The HTC Trustee Catherine D. Sharpe fund concentrates its philanthropy in greater Philadelphia cultural, medical/research, and social service institutions, with a dominant commitment to museum education. Grants repeatedly support major local nonprofits (often through multiple payments) for programmatic and capital needs, while also underwriting medical research in mental/neurological health and scholarship aid at elite universities. The foundation mixes large single-beneficiary investments with smaller operating support for community-facing social service providers.
A single museum education grant to The Franklin Institute of $13,327,168 in 2024 stands out in Htc Trustee Catherine D Sharpe’s recent record and helps define the foundation’s approach: concentrated, repeat support for a small set of Philadelphia-area institutions. The largest grants pair with ongoing awards to Pennsylvania Hospital for mental and nervous disease work, indicating a sustained interest in medical research and clinical support alongside cultural giving. Scholarship aid is another recurring thread, with parallel support to Princeton University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The pattern is not limited to one sector. The foundation also backs The Academy of Natural Sciences for maintenance, Bryn Mawr Hospital for equipment and maintenance, and community-serving organizations such as Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance and Diversified Community Services. The result is a portfolio that mixes very large program-specific gifts with mid-sized support for research, education, and social service operations. Recent grants show a clear preference for established institutions in the Philadelphia region, with repeated awards often going to the same recipients across multiple years.
Museum education is the most visible theme in the recent grants, led by $13,327,168 to The Franklin Institute in 2024 and followed by additional awards of $145,510 in 2023 and $130,022 in 2025 for museum education. The Academy of Natural Sciences also received support for maintenance, with grants of $145,510 in 2023, $133,272 in 2024, and $130,022 in 2025. In health care, Pennsylvania Hospital received $358,208 in 2024 and $352,684 in 2025 for its Department of Mental and Nervous Diseases, plus $258,423 in 2023 for primary support for research in neurosu. Scholarship aid appears at two universities: Princeton University and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania each received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for scholarship aid. Community-based support also appears through Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance for youth, family, and community development services.
Grant sizes cluster in the low-to-mid six figures, with a p25 of $66,636, a median of $130,022, and a p75 of $197,471. The record also includes one very large outlier to The Franklin Institute, which lifts the overall scale well above the typical award size. Repeated payments to the same institutions across 2023, 2024, and 2025 show a multi-year pattern rather than one-off gifts. The foundation operates through a trustee structure, with Haverford Trust Company named in leadership. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$1.4M
$30.1M
$1.8M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $67K and $197K, with a median of $130K.
25th Percentile
$67K
Median
$130K
75th Percentile
$197K
HAVERFORD TRUST COMPANY
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Highly concentrated: a majority of dollars go to a single flagship cultural institution, with frequent repeat grants across a handful of local beneficiaries. Funding blends very large multi-grant commitments to anchor institutions with modest recurring operating and program support to community social-service organizations.
Notable grantees: The Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania Hospital (mental/neurological research), Wharton School / Princeton University (scholarship aid), The Seeing Eye, The Salvation Army (PA Division)
Giving is heavily concentrated in Pennsylvania, which accounts for 71% of grants. Philadelphia is the most common recipient city, with grants to The Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania Hospital, The Academy of Natural Sciences, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and Diversified Community Services. Other Pennsylvania recipients include Bryn Mawr and Princeton is the main out-of-state city in the recent record through Princeton University in New Jersey. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation also granted to West Nyack, New York, and Morristown, New Jersey. Every recent grant listed here went to a U.S. recipient.
The recent record centers on Philadelphia-area cultural institutions, medical and research organizations, scholarship recipients at universities, and local social service providers. The Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania Hospital, The Academy of Natural Sciences, Princeton University, Wharton, and Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance all appear in the recent grants list.
Typical awards are six figures: the p25 grant size is $66,636, the median is $130,022, and the p75 is $197,471. The recent record also includes a much larger grant of $13,327,168 to The Franklin Institute.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Pennsylvania Hospital, Princeton University, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, The Franklin Institute, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Salvation Army, Bryn Mawr Hospital, The Seeing Eye Inc, Greater Philadelphia Community Alliance, and The Sharpe-strumia Research Foundation.
