The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated emphasis is private secondary schools and cultural arts, and its geographic focus is the Greater Baltimore Area, so a charity working in those fields and that area fits its profile.
- It does not make grants to individuals, so individuals should not apply, and a school seeking student financial aid should apply as the organisation rather than on a student's behalf.
- Its grants are mostly modest: half of its grants to organisations were $35,000 or less, its typical band runs from $750 to $100,000, and its largest grant was $150,000, so a request near $35,000 sits at the middle of its giving.
- Applications are due on 1 February, 1 May, 1 August or 1 November, and the first step is a letter with one copy of the proposal.
- Repeat giving is substantial, with 53% of grant dollars to organisations going to ones it had also funded in earlier filings, so a newcomer should still approach it but should know that many of its grant dollars already go to familiar grantees.
Overview
The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan Foundation is a US private foundation based in Hunt Valley, MD.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation makes grants to charitable organisations qualifying under section 501(c)(3) and located in Baltimore, Maryland and the surrounding area. Its stated emphasis is on private secondary schools and cultural arts, and grants are generally restricted to the Greater Baltimore Area. In its recorded giving, schools receive support for student financial aid, while cultural organisations receive general support; it also gives to other charitable organisations for general support. It does not make grants to individuals. Its approach is to fund organisations directly, including schools that receive funds designated for student aid, rather than to provide grants to individual students.
Themes
- Private secondary schools
- Cultural arts
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Student financial aid
Geographic Focus
Greater Baltimore Area.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
How to apply
Applicants should make their initial approach by letter and submit one copy of the proposal.
Deadlines: Applications are due four times a year, on 1 February, 1 May, 1 August and 1 November.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 53% 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 78 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation gives emphasis to private secondary schools and cultural arts.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 6% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 53% of grant dollars went to organisations The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 29 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Walters Art Museum · General support$125,0002025 tax year
- Baltimore Museum of Art · General support$125,0002025 tax year
- Archbishop Curley High School · General support$100,0002025 tax year
- Garrison Forest School · Financial aid for students$35,0002025 tax year
- Gilman School · Financial aid for students$35,0002025 tax year
- McDonogh School · Financial aid for students$35,0002025 tax year
- Notre Dame Preparatory School · Financial aid for students$35,0002025 tax year
- Roland Park Country School · Financial aid for students$35,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- John F Cavanaugh — Trustee
- Stephanie Mccormick — Trustee
- Mary H Dekuyper — Trustee
- Anne Lawrence Deering — Trustee
- Ellen Dew — Treasurer
- Scott A Wieler — Secretary
- John B Sinclair — Vice President
- Jessica S Schram — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,239,949 | $972,325 | $20,275,462 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,157,305 | $885,575 | $21,303,422 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $1,134,538 | $857,325 | $23,345,451 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (410) 771-0475
- Hunt Valley, MD
Applying to The Thomas B and Elizabeth M Sheridan Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (410) 771-0475
- Hunt Valley, MD