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    5. Sharpe Family Foundation

    Sharpe Family Foundation

    ActiveMutual & Membership Benefit
    SAUNDERSTOWN, RI4012742001EIN: 13-62084223 filings on record
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    About Sharpe Family Foundation

    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.

    Focus Areas

    Unrestricted/endowment support for New England community foundationsPlace-based philanthropy focused on Rhode Island (Saunderstown region) and Greater BostonFunding intermediaries that distribute local charitable grants and servicesLarge capital or general charitable gifts to public charities rather than direct-service nonprofits

    Who They Fund

    regional community foundations (e.g., Rhode Island Foundation, Boston Foundation)local philanthropic intermediaries that distribute grantspublic charities serving Rhode Island and Greater Boston (indirect beneficiaries)

    About Sharpe Family Foundation

    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.

    What Sharpe Family Foundation Funds

    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.

    How Sharpe Family Foundation Gives

    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.

    Financial Snapshot

    Annual Giving

    $21.5M

    Total Assets

    $8.7M

    Total Revenue

    $1.8M

    Total Expenses

    $21.8M

    Typical Grant Size

    Most grants fall between $2K and $30K, with a median of $15K.

    25th Percentile

    $2K

    Median

    $15K

    75th Percentile

    $30K

    Geographic Reach

    Regional11 states funded

    About 26% of grants go to recipients in MA.

    Funding intensity
    Low
    High
    Headquarters

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    residents of Rhode Island/Saunderstown region and Greater Boston (indirect)

    Giving Approach

    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.

    Funding Style

    place-based philanthropyunrestricted/endowment supportfunding intermediaries/community foundationslarge-capital/general operating giftsconcentrated/recurring multi-million-dollar grants

    Notable grantees: Rhode Island Foundation, Boston Foundation, Rhode Island Community Foundation

    Topics

    regional community foundation strengthening (New England)endowment-strengthening for public charitiesintermediary grantmaking supportplace-focused support for Rhode Island (Saunderstown) and Greater Bostonchanneling major resources for local grantmaking

    Where Sharpe Family Foundation Makes Grants

    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.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Sharpe Family Foundation

    What kinds of organizations does The Sharpe Family Foundation support?

    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.

    Does The Sharpe Family Foundation give recurring grants?

    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.

    What is the typical grant size?

    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.

    Where does the foundation give most often?

    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.

    What focus areas are visible in the recent grants?

    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.

    Latest 990 Filing

    2025

    Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.

    Recent Grants

    Most recent grants reported to the IRS.

    RecipientLocationAmountYearPurpose
    BOSTON FOUNDATIONBOSTON, MA$10,733,0402025CHARITABLE
    RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATIONPROVIDENCE, RI$10,733,0402025CHARITABLE
    RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONPROVIDENCE, RI$315,0002024CHARITABLE
    LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INCWASHINGTON, DC$135,0002024CHARITABLE
    CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATIONBOSTON, MA$123,0002024CHARITABLE
    SOUTH KENT SCHOOLSOUTH KENT, CT$120,0002024EDUCATION
    CONCORD ACADEMYCONCORD, MA$105,0002024CHARITABLE
    CERES INCBOSTON, MA$93,0002024CHARITABLE
    THE PUBLIC'S RADIOPROVIDENCE, RI$70,0002024CHARITABLE
    NATURE CONSERVANCY INC MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTERBOSTON, MA$50,0002024CHARITABLE
    RHODE ISLAND LAND TRUST COUNCILSAUNDERSTOWN, RI$50,0002024CHARITABLE
    FRENCHMAN BAY CONSERVANCYHANCOCK, ME$42,0002024CHARITABLE
    UTEC INCLOWELL, MA$32,5002024CHARITABLE
    ABBE MUSEUMBAR HARBOR, ME$30,0002024CHARITABLE
    ENVIRONMENT AMERICA RESEARCH & POLICY CENTERDENVER, CO$25,0002024CHARITABLE
    MOUNT DESERT ISLAND BIOLOGICAL LABORATORYSALISBURY COVE, ME$25,0002024CHARITABLE
    FENN SCHOOL INCCONCORD, MA$23,0002024EDUCATION
    LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INCLOWELL, MA$22,3002024CHARITABLE
    LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRYPROVIDENCE, RI$21,0002024CHARITABLE
    COMMUNITY SERVINGSJAMAICA PLAIN, MA$20,0002024CHARITABLE
    MEE FOUNDATIONBINGHAMTON, NY$20,0002024EDUCATION
    MAINE ORGANIC FARMERS & GARDENERS ASSOCIATIONUNITY, ME$20,0002024CHARITABLE
    LOWELL YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAMLOWELL, MA$20,0002024CHRITABLE
    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVESEATTLE, WA$20,0002024CHARITABLE
    RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEYKINGSTON, RI$15,0002024CHARITABLE
    SAVE THE BAY INCPROVIDENCE, RI$15,0002024CHARITABLE
    AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RISMITHFIELD, RI$15,0002024CHARITABLE
    BOSTON FOUNDATIONBOSTON, MA$12,0002024CHARITABLE
    BROWN UNIVERSITYPROVIDENCE, RI$10,0002024EDUCATION
    PARTNERS IN HEALTHBOSTON, MA$10,0002024CHARITABLE
    FOUNDATION FOR FREE FLIGHT INCDUNLAP, CA$5,0002024CHARITABLE
    LAND INSTITUTESALINA, KS$5,0002024CHARITABLE
    MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUSTTOPSHAM, ME$4,5002024CHARITABLE
    CONCORD-CARLISLE COMMUNITY CHEST INCCONCORD, MA$4,0002024CHARITABLE
    WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATIONARLINGTON, MA$3,0002024CHARITABLE
    EMERSON HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INCCONCORD, MA$2,0002024CHARITABLE
    MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETYLINCOLN, RI$2,0002024CHARITABLE
    METCALF INSTITUTENARRAGANSETT, RI$2,0002024CHARITABLE
    THE UMBRELLA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTERCONCORD, MA$2,0002024CHARITABLE
    URI FOUNDATIONKINGSTON, RI$2,0002024EDUCATION
    FRIENDS OF ACADIABAR HARBOR, ME$2,0002024CHARITABLE
    GAINING GROUNDCONCORD, MA$1,5002024CHARITABLE
    CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATIONCONCORD, MA$1,5002024CHARITABLE
    MINUTE MAN ARCCONCORD, MA$1,5002024CHARITABLE
    CONCORD MUSEUMCONCORD, MA$1,2002024CHARITABLE
    NORTHERN FOREST CENTERCONCORD, NH$1,0002024CHARITABLE
    CONCORD LAND CONSERVATION TRUSTCONCORD, MA$1,0002024CHARITABLE
    RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATIONPROVIDENCE, RI$215,0002023CHARITABLE
    LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INCWASHINGTON, DC$140,0002023CHARITABLE
    CONCORD ACADEMYCONCORD, MA$130,0002023CHARITABLE