Pennsylvania receives 71% of the grants, and Philadelphia is the most common recipient city. Recent grants also went to Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, Princeton in New Jersey, West Nyack in New York, and Morristown in New Jersey.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PENN NEUROSURGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $234,268 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $208,238 | 2026 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| WHARTON SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $208,238 | 2026 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $138,825 | 2026 | SUGGESTED FOR USE BY MUSEUM EDUCATION |
| PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $138,825 | 2026 | DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL AND NERVOUS DISEASES |
| THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $138,825 | 2026 | FOR THE MAINTENANCE |
| DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES | DETROIT, MI | $69,413 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WEST NYACK, NY | $69,413 | 2026 | FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $69,413 | 2026 | SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE |
| THE SEEING EYE INC | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $69,413 | 2026 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $43,383 | 2026 | RESEARCH |
| PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $352,684 | 2025 | DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL AND NERVOUS DISEASES |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $195,034 | 2025 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| WHARTON SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $195,034 | 2025 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $130,022 | 2025 | FOR THE MAINTENANCE |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $130,022 | 2025 | SUGGESTED FOR USE BY MUSEUM EDUCATION |
| THE SEEING EYE INC | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $65,011 | 2025 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $65,011 | 2025 | SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE |
| GREATER PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $65,011 | 2025 | YOUTH FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WEST NYACK, NY | $65,011 | 2025 | FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION |
| THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $40,632 | 2025 | RESEARCH |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $13,327,168 | 2024 | SUGGESTED FOR USE BY MUSEUM EDUCATION |
| PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $358,208 | 2024 | DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL AND NERVOUS DISEASES |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $199,908 | 2024 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| WHARTON SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $199,908 | 2024 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $133,272 | 2024 | FOR THE MAINTENANCE |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE | BRYN MAWR, PA | $66,636 | 2024 | SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WEST NYACK, NY | $66,636 | 2024 | FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION |
| THE SEEING EYE INC | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $66,636 | 2024 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GREATER PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY ALLIANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $66,636 | 2024 | YOUTH FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES |
| THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $41,647 | 2024 | RESEARCH |
| PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL-DEPARTMENT OF NEUROSU | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $258,423 | 2023 | FOR PRIMARY SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH |
| WHARTON SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $218,265 | 2023 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | PRINCETON, NJ | $218,265 | 2023 | FOR SCHOLARSHIP AID |
| PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $155,372 | 2023 | DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL AND NERVOUS DISEASES |
| THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $145,510 | 2023 | FOR THE MAINTENANCE |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $145,510 | 2023 | SUGGESTED FOR USE BY MUSEUM EDUCATION |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WEST NYACK, NY | $74,555 | 2023 | FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION |
| THE SEEING EYE INC | MORRISTOWN, NJ | $72,755 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE OFFICE 950 | BRYN MAWR, PA | $72,755 | 2023 | SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE |
| DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $72,755 | 2023 | FOR GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE DIXON HOUSE |
| THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $22,736 | 2023 | RESEARCH |
PENN NEUROSURGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$234,268FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES
$69,413FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$69,413FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION
BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE
$69,413SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
THE SEEING EYE INC
$69,413FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$43,383RESEARCH
THE SEEING EYE INC
$65,011FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE
$65,011SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
YOUTH FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
THE SALVATION ARMY
$65,011FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION
THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$40,632RESEARCH
BRYN MAWR HOSPITAL C0 MLH FINANCE
$66,636SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
THE SALVATION ARMY
$66,636FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION
THE SEEING EYE INC
$66,636FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
YOUTH FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$41,647RESEARCH
FOR PRIMARY SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH
THE SALVATION ARMY
$74,555FOR THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF THE PA DIVISION
THE SEEING EYE INC
$72,755FOR GENERAL SUPPORT
SUGGESTED FOR USE,1/2 EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE
THE SHARPE-STRUMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
$22,736RESEARCH