Wilson Sheehan Foundation

The Wilson Sheehan Foundation ("WS") is a Springfield, Ohio-based private family foundation (EIN 32-6266976, IRS ruling August 2014) founded by Chris and Lorraine (Sheehan) Wilson. Its mission is to expand opportunity by investing in organizations that help prevent and alleviate poverty, with a three-way focus on (1) education, (2) economic mobility, and (3) thriving families and children. The Foundation frames its grantmaking as "investments" rather than grants, emphasizing that it partners with leaders whose work is "innovative, replicable and supported by research." This language reflects the founder's Notre Dame connection — Chris Wilson (former Stonehill Capital executive) chairs the board of Notre Dame's Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), which pairs top researchers with social-sector leaders to identify scalable anti-poverty programs. Expect proposals with strong logic models, outcome metrics, and (ideally) third-party evaluation to fare best. The Foundation explicitly does NOT fund: individual scholarships, mass funding appeals, sponsorships, advertising for fundraising events, emergency relief, non-domestic projects, individuals, or political activity. Unsolicited proposals are accepted, but the website states "the vast majority of our investments are sourced through trusted advisors and personal contacts" — a warm introduction remains the highest-probability path.

Wilson Sheehan is a rapidly growing foundation. Assets have climbed from $40.4M (2019) → $52.4M (2021) → $57.3M (2022) → $63.2M (2023), with the most recent ProPublica filing (tax period ending June 2025) showing $65.7M in assets and $37.4M income. Revenue ranged from $6.5M to $18.1M over recent years, reflecting both investment performance and ongoing family contributions. The Foundation's published "FYe 2025 grants awarded" list (on wilsonsheehan.org/investments) names dozens of grantees, including notable anti-poverty, education, and faith-based organizations: Alice Lloyd College, All-In Milwaukee, Artists for Humanity, Better Together, The BlinkNow Foundation, Bottom Line Chicago, Bottom Line Ohio, The Braxton Miller Foundation, Brooklyn Jesuit Prep, CarePortal, Clark County Ohio Catholic Central School, Catholic Charities USA, Center for the Rights of Abused Children, Choosing Hope Adoptions, Corner to Corner, Covenant Freedom School, Crayons to Classrooms, Cristo Rey Columbus High School, Cristo Rey Network, and many more. The James E. Sheehan Health Bus (run by Rocking Horse Community Health Center in Springfield, Ohio) is a flagship local initiative conceived directly by the Foundation. Applications are divided into two tiers: $10K or less uses a "Streamlined Applicant Process"; above $10K uses the "First Time Applicant Process." Grants clearly span both small ($10K-ish) and substantial multi-hundred-thousand-dollar commitments.

Wilson Sheehan is a mid-to-upper-tier family foundation in the anti-poverty / opportunity space. Peer comparison:

Wilson Sheehan is distinguished by (1) its explicit preference for research-backed programs via the LEO Notre Dame partnership, (2) its unusual rolling-intake policy with no fixed deadlines, (3) its two-tier application structure keyed to grant size, and (4) its clear Catholic education / Cristo Rey affinity alongside secular anti-poverty work. Among Ohio-based funders, its $65.7M asset base makes it a meaningful player but well below institutional giants like the Cleveland Foundation.

As of April 23, 2026, the Wilson Sheehan Foundation website is active and up-to-date, displaying a fiscal-year-end 2025 (FYe 2025) grantee list with dozens of funded organizations. The most recent ProPublica filing covers the tax period ending June 2025 with $65.7M in assets and $37.4M in income — the largest asset base in the Foundation's history. The website confirms current priorities unchanged: education, economic mobility, thriving families and children. Featured initiatives highlighted include the James E. Sheehan Health Bus (Springfield, Ohio local program with Rocking Horse Community Health Center and Second Harvest Food Bank) and a robust national portfolio including Cristo Rey Network schools, Bottom Line chapters, BlinkNow, CarePortal, and multiple Catholic education organizations. The grant portal is live at wilsonsheehan.org (Grantee Login). The FAQ confirms the Foundation accepts applications year-round with no deadline.

Wilson Sheehan has one of the cleanest, most transparent application processes among family foundations this size — but selectivity is high. Specific tips:

1. Start at the FAQ (https://wilsonsheehan.org/faq). It definitively rules in/out your organization type, size, and geography. Don't skip this step. 2. Confirm 501(c)(3) status is fully granted before applying — pending status is an automatic disqualifier per the FAQ. 3. Align your narrative with the Foundation's exact priority triad: poverty prevention/alleviation through education, economic mobility, or thriving families and children. Avoid pitching work that drifts into excluded categories (scholarships, sponsorships, fundraising events, emergency relief, international work). 4. Route by grant size. If requesting $10,000 or less, use the "Streamlined Applicant Process." If requesting over $10,000, use the "First Time Applicant Process." Using the wrong form signals carelessness. 5. Emphasize evidence and measurement. The Wilson Sheehan / Notre Dame LEO partnership telegraphs a strong preference for research-backed interventions with scalable outcomes. A logic model, baseline data, and third-party evaluation (if available) significantly strengthen applications. 6. If your work aligns with Catholic education, Cristo Rey-style schools, or the Sheehan family's Springfield, Ohio roots, call out that alignment explicitly — these are visible themes in the FYe 2025 grantee list. 7. Returning grantees: submit your previous-year annual report BEFORE requesting a new grant. The Apply page is explicit that this is a prerequisite. 8. Pursue a warm introduction via a current grantee, Notre Dame LEO, or a regional advisor — the website acknowledges most investments come through trusted referrals, not the cold-application pile. 9. Keep applications concise and outcomes-focused. Visionary changemakers whose "talent and passion shine" is the stated ideal — show leadership capacity and a clear theory of change, not just need.