The Sharpe Family Foundation makes very large, targeted gifts to regional community foundations and intermediaries, primarily in Rhode Island and the greater Boston area. Their grants appear intended as broad charitable support or endowment-strengthening rather than project-specific funding, and they have provided repeat, multi-million-dollar gifts to the same institutions. The foundation functions as a place-based philanthropist channeling major unrestricted resources through established community foundations to support local grantmaking and charitable needs.
The Sharpe Family Foundation is notable for channeling two identical $10,733,040 charitable grants in 2025, one to the Boston Foundation and one to the Rhode Island Foundation. That pattern points to a funder that uses large, place-based gifts through established community foundations rather than dispersing small direct awards. The foundation’s recent record also shows repeat support for regional intermediaries and public charities, including Rhode Island Community Foundation, The Public's Radio, and Rhode Island Land Trust Council. Its giving is built around broad charitable support, endowment-strengthening, and local grantmaking infrastructure, with the largest gifts concentrated in New England. The foundation also backs institutions tied to education, conservation, health, and local civic life, but usually through a limited set of named organizations rather than a wide open portfolio. The overall profile is one of concentrated philanthropy: major, often recurring gifts to organizations that can deploy resources across Rhode Island and the greater Boston area. That makes the foundation especially relevant to researchers tracking intermediary grantmaking, community foundation support, and regional charitable capital.
A major theme is community-foundation strengthening. In 2024, the foundation gave $315,000 to Rhode Island Community Foundation, and in 2025 it made a $10,733,040 grant to the Rhode Island Foundation. It also supported the Boston Foundation with the same 2025 amount, reinforcing a pattern of large gifts to institutions that distribute charitable resources locally. Conservation is another visible strand. The foundation awarded $123,000 to Conservation Law Foundation in 2024, $50,000 in both 2023 and 2024 to Nature Conservancy Inc Massachusetts Chapter, and $25,000 to Environment America Research & Policy Center in 2024. Education appears through grants such as $130,000 to Concord Academy in 2023 and $120,000 to South Kent School in 2024. Local media and community services also show up, including The Public's Radio and Lowell Community Health Center.
The foundation’s grant sizes range from $2,000 at the 25th percentile to $15,000 at the median and $30,000 at the 75th percentile, even though its recent filings also include multi-million-dollar outliers. That mix suggests a structure that combines many smaller awards with a few exceptionally large charitable gifts. The data show recurring support to the same recipients across multiple years, including Rhode Island Foundation, Ceres Inc, The Public's Radio, Nature Conservancy Inc Massachusetts Chapter, Utec Inc, and South Kent School. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant list does not show an application process.
$21.5M
$8.7M
$1.8M
$21.8M
Most grants fall between $2K and $30K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$30K
About 26% of grants go to recipients in MA.
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of very large grants (multi-million-dollar) directed to regional community foundations and intermediaries, including repeat support to the same organizations rather than broad, small-dollar giving.
Notable grantees: Rhode Island Foundation, Boston Foundation, Rhode Island Community Foundation
The largest share of recent grants goes to Massachusetts recipients, with Boston, Concord, and Lowell appearing repeatedly. Rhode Island is also a major destination, especially Providence and Saunderstown, and 26% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Outside those two states, the foundation also gives in Connecticut, Maine, Washington, DC, and Colorado. Among recipient locations, Boston and Providence stand out as the most visible city hubs, reflecting a regional pattern centered on New England.
It focuses on regional community foundations, philanthropic intermediaries, and public charities serving Rhode Island and Greater Boston. Recent grants include large charitable gifts to the Boston Foundation and Rhode Island Foundation, along with support for conservation, education, local media, and community health organizations.
Yes. The same recipients appear in multiple years, including Rhode Island Foundation, Ceres Inc, The Public's Radio, Nature Conservancy Inc Massachusetts Chapter, Utec Inc, and South Kent School. That suggests a pattern of repeat support rather than one-time-only awards.
The distribution is centered at $2,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes much larger charitable gifts, including two $10,733,040 grants in 2025.
Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, with Boston, Concord, and Lowell showing up repeatedly in the recent grants list. Rhode Island is also prominent, and 26% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state.