    BOSTON FOUNDATION

    $10,733,040
    BOSTON, MA2025

    CHARITABLE

    RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

    $10,733,040
    PROVIDENCE, RI2025

    CHARITABLE

    RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

    $315,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC

    $135,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2024

    CHARITABLE

    CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION

    $123,000
    BOSTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    SOUTH KENT SCHOOL

    $120,000
    SOUTH KENT, CT2024

    EDUCATION

    CONCORD ACADEMY

    $105,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    CERES INC

    $93,000
    BOSTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    THE PUBLIC'S RADIO

    $70,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    NATURE CONSERVANCY INC MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER

    $50,000
    BOSTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    RHODE ISLAND LAND TRUST COUNCIL

    $50,000
    SAUNDERSTOWN, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    FRENCHMAN BAY CONSERVANCY

    $42,000
    HANCOCK, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    UTEC INC

    $32,500
    LOWELL, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    ABBE MUSEUM

    $30,000
    BAR HARBOR, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    ENVIRONMENT AMERICA RESEARCH & POLICY CENTER

    $25,000
    DENVER, CO2024

    CHARITABLE

    MOUNT DESERT ISLAND BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY

    $25,000
    SALISBURY COVE, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    FENN SCHOOL INC

    $23,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    EDUCATION

    LOWELL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER INC

    $22,300
    LOWELL, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    LOAVES & FISHES FOOD PANTRY

    $21,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    COMMUNITY SERVINGS

    $20,000
    JAMAICA PLAIN, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    MEE FOUNDATION

    $20,000
    BINGHAMTON, NY2024

    EDUCATION

    MAINE ORGANIC FARMERS & GARDENERS ASSOCIATION

    $20,000
    UNITY, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    LOWELL YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

    $20,000
    LOWELL, MA2024

    CHRITABLE

    EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE

    $20,000
    SEATTLE, WA2024

    CHARITABLE

    RHODE ISLAND NATURAL HISTORY SURVEY

    $15,000
    KINGSTON, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    SAVE THE BAY INC

    $15,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    AUDUBON SOCIETY OF RI

    $15,000
    SMITHFIELD, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    BOSTON FOUNDATION

    $12,000
    BOSTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    BROWN UNIVERSITY

    $10,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2024

    EDUCATION

    PARTNERS IN HEALTH

    $10,000
    BOSTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    FOUNDATION FOR FREE FLIGHT INC

    $5,000
    DUNLAP, CA2024

    CHARITABLE

    LAND INSTITUTE

    $5,000
    SALINA, KS2024

    CHARITABLE

    MAINE COAST HERITAGE TRUST

    $4,500
    TOPSHAM, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    CONCORD-CARLISLE COMMUNITY CHEST INC

    $4,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

    $3,000
    ARLINGTON, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    EMERSON HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION INC

    $2,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    MASSACHUSETTS AUDUBON SOCIETY

    $2,000
    LINCOLN, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    METCALF INSTITUTE

    $2,000
    NARRAGANSETT, RI2024

    CHARITABLE

    THE UMBRELLA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

    $2,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    URI FOUNDATION

    $2,000
    KINGSTON, RI2024

    EDUCATION

    FRIENDS OF ACADIA

    $2,000
    BAR HARBOR, ME2024

    CHARITABLE

    GAINING GROUND

    $1,500
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION

    $1,500
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    MINUTE MAN ARC

    $1,500
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    CONCORD MUSEUM

    $1,200
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    NORTHERN FOREST CENTER

    $1,000
    CONCORD, NH2024

    CHARITABLE

    CONCORD LAND CONSERVATION TRUST

    $1,000
    CONCORD, MA2024

    CHARITABLE

    RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

    $215,000
    PROVIDENCE, RI2023

    CHARITABLE

    LAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC

    $140,000
    WASHINGTON, DC2023

    CHARITABLE

    CONCORD ACADEMY

    $130,000
    CONCORD, MA2023

    CHARITABLE