Four Friends Foundation
Four Friends Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1990 and based in Albany, NY. Founded by Bob Shaye, creator of New Line Cinema, the foundation is named after the four members of Shaye's nuclear family. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a staff of 2 people and focuses on supporting innovators who shape culture and improve lives through creativity, storytelling, and artistic expression.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$35.9M
-3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+18.5% YoY
Grant Count
38
+81.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
-34.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Four Friends Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "energize young people and communities through creativity, storytelling and artistic expression." The organization believes that creativity unlocks potential and that good ideas can come from everywhere.
The foundation's primary funding focus includes:
- Creative youth development — supporting organizations that energize and inspire young people through creative expression
- Arts-based youth development — investing in opportunities for young people from under-resourced communities through the arts
- Communications capacity building — providing strategic storytelling and communications support to nonprofit partners, recognizing that 77% of nonprofit leaders cite communications as a major organizational challenge
- Storytelling and artistic expression — amplifying stories with purpose and setting innovative stories in motion
Grantmaking
Grant Range
of $23,000.
Invitation Only
** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has a national (U.S.) geographic focus, with primary grantmaking activity in New York, Michigan, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $35.9 million to $37.2 million (as of 2023)
Annual Giving: $553,000 (2023); $1,226,229 (2024)
Revenue: $250,234 (2023)
Expenses: $1,415,386 (2023)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since November 1990; EIN 95-4292739
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $35,948,394 | $37,163,929 | $38,242,758 |
| Revenue | $10,172,507 | $250,234 | $13,469,454 |
| Expenses | $1,803,694 | $1,415,386 | $769,925 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,500,816 | $1,134,649 | $603,221 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,949,995 | $8,228,811 | $3,294,027 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,053,293 | $1,752,704 | $1,264,027 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cedars Sinai Women's Guild ($110,000), Inside Out Literary Arts ($104,400), Urban Arts Partnership ($103,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTVF PTA NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ALEX HOUSE PROJECT BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $19,568 |
| AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $25,000 |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| BEAM CENTER BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| BRONX DOCUMENTARY CENTER BRONX, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| BROOKLYN YOUTH CHORUS BROOKLYN, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| CEDARS SINAI WOMEN'S GUILD WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | UNRESTRICTED | $110,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Katja Shaye — Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBERT SHAYE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| EVA SHAYE | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| KATJA SHAYE | TRUSTEE | 30 | $158,850 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation published a 2026 company update titled "Room to Dream: Website Tips from Grant Partner Zeno Mount," indicating ongoing engagement with grant partners and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
First round of 2024 grant funding addresses range of community needs | FourFrequently Asked Questions
What does Four Friends Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "energize young people and communities through creativity, storytelling and artistic expression." The organization believes that creativity unlocks potential and that good ideas can come from everywhere. The foundation's primary funding focus includes: • **Creative youth development** — supporting organizations that energize and inspire young people through creative expression • **Arts-based youth development** — investing in opportunities for young people from un…
How do I apply for a grant from Four Friends Foundation?
**Grant Program:** The foundation's flagship program is the **4Youth Grant Program**, which provides strategic storytelling and communications capacity building support, including consulting support and technical assistance. **Grant Amounts:** Grants typically range from $5,000 to $60,000, with a median grant size of $23,000. **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Activity:** In 2023, the foundation dis…
Where does Four Friends Foundation make grants?
The foundation has a national (U.S.) geographic focus, with primary grantmaking activity in New York, Michigan, and California.
What size grants does Four Friends Foundation award?
In 2024, Four Friends Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Four Friends Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Four Friends Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Four Friends Foundation's EIN?
Four Friends Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4292739. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Four Friends Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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