The recent record shows community foundation support, conservation, education, and local civic or community services. Named examples include Conservation Law Foundation, Nature Conservancy Inc Massachusetts Chapter, Concord Academy, South Kent School, The Public's Radio, and Lowell Community Health Center.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTON FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $10,733,040 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION | PROVIDENCE, RI | $10,733,040 | 2025 | CHARITABLE |
| RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | PROVIDENCE, RI | $315,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $135,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $123,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SOUTH KENT SCHOOL | SOUTH KENT, CT | $120,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| CONCORD ACADEMY | CONCORD, MA | $105,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CERES INC | BOSTON, MA | $93,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE PUBLIC'S RADIO | PROVIDENCE, RI | $70,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NATURE CONSERVANCY INC MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| RHODE ISLAND LAND TRUST COUNCIL | SAUNDERSTOWN, RI | $50,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FRENCHMAN BAY CONSERVANCY | HANCOCK, ME | $42,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| UTEC INC | LOWELL, MA | $32,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ABBE MUSEUM | BAR HARBOR, ME | $30,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| ENVIRONMENT AMERICA RESEARCH & POLICY CENTER | DENVER, CO | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY | SALISBURY COVE, ME | $25,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FENN SCHOOL INC | CONCORD, MA | $23,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC | LOWELL, MA | $22,300 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $21,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| COMMUNITY SERVINGS | JAMAICA PLAIN, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MEE FOUNDATION | BINGHAMTON, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| MAINE ORGANIC FARMERS & GARDENERS ASSOCIATION | UNITY, ME | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LOWELL YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | LOWELL, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | CHRITABLE |
| EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE | SEATTLE, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY | KINGSTON, RI | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| SAVE THE BAY INC | PROVIDENCE, RI | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RI | SMITHFIELD, RI | $15,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BOSTON FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $12,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $10,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| PARTNERS IN HEALTH | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| FOUNDATION FOR FREE FLIGHT INC | DUNLAP, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| LAND INSTITUTE | SALINA, KS | $5,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST | TOPSHAM, ME | $4,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONCORD-CARLISLE COMMUNITY CHEST INC | CONCORD, MA | $4,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | ARLINGTON, MA | $3,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| EMERSON HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY | LINCOLN, RI | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| METCALF INSTITUTE | NARRAGANSETT, RI | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| THE UMBRELLA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER | CONCORD, MA | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| URI FOUNDATION | KINGSTON, RI | $2,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $2,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| GAINING GROUND | CONCORD, MA | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION | CONCORD, MA | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| MINUTE MAN ARC | CONCORD, MA | $1,500 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONCORD MUSEUM | CONCORD, MA | $1,200 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| NORTHERN FOREST CENTER | CONCORD, NH | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| CONCORD LAND CONSERVATION TRUST | CONCORD, MA | $1,000 | 2024 | CHARITABLE |
| RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION | PROVIDENCE, RI | $215,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $140,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
| CONCORD ACADEMY | CONCORD, MA | $130,000 | 2023 | CHARITABLE |
BOSTON FOUNDATION
$10,733,040CHARITABLE
RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
$10,733,040CHARITABLE
RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$315,000CHARITABLE
LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC
$135,000CHARITABLE
CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION
$123,000CHARITABLE
SOUTH KENT SCHOOL
$120,000EDUCATION
CONCORD ACADEMY
CHARITABLE
CERES INC
$93,000CHARITABLE
THE PUBLIC'S RADIO
$70,000CHARITABLE
NATURE CONSERVANCY INC MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER
$50,000CHARITABLE
RHODE ISLAND LAND TRUST COUNCIL
$50,000CHARITABLE
FRENCHMAN BAY CONSERVANCY
$42,000CHARITABLE
UTEC INC
$32,500CHARITABLE
ABBE MUSEUM
$30,000CHARITABLE
ENVIRONMENT AMERICA RESEARCH & POLICY CENTER
$25,000CHARITABLE
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY
$25,000CHARITABLE
FENN SCHOOL INC
$23,000EDUCATION
LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC
$22,300CHARITABLE
LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY
$21,000CHARITABLE
COMMUNITY SERVINGS
$20,000CHARITABLE
MEE FOUNDATION
$20,000EDUCATION
MAINE ORGANIC FARMERS & GARDENERS ASSOCIATION
$20,000CHARITABLE
LOWELL YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
$20,000CHRITABLE
EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE
$20,000CHARITABLE
RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY
$15,000CHARITABLE
SAVE THE BAY INC
$15,000CHARITABLE
AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RI
$15,000CHARITABLE
BOSTON FOUNDATION
$12,000CHARITABLE
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$10,000EDUCATION
PARTNERS IN HEALTH
$10,000CHARITABLE
FOUNDATION FOR FREE FLIGHT INC
$5,000CHARITABLE
LAND INSTITUTE
$5,000CHARITABLE
MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST
$4,500CHARITABLE
CONCORD-CARLISLE COMMUNITY CHEST INC
$4,000CHARITABLE
WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$3,000CHARITABLE
EMERSON HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC
$2,000CHARITABLE
MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY
$2,000CHARITABLE
METCALF INSTITUTE
$2,000CHARITABLE
THE UMBRELLA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER
$2,000CHARITABLE
URI FOUNDATION
$2,000EDUCATION
FRIENDS OF ACADIA
$2,000CHARITABLE
GAINING GROUND
$1,500CHARITABLE
CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION
$1,500CHARITABLE
MINUTE MAN ARC
$1,500CHARITABLE
CONCORD MUSEUM
$1,200CHARITABLE
NORTHERN FOREST CENTER
$1,000CHARITABLE
CONCORD LAND CONSERVATION TRUST
$1,000CHARITABLE
RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
$215,000CHARITABLE
LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC
$140,000CHARITABLE
CONCORD ACADEMY
$130,000CHARITABLE