Key Takeaways
- • The Sherwood Foundation reported revenue of $943.4 million in its fiscal year 2025 Form 990 filing, with total assets reaching $977.8 million, reflecting continued growth in its investment portfolio.
- • Operating expenses totaled $319.4 million, with grants and contributions accounting for $296.3 million (93% of spending), while administrative and operating costs represented $23.1 million (7%).
- • The foundation distributed 790 grants during the filing period, demonstrating active capital deployment across its grantmaking mandate.
- • Susan A. Buffett, founder and chair, received compensation of $585,000, while total reportable compensation across five officers and key staff reached $840,000.
- • The Sherwood Foundation maintains its active 501(c)(3) status with an IRS ruling dating to November 1999, with no revocation on record.
Summary
The Sherwood Foundation, the Omaha, Nebraska-based charitable organization founded and chaired by Susan A. Buffett, reported strong financial performance in its fiscal year 2025 Form 990 filing. The foundation recorded revenue of $943.4 million, with total assets climbing to $977.8 million, underscoring the expansion of its investment portfolio that continues to fuel its grantmaking capacity.
The foundation's expense structure reveals a highly grant-focused operational model. Of $319.4 million in total expenses, grants and contributions paid represented $296.3 million, or 93 percent of outflows, while operating and administrative costs totaled $23.1 million (7 percent). This allocation reflects the foundation's emphasis on capital deployment rather than overhead accumulation.
Operationally, the foundation distributed 790 grants during the filing period, maintaining active engagement with its charitable mandates. Compensation for the organization's leadership and key staff totaled $840,000 across five named individuals on the Form 990-PF, with Susan A. Buffett's reportable compensation listed at $585,000.
The foundation's nonprofit status remains in good standing with the IRS, which granted its ruling in November 1999. No revocation appears on the IRS Auto-Revocation List, confirming its continued eligibility as a qualified charitable foundation for donor tax purposes.
The foundation's expense structure reveals a highly grant-focused operational model. Of $319.4 million in total expenses, grants and contributions paid represented $296.3 million, or 93 percent of outflows, while operating and administrative costs totaled $23.1 million (7 percent). This allocation reflects the foundation's emphasis on capital deployment rather than overhead accumulation.
Operationally, the foundation distributed 790 grants during the filing period, maintaining active engagement with its charitable mandates. Compensation for the organization's leadership and key staff totaled $840,000 across five named individuals on the Form 990-PF, with Susan A. Buffett's reportable compensation listed at $585,000.
The foundation's nonprofit status remains in good standing with the IRS, which granted its ruling in November 1999. No revocation appears on the IRS Auto-Revocation List, confirming its continued eligibility as a qualified charitable foundation for donor tax purposes.
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