The Sherwood Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Sherwood Foundation funds work that helps make Nebraska a more equitable place to live, work, learn and play, with a priority on Nebraska, so only organisations working within that geographic focus and aligned with its equity theme should consider applying.
- A realistic request would sit well within the typical grant range of $20,000 to $510,000, with the median grant at $76,000, though the largest grant was about $25,000,000, showing some scope for bigger asks where fit is strong.
- The route in is an inquiry form rather than a direct application; only organisations judged closely aligned with the foundation's priorities and eligibility requirements are invited to submit a formal application, so this is a relationship-led process rather than an open competition.
- Timing matters: operating grant applications run from September 1 to September 30, while programme and capital grant applications run from February 1 to February 28, so plan submissions around these windows.
- With 83% of grant dollars going to organisations already funded in the previous two filings, newcomers should expect the inquiry stage to be the key test of fit before investing time in a full application.
Overview
The Sherwood Foundation is a US private foundation based in Omaha, NE.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Sherwood Foundation provides grants intended to help make Nebraska a more equitable place to live, work, learn, and play. It offers operating grants for an organisation’s work broadly, unrestricted for expenditures supporting its mission; programme grants support a specific programme within an organisation and are restricted to that programme. Capital grants support land purchase and/or construction for new buildings, renovation on existing buildings or grounds, and significant equipment or other long-term asset purchases. Organisations share information about their work through an inquiry form, and those aligned with the foundation’s funding priorities and eligibility requirements may be invited to submit a formal application.
Themes
- Equity
Geographic Focus
Priority: Nebraska.
How to apply
Organisations can first share information through the Inquiry Form. If there is alignment, a programme team member contacts them with next steps and a potential invitation to apply.
Deadlines:
- Operating Grants: September 1 to September 30.
- Program Grants: February 1 to February 28.
- Capital Grants: February 1 to February 28.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 83% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 2,142 grants to organisations were $76,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The team assesses submissions for alignment with its funding priorities and follows up with organisations demonstrating strong alignment.
- Applicants that appear aligned may be invited to a brief conversation to discuss potential fit in greater detail.
- Formal applications are invited from organisations closely aligned with the foundation’s funding priorities and eligibility requirements.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 12% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to organisations The Sherwood Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 17% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 790 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $90,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Omaha Community Foundation · Omaha north stadium/butler gast ymca project$15,106,5822025 tax year
- Buffett Early Childhood Fund · 2025 operating grant$15,100,0002025 tax year
- Buffett Early Childhood Fund · 2025 operating grant$15,089,7062025 tax year
- Southside Redevelopment Corporation · Cni funding$15,004,3812025 tax year
- Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County · Donation of property$10,304,7342025 tax year
- Rise Academy · Omaha campus capital grant$10,026,8602025 tax year
- Girls Incorporated of Omaha · New south center capital grant$7,006,9722025 tax year
- Community Information Trust · Omaha central public library project$5,579,8902025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Emily Greenberg — Member
- Michael Greenberg — Member
- Richard Putnam — Secretary & Legal Counsel
- Shari Lecci — VP Of Finance
- Susan A Buffett — Chairman
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $209,446,530 | $196,929,490 | $459,948,692 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $267,908,764 | $256,149,756 | $716,342,304 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $319,391,186 | $296,341,131 | $977,795,342 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to The Sherwood Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required