David S Shapira Foundation
The David S. Shapira Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It invests in ideas, organizations, programs, and people that demonstrate strong social impact, with a particular interest in building enduring commitment to Jewish life, Jewish learning, and Israel among young Jews.
David S Shapira Foundation at a glance
In short: David S Shapira Foundation gave $1.9M across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $55K), top state Pennsylvania. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,855,978
- -56.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- -61.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $54,588
- +13.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $21,250
- Total assets
- $3,142,590
- +10.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (8 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (40% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to David S Shapira Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Joshua Donner
Mailing address: PO Box 38683, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: (412) 336-8820
Email: inquiries@shapirafdn.org
Website: https://shapirafdn.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David S Shapira Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hillel International ($600K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
344 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 269 grants of 344 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Pittsburgh. In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania (40%), Washington, DC (35%), New York (11%), California (7%), and Massachusetts (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is David S Shapira Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 26 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $43K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 62% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2024) to $4.9M (2021). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hillel International Washington, DC | Springboard Fellowship | $500,000 |
| Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Capital Project | $267,220 |
| Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies New York, NY | Capital Project | $138,145 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Hillel International Washington, DC | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Community Day School Pittsburgh, PA | General Operating | $90,500 |
| Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | General Operating | $90,000 |
| Moishe House Encinitas, CA | Jewish Learning Collabortive | $79,451 |
| Eradicate Hate Pittsburgh, PA | General Operating | $75,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | General Operating | $70,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,142,590 | $2,032,115 | $2,127,836 | $1,855,978 | 34 | $2,098,187 | $2,466 | $67,733 |
| 2023 | $2,842,045 | $4,445,130 | $4,503,139 | $4,222,127 | 88 | $4,431,123 | $43,986 | $54,335 |
| 2022 | $2,665,845 | $4,095,058 | $4,523,307 | $4,208,915 | 80 | $4,490,999 | $12,750 | $55,968 |
| 2021 | $3,331,257 | $4,790,005 | $5,132,138 | $4,859,615 | 70 | $5,126,796 | $34,663 | $76,109 |
| 2020 | $3,521,994 | $4,013,108 | $3,777,150 | $3,433,243 | 72 | — | $39,208 | $67,467 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David S Shapira Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to invest energy and financial capital in work that demonstrates strong returns on social impact. It emphasizes Jewish life, Jewish learning, and Israel, while applying the same approach to social-benefit work beyond the Jewish nonprofit sector.
Its 2024 grants included Jewish educational and community organizations, universities, and initiatives addressing food recovery and hate. For example, Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh describes its mission as educating Torah-observant students who love the Jewish people and the land of Israel; Community Day School says it aims to raise proud Jews, confident leaders, and accomplished learners. Moishe House describes its work as providing Jewish community, learning, and leadership for young adults. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $1,855,978. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $500,000, with a median grant of $21,250. Its largest grants included:
The foundation’s 2024 filing says contributions are made only to approved qualified charitable organizations. It lists Joshua Donner as the contact for applying, states that there are no deadlines, and lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David S. Shapira as chairman, Cynthia Shapira as president, and Joshua Donner as executive director. It also lists Louis Plung, Steve Halpern, and Deborah Shapira as members.
David S Shapira Foundation is led by Joshua Donner, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joshua Donner
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$175K (2024)
Cynthia Shapira
President
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David S. Shapira
Chairman
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis Plung
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Shapira
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Halpern
Member
Treasurer → Member, 2024
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles C. Cohen (2020) — Secretary
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $175K, to Joshua Donner (Exec DIR).
Frequently asked questions about David S Shapira Foundation
How much does David S Shapira Foundation give each year?
David S Shapira Foundation gave $1.9M across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.2M across 88 grants.
What is David S Shapira Foundation's typical grant size?
David S Shapira Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $21,250, and its average grant was $54,588, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from David S Shapira Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does David S Shapira Foundation give grants?
David S Shapira Foundation's top state is Pennsylvania, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (35%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (15 grants), Washington, DC (4 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Encinitas, CA (2 grants).
Does David S Shapira Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 76% of David S Shapira Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are David S Shapira Foundation's largest grantees?
David S Shapira Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hillel International ($600,000 across 2 grants), Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh ($357,220 across 2 grants) and Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies ($158,145 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is David S Shapira Foundation?
David S Shapira Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David S Shapira Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to invest energy and financial capital in work that demonstrates strong returns on social impact. It emphasizes Jewish life, Jewish learning, and Israel, while applying the same approach to social-benefit work beyond the Jewish nonprofit sector. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David S Shapira Foundation?
David S Shapira Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check shapirafdn.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is David S Shapira Foundation's EIN?
David S Shapira Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1711993. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). David S Shapira Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/david-s-shapira-foundation-morg_43ae0f30fe7e46e0a4b7c44e5947775b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251711993_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{David S Shapira Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/david-s-shapira-foundation-morg_43ae0f30fe7e46e0a4b7c44e5947775b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from David S Shapira 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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