The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation makes a small number of large, targeted grants focused on capital and project support for elite independent education, major visual-arts institutions, and civic leadership initiatives. Their giving is national rather than local, favoring transformational gifts (e.g., campus construction, major exhibitions/projects) and substantial multi-grant commitments to select organizations. The foundation appears to combine place-based philanthropists’ interests in arts patronage with strategic investments in education and public leadership.
A defining feature of The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation C/O Jerold T Everard is its willingness to make large, targeted grants for capital projects and project-specific work rather than broad, diffuse support. One of the clearest examples is the multiyear financing of The Hill School Office of Advancement in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, including funding for construction of the Shirley Quadrivium Center. The foundation also backs major visual-arts institutions through sizable commitments to the Calder Foundation and the Seattle Art Museum, including support tied to exhibitions, projects, and membership or event activity. In civic leadership, it has funded the Barack Obama Foundation and the Brennan Center for Justice. Its recent grants show a pattern of focused, high-dollar support to a relatively small set of organizations, with repeated commitments to the same recipients over multiple years. The mix of education, arts, and public affairs gives a clear picture of a funder that favors strategic, named initiatives and institutional projects over widely dispersed small grants.
Capital support for independent education is a consistent thread. The foundation gave The Hill School Office of Advancement $600,000 in 2025, combining annual giving with $500,000 for construction of the Shirley Quadrivium Center. In the arts, it supported the Calder Foundation with $415,405 in 2025, including $100,000 for the Mountains and Clouds project, and earlier gave $300,000 in 2023 for general support. Seattle-based arts institutions also appear repeatedly: Seattle Art Museum received $248,438 in 2025 for Calder’s Mountains expenses, contributors circles, strategic opportunity funding, sponsorship, and fellowship-related items. Civic and public-policy work shows up as well, with a $500,000 grant to the Barack Obama Foundation for general support and $50,000 to the Brennan Center for Justice for general support.
Typical grants are substantial: p25 is $10,000, the median is $25,000, and p75 is $50,000, but recent awards reach far above that range for construction, exhibitions, and pledge payments. The pattern is highly repeat-oriented; several recipients receive support in multiple years, including The Hill School Office of Advancement, Calder Foundation, Seattle Art Museum, New York Presbyterian Fund, and United Way of King County. The foundation is a regular funder and also funds individuals, while the recent record shows installment-style payments and designated grants alongside general support. The grant list suggests a small-number, high-commitment approach rather than broad open application funding.
$2.7M
$33.4M
$13.9M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation C/O Jerold T Everard.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 154 | $8.3M | 99.3% |
| 2 |
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Very concentrated portfolio: few but large grants, repeated support to select institutions, mix of one-time capital/project gifts and unrestricted/general support. National scope rather than broad grant distribution.
Notable grantees: The Hill School (Office of Advancement), Calder Foundation, Barack Obama Foundation
Grant dollars land most often in New York, but the record is national overall. Seattle is a major recipient city, with grants to United Way of King County, Seattle Art Museum, Henry Gallery Association Uw, Henry Gallery Association, Artist Trust, and Cascade Public Media. New York City also appears repeatedly through Calder Foundation, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York Presbyterian Fund, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Other recurring recipient locations include Pottstown, Chicago, and Baltimore, showing a mix of arts, education, health, and civic organizations across several major U.S. metros. The recipient-country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with one grant in the UK.
The recent record shows support for independent schools, visual-arts institutions, civic and policy organizations, health-related groups, and community-serving nonprofits. Examples include The Hill School Office of Advancement, Calder Foundation, Seattle Art Museum, New York Presbyterian Fund, and the Brennan Center for Justice.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants also include much larger awards, such as $500,000 for school construction and $415,405 for arts support.
Yes. The record shows multi-year support to several organizations, including The Hill School Office of Advancement, Calder Foundation, Seattle Art Museum, New York Presbyterian Fund, and United Way of King County. Some of these include pledge-payment structures over multiple years.
