Sherman Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $19,300,289 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (invitation-only process)
• Grant Range: Varies widely from standard grants (~$182,000 average) to multi-million dollar transformational gifts
• Geographic Focus: Baltimore City, Maryland (with primary focus on high-poverty neighborhoods)

Contact Details

Address: 650 S Exeter St, Suite 1080, Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: 410-294-8581

Website: https://www.shermanfamfdn.org

Note: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications at this time.

Overview

The Sherman Family Foundation was established in 1995 by George and Betsy Sherman to make long-term, strategic investments in programs that help vulnerable, economically disadvantaged children and families in Baltimore achieve better outcomes. With annual giving of approximately $19.3 million (2023), the foundation focuses exclusively on education-related initiatives in Baltimore City, prioritizing early childhood education, K-12 STEM and math education, and educator pipeline development. Betsy Sherman, a former early childhood educator, leads the foundation with a vision centered on getting children "to the starting line" through comprehensive supports. Recent major grants include a transformational $21 million gift to UMBC (the largest in the university's history) and $5 million to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to expand family and educational programming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation made 106 awards in 2023, with an average grant size of approximately $182,000. However, grant sizes vary significantly:

• Standard Annual Grants: Typically initiated as single-year gifts for new partnerships
• Multi-Year Commitments: Available for organizations with demonstrated program outcomes
• Transformational Gifts: Major investments ($5-21 million) for strategic initiatives
• Sherman Family Fund: A designated fund at Baltimore Community Foundation focusing on school leadership and community-school partnerships

Application Process: Invitation-only basis

Priority Areas

Early Childhood Education

• System-wide early childhood education initiatives for Baltimore City's youngest learners and families
• Support for Judy Centers connecting families to educational, health, and social services
• Programs focused on preparing children for school success

K-12 Education

• STEM and math education programs with evidence of positive outcomes
• Educator pipeline development and teacher preparation
• School-based professional development and tutoring programs

Educator Leadership & Pipelines

• Principal coaching, mentoring, peer networking, and wellness/self-care programs
• Pipelines that identify and develop new school leaders
• Culture-building efforts that create appreciation for school leaders

Community-School Partnerships

• Intentional collaboration between students, school staff, community residents, and neighborhood associations
• Neighborhood-focused initiatives in Howard Park/Forest Park and Reservoir Hill/Penn North areas
• Projects making communities safe, clean, green, and vibrant while improving school quality

What They Fund

• General operating support for organizations with demonstrated outcomes
• Capital projects for mission-aligned organizations
• Program evaluation and research of promising interventions
• Advocacy efforts aligned to organizational priorities
• Scalable programs with compelling evidence of effectiveness

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the foundation:

• Does not accept unsolicited applications
• Focuses exclusively on Baltimore City
• Prioritizes education-related programs over other causes
• Requires programs to have evidence of positive outcomes or clear evaluation plans

Governance and Leadership

Betsy Sherman - Foundation Leader Former early childhood educator who leads the foundation with a vision of improving young people's lives by prioritizing early childhood investments and family supports. According to George Sherman, "Betsy's lifelong commitment to child advocacy drives our family's focus to improve the lives of children."

George Sherman - Co-Founder Together with Betsy, established the foundation in 1995 with a profound belief in the power of education to create better opportunities, communities, and stronger families.

Joshua L. Michael, Ph.D. - Executive Director Dr. Michael is a policy expert, educator, and civic leader specializing in improving outcomes for children through education programs. He previously served as Director of Baltimore School Partnerships with the UMBC Sherman Scholars Program and began his career teaching middle school math in Baltimore City Public Schools for six years. He holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy, Education from UMBC.

