The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation
Seattle, WA · EIN 94-3163120. Reported 261 grants totalling $20.2M to 99 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation told the IRS it does not accept unsolicited requests: it contributes only to organizations it selects itself.
Does this foundation accept applications?
No -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation to check a box if it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds". The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation checked it on its most recent filing, as 78% of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered did. An unsolicited request is unlikely to go anywhere.
Organizations it funds that make grants of their own
4 of the organizations The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation funded make grants themselves, and it reported 17 grants totalling $1,490,000 to them. That is 10% of the $15.0M of its giving we could match to a registered organization. Each is classified by the IRS as a philanthropy or grantmaking organization, reported grants to at least 25 organizations of its own, and has at least 10 funders behind it.
All of them file Form 990, which never asks whether an organization funds only groups it picks, so there is no answer on record either way.
What that does not mean. It does not mean an application to any of them reaches this foundation's money. A private foundation's grant to a community foundation or a federated campaign is often a donor-advised fund or a gift designated for a purpose the foundation chose, and has nothing to do with any open programme the receiving organization runs. Its return's purpose text sometimes names a family fund or a designated purpose, which is the plainest case of money no applicant can reach; where it names none, neither return says which. The list is who this foundation paid that also makes grants. Whether any of them would fund you is a question for its own page.
| Grantmaker | Kind | State | Received | Grants | Years | Last | Only funds organizations it picks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of King County | federated giving programme | Washington | $1,150,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Vetsaid Inc | grantmaking organization | Virginia | $140,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
| Hopewell Fund | grantmaking organization | District of Columbia | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 | Its form does not ask |
| Pebble Beach Company Foundation | grantmaking organization | California | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 | Its form does not ask |
A floor, not a full list. A grantmaker appears here only where this foundation's return named it clearly enough for us to match the name to an EIN, which we manage for about two thirds of 990-PF grant rows, and only where that grantmaker has a page on this site. There may be more. Dollars here are summed by EIN across every spelling on its returns, so a figure can differ from the matching row in the full list below, which groups names as written. And the IRS classification cannot tell a grantmaker from a funders' association or a donor-advised fund sponsor, so a payment to one of these may be dues or an account rather than support for a grants programme.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $4,300,000.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calder Foundation | New York, NY | $5,215,405 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Seattle Art Museum | Seattle, WA | $3,459,688 | 7 | 5 | 2024 |
| The Hill School Office of Advancement | Pottstown, PA | $2,982,500 | 9 | 5 | 2024 |
| United Way of King County | Seattle, WA | $1,150,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Barack Obama Fndn | Chicago, IL | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New York Presbyterian Fund | New York, NY | $450,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Knkx | Tacoma, WA | $400,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| The Museum of Modern Art | New York, NY | $325,000 | 6 | 5 | 2024 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | New York, NY | $310,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Artist Trust | Seattle, WA | $235,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Americares Foundation | Stamford, CT | $225,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Seattle Times Fund for the Needy | Seattle, WA | $225,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cascade Public Media | Seattle, WA | $220,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Tate Americas Foundation | New York, NY | $215,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Seattle University | Seattle, WA | $210,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| National Redistricting Foundation | Washington DC, DC | $200,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| National Gallery of Art | Landover, MD | $190,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Seattle Aquarium | Seattle, WA | $160,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Dia Art Foundation | New York, NY | $157,064 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| International Arts and Artists | Washington DC, DC | $150,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Vetsaid | Falls Church, VA | $140,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| International Sculpture Center | Hamilton, NJ | $137,500 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Care USA | Merrifield, VA | $125,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Ronald Coase Institute | St Louis, MO | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, NY | $122,500 | 6 | 5 | 2024 |
| Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden | Washington, DC | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Arts Fund | Seattle, WA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Henry Gallery Association | Seattle, WA | $110,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Brennan Center for Justice | New York, NY | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Henry Gallery Association Uw | Seattle, WA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hopewell Fund | Baltimore, MD | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Henry Gallery Association Henry Art Gallery | Seattle, WA | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maui Food Bank | Wailuku, HI | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Pebble Beach Company Foundation | Carmel Valley, CA | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hirshhorn Museum&sculpturegarden | Boston, MA | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seattle Symphony | Seattle, WA | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Swedish Medical Cneter Foundation | Seattle, WA | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Tacoma Art Museum | Tacoma, WA | $69,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| International Council of Moma | New York, NY | $64,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Benaroya Hall Attn Donor Relations | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Care | Atlanta, GA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Farestart | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Wellington, FL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New Venture Fund | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pratt Fine Arts Center | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Swedish Medical Center Foundation | Seattle, WA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Piston Foundation | Greenwich, CT | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Storm King Art Center | New Windsor, NY | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Climate Solutions | Seattle, WA | $35,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Oklahoma City Museum of Art | Oklahoma City, OK | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Bentonville, AR | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Orca Relief Citizens' Alliance | Friday Harbor, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Pacific Northwest Ballet | Seattle, WA | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Panorama Global | Seattle, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Sola | Seattle, WA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Art 21 Inc Co Development Office | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Care USA Gift Center | Merrifield, VA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Friends of Waterfront Park | Seattle, WA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hopewell Fund Attn Lockbock Department | Melville, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| International Sculpture Center | Pittsburgh, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Museum of Glass | Tacoma, WA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northwest Harvest | Seattle, WA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Seattle Children's Foundation | Seattle, WA | $20,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Gage Academy of Art | Seattle, WA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Kcts Channel 9 | Seattle, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Rwanda Girls Initiative | Medina, WA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Skystone Foundation (roden Crater) | Flagstaff, AZ | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Tate Foundation | Liverpool | $14,334 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Tate Foundation Uk | Millbank, London | $12,492 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stony Brook Foundation | East Hampton, NY | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health | Villanova, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Global Fund of Women | Washington DC, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oklahoma Contemporary | Oklahoma City, OK | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Pacific Historic Parks Corporate Office | Waipahu, HI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Saint Andrew's School | Boca Raton, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Smithsonian Institution | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seattle Art Cars | Seattle, WA | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Petersen Automotive Museum | Los Angeles, CA | $8,188 | 5 | 5 | 2024 |
| Columbia University Gift Systems | New York, NY | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Seattle Humane Society | Bellevue, WA | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bainbridge Island Museum of Art | Bainbridge Island, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwest African American Museum | Seattle, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pilchuck Glass School | Seattle, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America | Washington DC, DC | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Plymouth Housing | Seattle, WA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Propublica | New York, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shunpike | Seattle, WA | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seatle Art Cars | Seattle, WA | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Stonybrook Foundation | East Hampton, NY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Feeding America | Washington DC, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| On the Boards | Seattle, WA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Transplant House | Seattle, WA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Special Olympics | Seattle, WA | $1,600 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Rainier Scholars | Seattle, WA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Seattle Art Museum Supporters | Seattle, WA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Heart Association | Lahaina, HI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pottery Northwest | Seattle, WA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
55 of 99 (56%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 69%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one, and this foundation told the IRS it does not.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Calder Foundation
Mountains and Clouds Project - Seattle Art Museum
$250,000 for Ai Weiwei 2025 exhibition support; $100,000 for Contributors Circles 2024-2025; $2,500,000 for Connect Art to Life pledge pmt 1 of 4 - The Hill School Office of Advancement
ANNUAL GIVING - THE HILL FUND $100,000 CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIRLEY QUADRIVIUM CENTER $500,000 - United Way of King County
2025 pledge pmt 1 of 5 plus add'l for CSN - New York Presbyterian Fund
THE CENTER FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH - Whitney Museum of American Art
FY23 Chairman's Council, for Adam D. Weinberg Artists First Fund
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 170 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 56 | $2,252,192 | $25,000 |
| 2021 | 54 | $3,016,064 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 57 | $2,529,808 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 44 | $2,729,787 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 50 | $9,656,920 | $25,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
36% of its giving went to organizations in Washington.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more. Unlike this foundation, none of them is on record as funding only organizations it picks, and each page says what its filings show.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 300 E Pine St, Seattle, WA, 98122. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS.
EIN 94-3163120 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.