2027 SHERWOOD TRUST

Grant Guidelines

Sherwood Trust seeks to invest competitive grants in qualified nonprofit and community initiatives that support our vision and values and are an organization’s most pressing priority. Grant seekers are strongly encouraged to discuss their grant proposal prior to submitting.

Sherwood Trust is a private foundation founded in 1991 to continue the legacy of Donald and Virginia Sherwood’s efforts to make the Walla Walla Valley a better place. To date, Sherwood Trust has invested more than $41 million to strengthen nonprofits and support communities in Walla Walla and Columbia counties in Washington and Milton-Freewater, Oregon.

See current and previous grant partners.

OUR VISION

Everyone in the Walla Walla Valley has a sense of belonging and contributes to a thriving region. Sherwood Trust serves as a catalyst for building capacity, creating a cohesive, vibrant community.

OUR VALUES

Collaboration
Empathy
Equity
Excellence
Integrity
Sustainability

For more information about grant
opportunities or to discuss your proposal,
email Brian Hunt or call 509.529.2791.

Download Grant Guidelines

APPLY FOR A GRANT

Core Grant Guidelines

Sherwood Trust’s Core Grant decision-making is guided by our eligibility requirements, giving principles and core values, as detailed below. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review grant guidelines and discuss their grant proposal with Sherwood Trust staff in advance of submitting a request.

Email Brian Hunt or call 509.529.2791 to review your plans to apply.

Sherwood Trust seeks to invest in programs and initiatives that support our mission and values and strengthen an organization’s most important priority. These generally fall within three major categories:

Capacity grants support nonprofit organizations and can include expanding service or operations, or funding for specific innovations or projects that strengthen an organization’s resiliency and ability to fulfill its ongoing mission
Community grants support qualifying neighborhood and community-based projects that generally include a public agency
Capital grants support improvements to facilities or physical property

Grant Eligibility
Requirements

Applicant organizations must be registered tax-exempt organizations or fiscally sponsored by tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a public agency.
Applications must be submitted by or with an organization serving communities in Walla Walla and Columbia counties in Washington and Milton-Freewater, Oregon.
Applications should be consistent with Sherwood Trust’s vision and values.
We ask that organizations or collaborative projects that have previously received a grant from Sherwood Trust allow two intervening years from receipt of funds before applying for another Core Grant. For example, an organization or collaborative project that received funding in 2026 will be eligible to apply again in 2029.

Sherwood Trust
Giving Principles

Private philanthropy is a strategic activity. We consider our grantmaking to be a long-term investment and we strive to ensure that grants support achievable, measurable results.
An organization’s operational model and its execution is critical to achieving its mission. Sherwood Trust grants favor effective organizations that demonstrate strong leadership, competent management, strategic innovation and a record of achieving tangible results.
Sherwood Trust invests in organizations whose work directly supports our vision that everyone here has a sense of belonging and can contribute to our thriving region. We seek to support transformative investments that support local people working together toward stronger, more equitable communities.
Sherwood Trust seeks applicants with diverse funding sources so that Sherwood Trust is not providing the majority of the request. Sherwood Trust prefers to fund final grant dollars.

Additional
Considerations

Core grants are awarded in a highly competitive process. Grant funding provided is restricted per the application request and/or grant agreement. Sherwood Trust reserves the right to rescind grant funds not allocated specifically per the grant application and/or grant agreement.

Competitive grant proposals seeking funds for scholarships, event sponsorship, door prizes, raffles or to benefit an individual will not be accepted.

APPLY FOR A GRANT

Core Grant Timelines

Sherwood Trust’s competitive Core grants process includes three steps: a Letter of Interest (LOI), Application, and Site Visit. Trustees determine which LOIs move forward to the Application phase. Application evaluation includes a site visit to the applying organization. Funding is awarded in June, pending signed grant agreements.

All grant requests are submitted through our online grant portal. Please contact us if you need technical assistance. Manual submissions will not be considered.

Grant Portal

Step 1

LETTER OF INTEREST

February 3

Letter of Interest (LOI) final deadline. We strongly encourage organizations to contact Sherwood Trust to discuss their proposal in advance.

February 19

Applicants will be notified if LOI is approved for application process. All applications include a required site visit discussion.

Step 2

APPLICATION

March 3

Deadline for Core Grant Application. Early submissions are welcome.

March 19

Requests for supporting materials will be made as applicable.

Step 3

SITE VISIT

March – April

Site visits and due diligence completed.

GRANTS ARE ANNOUNCED EACH JUNE.

Letter of Interest and Application questions are available on our grant platform. Core Grant online applications include the following:

Detailed project proposal with budget, including other income sources
Key goals to be achieved
Organization overview, including current organizational staffing
Financial overview, including current annual budget and three years of past financial statements