The foundation gives nationally, with New York as the top state by grant count. Seattle is also prominent in the recent grants list, along with New York City, Pottstown, Chicago, and Baltimore.
Yes. The foundation is marked as funding individuals, and the recent grants include artist-related support through organizations such as Artist Trust and the International Sculpture Center, which is tied to a student achievement exhibition award.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $12K |
0.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT | POTTSTOWN, PA | $600,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GIVING - THE HILL FUND $100,000 CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIRLEY QUADRIVIUM CENTER $500,000 |
| CALDER FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $415,405 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT $315,405, FOR MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS PROJECT $100,000 |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | THE CENTER FOR YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH |
| SEATTLE ART MUSEUM | SEATTLE, WA | $248,438 | 2025 | CALDER'S MOUNTAINS EXPENSES $105,938, CONTRIBUTORS CIRCLES 2023-2024 $100,000, STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY FUND $1,000, SPRING INTO ART 2024 SPONSORSHIP $1,500, PARTY IN THE PARK $35,000, RICE FELLOWSHIP $5,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR WA WOMEN IN NEED (WWIN) |
| HENRY GALLERY ASSOCIATION UW | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE PAYPMENT OF 2 OF 3 |
| INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE CENTER | HAMILTON, NJ | $55,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF 2025 ISC STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE AWARD EXHIBITION $25,000, FOR NIGHT OF EXCELLENCE ARTIST TABLE $5,000 |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | ART COLLECTION PLEDGE PAYMENT 5 OF 5 |
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | ONE OCEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 5 |
| NATIONAL REDISTRICTING FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE PAYMENT 3 OF 6 |
| THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR CHAIRMAN'S COUNCIL FOR FY 2024 |
| KNKX | TACOMA, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE PAYMENT 2 OF 3 |
| VETSAID | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION | STAMFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN | WASHINGTON, DC | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR HIRSHHORN ANNUAL LUNCHEON SUPPORT AND FREE ART EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART | LANDOVER, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | COLLECTORS COMMITTEE RENEWAL: JON & KIM |
| TATE AMERICAS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | TRUSTEE CONTRIBUTION $25,000, NA ACQUISITIONS CMTE MEMBERSHIP 2023-2024 $15,000 |
| ARTS FUND | SEATTLE, WA | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE WOMEN & THE CRITICAL EYE SUPPORT $7,500, DIRECTOR'S FUND 2024-2025 MEMBERSHIP $25,000 |
| DIA ART FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $28,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL $25,000, SPRING BENEFIT LUNCHEON SUPPORT $3,000 |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | FY24 CHAIRMAN'S COUNCIL |
| ARTIST TRUST | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND ARTISTS | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPEWELL FUND | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | Vote Forward Education Fund |
| SWEDISH MEDICAL CNETER FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE GERIATRIC CARE FUND, PLEDGE PAYMENT 3 OF 4 |
| PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | PRESTON SINGLETARY MOBILES SUPPORT |
| THE RONALD COASE INSTITUTE | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 4 STAN HERRING, SPORTS INSTITUET |
| PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY FOUNDATION | CARMEL VALLEY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TACOMA ART MUSEUM | TACOMA, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL |
| INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MOMA | NEW YORK, NY | $12,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL |
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR FELIX GONZALEZ - TORRES EXHIBIT |
