The Jon and Mary Shirley Foundation
Invitation OnlySeattle, Washington · EIN 94-3163120 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$9.7M
Organizations funded50
Typical grant$25,000
Total assets$40.6M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $10,000 and $55,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
60% of grants went outside Washington.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calder Foundation | New York, NY | Mountains and Clouds Project | $4,300,000 |
| Seattle Art Museum | Seattle, WA | $250,000 for Ai Weiwei 2025 exhibition support; $100,000 for Contributors Circles 2024-2025; $2,500,000 for Connect Art to Life pledge pmt… | $2,850,000 |
| The Hill School Office of Advancement | Pottstown, PA | $100,000 for Annual Giving - The Hill Fund; $500,000 for Construction of the Shirley Quadrivium Center | $600,000 |
| United Way of King County | Seattle, WA | 2025 pledge pmt 1 of 5 plus add'l for CSN | $300,000 |
| Americares Foundation | Stamford, CT | December matching gift challenge | $100,000 |
| Henry Gallery Association Henry Art Gallery | Seattle, WA | Pledge pmt 3 of 3 | $100,000 |
| Whitney Museum of American Art | New York, NY | $50,000 for Calder Exhibition Support; $35,000 for FY25 Chairman's Council | $85,000 |
| The Museum of Modern Art | New York, NY | $50,000 for Chairman's Council for FY '25 ending June 30; $25,000 In Honor of Glenn Lowry | $75,000 |
| Hirshhorn Museum&SculptureGarden | Boston, MA | $25,000 for Annual Spring Luncheon support; $50,000 for NY Gala Vice Chair table | $75,000 |
| National Gallery of Art | Landover, MD | $50,000 for Collectors Committee anniversary gift; $20,000 for Collectors Committee renewal: Jon & Kim | $70,000 |
| Seattle Aquarium | Seattle, WA | $15,000 for General support; $50,000 for One Ocean Campaign pledge pmt 2 of 5 | $65,000 |
| Cascade Public Media | Seattle, WA | $10,000 for General support; $50,000 for Pledge pmt 4 of 6 | $60,000 |
| Tate Americas Foundation | New York, NY | $10,000 for Artists Dinner Gift towards Ghost & Spirit; $45,000 for Trustee Contribution / NA Acquisitions Cmte '24-'25 | $55,000 |
| Dia Art Foundation | New York, NY | $25,000 for Leadership Council renewal | $55,000 |
| Knkx | Tacoma, WA | Pledge pmt 3 of 3 | $50,000 |
| Seattle Times Fund for the Needy | Seattle, WA | General support | $50,000 |
| Vetsaid | Falls Church, VA | General support | $50,000 |
| International Arts and Artists | Washington DC, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| Care USA | Merrifield, VA | President Fund | $50,000 |
| National Redistricting Foundation | Washington DC, DC | General support | $50,000 |
| Benaroya Hall | Seattle, WA | Robert Rauschenberg piece resinstallation | $50,000 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Wellington, FL | Maria Salas-Shirley Stride Against Strive | $50,000 |
| Care | Atlanta, GA | General support | $50,000 |
| Artist Trust | Seattle, WA | 2025 Artist Trust Auction support | $35,000 |
| International Sculpture Center | Pittsburgh, PA | 2026 Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award | $25,000 |
| Metropolitan Museum of Art | New York, NY | Director's Fund 2025-2026 Membership | $25,000 |
| The Ronald Coase Institute | St Louis, MO | General support | $25,000 |
| Farestart | Seattle, WA | General support | $25,000 |
| Swedish Medical Center Foundation | Seattle, WA | For the Geriatric Care Fund, pledge pmt 4 of 4 | $25,000 |
| Art 21 Inc | New York, NY | Art21 Archive project support | $25,000 |
| Friends of Waterfront Park | Seattle, WA | Campaign for Waterfront Park | $25,000 |
| Hopewell Fund | Melville, NY | Vote Forward Education Fund | $25,000 |
| Pebble Beach Company Foundation | Carmel Valley, CA | In memory of Erick Shirley | $25,000 |
| University of Washington Foundation | Seattle, WA | Pledge pmt 2 of 4 Stan Herring, Sports Institute | $25,000 |
| International Council of Moma | New York, NY | 2024-25 Annual Dues / Additional contribution | $15,000 |
| Tacoma Art Museum | Tacoma, WA | Director's Circle membership renewal | $15,000 |
| Storm King Art Center | New Windsor, NY | General support | $10,000 |
| Seattle University | Seattle, WA | For SUPAC | $10,000 |
| Climate Solutions | Seattle, WA | General support | $10,000 |
| Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health | Villanova, PA | General support | $10,000 |
| Pacific Historic Parks Corporate Office | Waipahu, HI | General support | $10,000 |
| Rwanda Girls Initiative | Medina, WA | General support | $10,000 |
| The Piston Foundation | Greenwich, CT | General support | $10,000 |
| Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art | Bentonville, AR | General support | $10,000 |
| Pratt Fine Arts Center | Seattle, WA | 2025-26 Jon & Mary Shirley Scholarship in Glass | $7,500 |
| ProPublica | New York, NY | General support | $5,000 |
| Seatle Art Cars | Seattle, WA | Seattle Artcars | $4,500 |
| Stony Brook Foundation | East Hampton, NY | Pollock-Krasner House Member | $3,000 |
| Petersen Automotive Museum | Los Angeles, CA | Jon Shirley 2025 renewal tax-deductible portion | $1,420 |
| Special Olympics | Seattle, WA | General support | $500 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,656,920 | 50 |
| 2023 | $2,729,787 | 44 |
| 2022 | $2,529,808 | 57 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Jul 30, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202602119349100910
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 94-3163120
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.