Key Quote from Betsy Sherman: "To invest in our future, we need to invest in our children. We have to give every child the opportunity to have a great start in life. Each Center is a sterling example of how a community can rise up and offer parents who don't have resources the opportunity to get their child in the game—never mind ahead of the game. If we can get these kids to the starting line, their chances of successfully getting to the finish line dramatically increase."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Sherman Family Foundation does not have a public application process. At this time, the foundation is considering applications on an invitation-only basis. Grants are awarded through:

• Invitation by Foundation Leadership: The foundation identifies and reaches out to organizations aligned with its mission
• Strategic Partnerships: Long-term relationships with organizations demonstrating results
• Trustee Discretion: Grant decisions made by foundation leadership based on strategic priorities

Grant Structure

• New Partnerships: Typically initiated through single-year gifts
• Established Partners: Multi-year gifts considered for programs and organizations with demonstrated results for program outcomes
• Requirements: Programs must have evidence of positive outcomes OR a clear theory of action with a clear plan to evaluate outcomes

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified due to invitation-only process. Decisions appear to be made on a rolling basis as the foundation identifies strategic opportunities.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public comparison, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis rather than accepting competitive applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process. Ongoing partnerships are evaluated based on demonstrated outcomes and strategic alignment.

Application Success Factors

Since the Sherman Family Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, organizations cannot apply directly. However, understanding what the foundation values can help organizations position themselves strategically:

Evidence and Outcomes Focus

The foundation "prioritizes applications for programs with evidence of positive outcomes or programs that have a clear theory of action and a clear plan to evaluate outcomes." Organizations must demonstrate:

• Compelling evidence of helping vulnerable children and families
• Clear measurement and evaluation frameworks
• Scalable program models
• Demonstrated results for program outcomes

Strategic Alignment

The foundation seeks programs that align with their "getting to the starting line" philosophy:

• Focus on high-poverty neighborhoods in Baltimore City
• Comprehensive supports for children and families
• Long-term, strategic investments rather than short-term fixes
• Public-private partnership models

Recent Funding Examples

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) - $21 million (2022) Launched the Betsy & George Sherman Center to advance excellence in urban schools, integrating teacher preparation, school partnerships, and applied research in early childhood education. The Shermans had supported UMBC's Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars program since 2006, demonstrating their commitment to long-term partnerships with proven results.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra - $5 million (2025) Expanded OrchKids program (serving 2,000+ PreK-12 students) and family programming, reflecting the foundation's interest in comprehensive educational experiences. The gift included both immediate program expansion ($3 million) and endowment support ($2 million).

Language and Terminology

The foundation emphasizes:

• "Evidence of helping vulnerable, economically disadvantaged children and their families"
• "Scalable programs"
• "Getting to the starting line" (preparing children for success)
• "Long-term, strategic investments"
• "Clear theory of action" and "plan to evaluate outcomes"
• "Community-school collaboration"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: The foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals.
• Evidence is Essential: Every program must demonstrate either proven positive outcomes or have a clear evaluation plan to measure impact.
• Baltimore City Focus: The foundation invests exclusively in Baltimore City, with particular emphasis on high-poverty neighborhoods.
• Long-Term Relationships: The foundation prefers strategic, long-term partnerships, often starting with single-year grants that evolve into multi-year commitments for organizations with demonstrated results.
• Early Childhood Priority: While supporting K-12 education broadly, the foundation places particular emphasis on early childhood interventions that prepare children for school success.
• Scalability Matters: Programs should demonstrate potential for scaling and creating systems-level change, not just serving individual students.
• Community Collaboration: The foundation values intentional partnerships between schools, families, and neighborhood communities, particularly in targeted geographic areas.

References

• Sherman Family Foundation official website: https://www.shermanfamfdn.org (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/sherman-family-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/526723302 (Accessed January 2026)
• Sherman Family Fund - Baltimore Community Foundation: https://www.bcf.org/fund/sherma/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra press release: "Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Receives $5 Million from The Sherman Family Foundation" https://www.bsomusic.org/baltimore-symphony-orchestra-receives-5-million-from-the-sherman-family-foundation-to-build-and-sustain-family-and-educational-programming/ (Accessed January 2026)
• UMBC announcement: "$21M Sherman Family Foundation Gift Supports UMBC's Bold Commitment To PreK-12 Research, Teaching, And Learning" https://umbc.edu/stories/21m-sherman-family-foundation-gift-supports-umbcs-bold-commitment-to-prek-12-research-teaching-and-learning/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Baltimore Community Foundation: "George and Betsy Sherman: Getting to the Starting Line" https://bcf.org/george-and-betsy-sherman-getting-to-the-starting-line-d16/ (Accessed January 2026)
• UMBC George & Betsy Sherman page: https://sherman.umbc.edu/about/the-shermans/ (Accessed January 2026)