| CLIMATE SOLUTIONS | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STORM KING ART CENTER | NEW WINDSOR, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| RWANDA GIRLS INITIATIVE | MEDINA, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $10,000 | 2025 | OKCMOA EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| SOLA | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRATT FINE ARTS CENTER | SEATTLE, WA | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP IN GLASS 2024-2025 |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GIFT SYSTEMS | NEW YORK, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER |
| OKLAHOMA CONTEMPORARY | OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $5,000 | 2025 | FY24 NATIONAL COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP |
| SEATTLE ART CARS | SEATTLE, WA | $4,500 | 2025 | SEATTLE ART CARS |
| STONY BROOK FOUNDATION | EAST HAMPTON, NY | $3,000 | 2025 | POLLOCK-KRASNER HOUSE MEMBER |
| PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,944 | 2025 | 2024 MEMBERSHIP DUES |
| THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT | POTTSTOWN, PA | $500,000 | 2024 | Construction of the Shirley Quadrivium Center |
| UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $250,000 | 2024 | Pledge payment five of five (Unrestricted/WWIN/RY) |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART | NEW YORK, NY | $125,000 | 2024 | FY23 Chairman's Council, for Adam D. Weinberg Artists First Fund |
| SEATTLE ART MUSEUM | SEATTLE, WA | $110,000 | 2024 | Contributors Circles and Collectors Forum 2022-2023, In support of The Emerald Birthday Party |
| NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | Youth Anxiety Center |
| THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT | POTTSTOWN, PA | $100,000 | 2024 | Annual Giving - The Hill Fund |
ANNUAL GIVING - THE HILL FUND $100,000 CONSTRUCTION OF THE SHIRLEY QUADRIVIUM CENTER $500,000
CALDER FOUNDATION
$415,405GENERAL SUPPORT $315,405, FOR MOUNTAINS AND CLOUDS PROJECT $100,000
CALDER'S MOUNTAINS EXPENSES $105,938, CONTRIBUTORS CIRCLES 2023-2024 $100,000, STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITY FUND $1,000, SPRING INTO ART 2024 SPONSORSHIP $1,500, PARTY IN THE PARK $35,000, RICE FELLOWSHIP $5,000
FOR WA WOMEN IN NEED (WWIN)
HENRY GALLERY ASSOCIATION UW
$100,000PLEDGE PAYPMENT OF 2 OF 3
INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE CENTER
$55,000SUPPORT OF 2025 ISC STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE AWARD EXHIBITION $25,000, FOR NIGHT OF EXCELLENCE ARTIST TABLE $5,000
SEATTLE AQUARIUM
$50,000ONE OCEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 5
CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA
$50,000PLEDGE PAYMENT 3 OF 6
VETSAID
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN
$45,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR HIRSHHORN ANNUAL LUNCHEON SUPPORT AND FREE ART EDUCATION INITIATIVE
TRUSTEE CONTRIBUTION $25,000, NA ACQUISITIONS CMTE MEMBERSHIP 2023-2024 $15,000
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE WOMEN & THE CRITICAL EYE SUPPORT $7,500, DIRECTOR'S FUND 2024-2025 MEMBERSHIP $25,000
DIA ART FOUNDATION
$28,000GENERAL SUPPORT FOR LEADERSHIP COUNCIL $25,000, SPRING BENEFIT LUNCHEON SUPPORT $3,000
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$25,000FY24 CHAIRMAN'S COUNCIL
INTERNATIONAL ARTS AND ARTISTS
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE GERIATRIC CARE FUND, PLEDGE PAYMENT 3 OF 4
PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET
$25,000PRESTON SINGLETARY MOBILES SUPPORT
THE RONALD COASE INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 4 STAN HERRING, SPORTS INSTITUET
TACOMA ART MUSEUM
$15,000DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF MOMA
$12,500GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL
SOLA
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GIFT SYSTEMS
$6,000SUPPORT FOR ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER
SEATTLE ART CARS
$4,500SEATTLE ART CARS
STONY BROOK FOUNDATION
$3,000POLLOCK-KRASNER HOUSE MEMBER
PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
$1,9442024 MEMBERSHIP DUES
THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
$500,000Construction of the Shirley Quadrivium Center
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART
$125,000FY23 Chairman's Council, for Adam D. Weinberg Artists First Fund
Contributors Circles and Collectors Forum 2022-2023, In support of The Emerald Birthday Party
THE HILL SCHOOL OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT
$100,000Annual Giving - The Hill Fund