Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Los Angeles, CA EIN: 95-4653430

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $50K. Net investment income was $32K.

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation at a glance

In short: Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation gave $50K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$50,100
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$12,525
Median grant
$7,500
Total assets
$1,396,801
Primary geography
New York (83% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Who Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

PEF Israel Endowment Fund: $32KPEF Israel Endowment Fund$32KAmerican Friends of Mayanotmayanot Institute of Jewish Studies: $10KAmerican Friends ofMayanotmayanot Institute of…$10KJewish Outreach Centerohel Ari Fund: $5KJewish Outreach Centerohel AriFund$5KGiving Group Community (A Partner of Sunflowers): $4KGiving Group Community (APartner of Sunflowers)$4K

The largest 2024 recipient was PEF Israel Endowment Fund ($32K). Together the top 4 received $50K.

Grant Size Distribution

32 grants across all recorded years

32<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 32 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkTeaneckLos AngelesPomonaSanta MonicaAgawamBostonBrooklynCedarhurstOaklandWashington

How Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation gives

  • Giving fell 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 56% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K9 grants2020 8 grants2021 11 grants2022 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2024) to $105K (2020). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $50K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
PEF Israel Endowment Fund New York, NYHumanitarian, Educational$31,500
American Friends of Mayanotmayanot Institute of Jewish Studies New York, NYHumanitarian, Educational$10,000
Jewish Outreach Centerohel Ari Fund Teaneck, NJHumanitarian, Educational$5,000
Giving Group Community (A Partner of Sunflowers) Boston, MAHumanitarian, Educational$3,600
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,396,801$89,429$73,415$50,1004$50,100$32,114$89,311
2022$1,386,168$29,670$113,704$87,50011$87,500$19,211$81,771
2021$1,470,202$46,930$80,965$74,3008$74,300$40,746$88,320
2020$1,504,237$49,456$116,843$105,2509—$37,863$85,084

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $89K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation is led by Benjamin Shapell, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Benjamin Shapell

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Shapell

    CFO & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation

How much does Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation give each year?

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation gave $50K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

What is Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's typical grant size?

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $12,525, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation give grants?

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation gives mostly in New York: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New Jersey (10%) and Massachusetts (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).

Does Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Humanitarian, Educational" (4 grants).

How large is Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation?

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $89K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What is Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's EIN?

Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4653430. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Benjamin and Susan Shapell Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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