Sharkey Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various educational and community initiatives. Its mission focuses on enhancing youth development through funding programs related to education, health, and the arts, particularly for high school students and children. The foundation provides grants for a range of activities, including theater programs, wellness initiatives, and school nurse programs, reflecting a commitment to both educational and health-related causes. It primarily serves organizations that benefit youth and community health, with a significant emphasis on programs in the arts and education.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A community-based nonprofit with programs in education, youth development, arts, or local health services (primarily Oregon) seeking one-time or modest multi-year support in the $5K–$25K range and ideally connected to local networks or prior relationships.
Good Fit
- • Located in Oregon or serving communities in southern Oregon.
- • Programs for schools, youth arts, teen education, or school-based health services.
- • Budget requests in the observed grant range (~$5,000–$17,500).
- • Existing relationship or referral from a previous grantee or local community leader.
- • Clear, program-specific use of funds (school nurse, theater visits, youth camps).
Geography
Giving is regionally concentrated: about two thirds of dollars go to Oregon recipients while additional grants have gone to California and Washington, indicating a state/regional footprint rather than a national reach.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded 15–17 distinct independent recipients each year across three years with a mix of education, youth, arts, and health organizations, showing a broad recipient set for a small private foundation.
New Applicants
Behavior is relationship-driven with very high repeat rates (15 returning grantees in the latest year) and the foundation indicates it only funds preselected applicants; direct evidence that unfamiliar applicants can enter the portfolio is limited.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
