood & Nutrition$128kEducation$127kPhilanthropy$113kReligion$43kOther$0
02FY2024 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k5 grants · $24k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $20k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $130k
  • $250k+1 grant · $400k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$77M
Total assets

Anchored by a single position: about 98% of reported assets are held in Investment Brookshire Investment Trust.

Largest grants
RecipientAmount
The Methodist Hospital Foundation$400,000
Restore Texas Ministries$75,000
Individual grant recipient$55,353
Individual grant recipient$10,000
COLUMBIA HILL CEMETERY ASSOC$10,000
University of NC Greensboro (In Kind)$8,550
CCFA$7,500
COLUMBUS COMM HOSPITAL$6,200
SALVATION ARMY COLUMBUS CO$1,000
ST ROCH CHURCH$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–22, $158k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%She Supply: $3k → 8%Animal Friends Rescue Project: $150k → 12%Purple Songs Can Fly: $5k → 16%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
PA
CA
VA
MD
TN
NC
DC
LA
TX
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

75%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.4M · 9 repeat orgs$781k to everyone else

9 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 6 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
29

Total granted

$2.4M
$737k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+20%
+21%

Still filing today

89%
52%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $44k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’20’21’22’23’24
HealthHuman ServicesEducationAnimalsHousing & ShelterFood & NutritionOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TM
    THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2024 · $1.7M · revenue +129%
  • GI
    GRACEWOOD INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $200k · revenue +20%
  • THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY
    3× · 2021–2023 · $93k · revenue +11%

Funded once

  • AF
    Animal Friends Rescue Project
    one grant, 2020 · $150k · revenue +4%
  • AR
    Armatus Reintegration Program
    one grant, 2020 · $100k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Feeding Texas

To lead a unified effort for a hunger-free texas.

Community Improvement
2
Houston Pets Alive

Houston Pets Alive!s (HPA!) mission is to save the lives of at-risk companion cats and dogs and find them loving homes.

Animals
3
Houston Christian Foundation dba National Christian Foundation Houston

As the Houston affiliate of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), our mission is to serve and encourage givers to grow as faithful stewards who give wisely to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

—
4
Southeast Texas Food Bank Inc

Food distribution to the hungry throughout an eight county service territory in Southeast Texas.

Human Services
5
Halo House Foundation

Halo House's mission is to help save the lives of cancer patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma by providing them with low-cost, fully furnished temporary housing while undergoing active cancer treatment at the Texas Medical…

Health
6
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
7
Central Texas Food Bank Inc

To increase food access in Central Texas by providing nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts, and transforming lives through programs, education, and innovative solutions.

Food & Nutrition
8
Carter BloodCare

Carter bloodcare saves lives by making transfusion possible.

Health
9
Memorial Hermann Medical Group

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
10
Central Texas Spca

Rescue neglected, unwanted homeless dogs and cats nurture and provide shelter until they are placed with a forever family strive to reduce animal overpopulation prevent cruelty to animals teach responsible pet ownership through an outreach…

Animals
11
Texas Children's Hospital Foundation

To create a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and research.

Health
12
Memorial Hermann Foundation

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The 100 Club Inc; the most unlike its peers is Knock Out Ms Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

24 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 24 of the 46 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
24/24
Grantees still filing
18/24
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $1,660,000 · HealthTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION+4 more: $113,540 · Health+4 moreIndividual grant recipient: $150,353 · OtherIndividual grant recip…Armatus Reintegration Program: $100,000 · OtherArmatus Reintegration …Individual grant recipient: $50,000 · OtherIndividual grant recip…The Houston Food Bank: $50,000 · OtherThe Houston Food BankSealy Christian Pantry Inc: $50,000 · OtherSealy Christian Pantry…Park Cities Quail Coalition: $50,000 · OtherPark Cities Quail Coal…Watchtower Bible and Tract: $30,000 · OtherColumbus Food Pantry Inc: $25,000 · OtherTHE 100 CLUB INC: $23,500 · Other+19 more: $111,750 · Other+19 moreRESTORE TEXAS MINISTRIES: $175,000 · EducationRESTORE TE…THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $92,950 · EducationTHE HOWARD…KNOCK OUT MS FOUNDATION: $15,000 · EducationTurtle Wing Foundation: $15,000 · EducationGRACEWOOD INC: $200,000 · Housing & ShelterAnimal Friends Rescue Project: $150,000 · Human ServicesYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $25,000 · Human Services+2 more: $8,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY: $100,000 · PhilanthropyMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $5,000 · PhilanthropyK-9 ANGELS RESCUE: $40,000 · AnimalsCitizens For Animal Protection Inc: $7,500 · Animals
Health$1,773,540Other$640,603Education$297,950Housing & Shelter$200,000Human Services$183,000Philanthropy$105,000Animals$47,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $1,660,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetGRACEWOOD INC: $200,000 over 2y, 7.5% of budgetRESTORE TEXAS MINISTRIES: $175,000 over 2y, 22% of budgetAnimal Friends Rescue Project: $150,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $92,950 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNora's Gift Foundation Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSealy Christian Pantry Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetYOUNG SURVIVAL COALITION INC: $42,500 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetK-9 ANGELS RESCUE: $40,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetYoung Men's Christian Association of the Greater Houston Area: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetColumbus Food Pantry Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetTHE 100 CLUB INC: $23,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetKNOCK OUT MS FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 1y, 25% of budgetTurtle Wing Foundation: $15,000 over 2y, 3.2% of budgetFREE WHEELCHAIR MISSION: $11,040 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCitizens For Animal Protection Inc: $7,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPurple Songs Can Fly: $5,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHE SUPPLY: $3,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetNorthshore Food Bank: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOLORADO COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Shell USA Company Fou…Greater Houston Commu…Celanese FoundationJpmorgan Chase Founda…Enterprise Holdings F…The Blackbaud Giving …The Pfizer Foundation…Network for GoodNational Philanthropi…Natl Christian Charit…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…
Shell USA Company FoundationTX17.5× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Shell USA Company Foundation · Greater Houston Community Foundation · Celanese Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Network for Good · National Philanthropic Trust · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Sherman Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Sherman Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Sherman Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Sherman Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 46 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Sherman’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home