George and Helena Shen Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Las Vegas, NV EIN: 45-2019336

George and Helena Shen Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Las Vegas, NV. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $619K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $38K. Net investment income was $90K.

George and Helena Shen Foundation at a glance

In short: George and Helena Shen Foundation gave $38K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$38,000
+31.0% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
4
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$9,500
+31.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$8,000
Total assets
$619,061
+53.4% vs 2024
Primary geography
California (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Who George and Helena Shen Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2025

From the Heart Foundation: $21KFrom the Heart Foundation$21KCalTech: $15KCalTech$15KSoar Foundation: $1KSoar Foundation$1KWilmington Community Evangelical Church: $1KWilmington CommunityEvangelical Church$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was From the Heart Foundation ($21K). Together the top 4 received $38K.

Grant Size Distribution

21 grants across all recorded years

21<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

OxnardPasadenaFremontCulver CityRancho Palos VerdesCambridgeHockessin

How George and Helena Shen Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 171% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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$10K$20K$30K$40K3 grants2020 4 grants2021 4 grants2022 5 grants2023 4 grants2024 4 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2020) to $38K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $38K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
From the Heart Foundation Oxnard, CAFunding films to benefi society$21,000
CalTech Pasadena, CAContribute to graduate scholarship and Visiting Professorship$15,000
Soar Foundation Fremont, CAScholarship for impoverished chuildren$1,000
Wilmington Community Evangelical Church Hockessin, DEEnhance the educational work$1,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with George and Helena Shen Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$619,061$173,308$39,271$38,0004$38,000$90,450$36,654
2024$403,431$73,561$29,442$29,0004$29,000$71,799$24,366
2023$294,708$61,519$16,826$16,5005$16,500$8,872$15,383
2022$246,121$98,761$14,563$14,0004$14,000$7,098$12,483
2021$158,329$1,397$12,701$12,5004$12,500$22,067$10,290
2020$149,523$-3,546$10,363$10,0003—$2,969$9,445

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George and Helena Shen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $37K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

George and Helena Shen Foundation is led by George C. Shen, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • George C. Shen

    President

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Su

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Su

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Helena Shen

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 George and Helena Shen Foundation

How much does George and Helena Shen Foundation give each year?

George and Helena Shen Foundation gave $38K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 4 grants.

What is George and Helena Shen Foundation's typical grant size?

George and Helena Shen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $9,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does George and Helena Shen Foundation give grants?

George and Helena Shen Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.

Does George and Helena Shen Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on George and Helena Shen Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

How large is George and Helena Shen Foundation?

George and Helena Shen Foundation reported $619K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $38K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is George and Helena Shen Foundation?

George and Helena Shen Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Las Vegas, NV. It holds $619K in total assets as of 2025.

What is George and Helena Shen Foundation's EIN?

George and Helena Shen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2019336. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 18, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 1, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in George and Helena Shen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Nevada

Caring for Colorado Foundation

Denver, CO

Caring for Colorado Foundation funds programs and systems that advance the health, well-being, and opportunities of Colorado young people and families, with a focus on youth ages 9–25 affected by health inequities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $60,000, with awards ranging from $7,999 to $1,312,834, and primarily support work benefiting Colorado communities.

Health

Assets

$253.5M

Grants

126

Total Given

$13.5M

Bee Vradenburg Foundation

Colorado Springs, CO

The Bee Vradenburg Foundation funds arts projects and organizations serving El Paso County and the Ute Pass corridor of Teller County, with priorities including arts education, emerging and underrepresented artists, and inclusive community access. Recent grants ranged from $500 to $6,500, with a median of $2,500. It accepts applications year-round, reviewed quarterly; first-time applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Executive Director before applying.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$4.1M

Grants

27

Total Given

$73K

The Colorado Health Foundation

Denver, CO

The Colorado Health Foundation funds nonprofit organizations and public agencies working to improve health and health equity in Colorado, including projects in areas such as primary care, housing, food access, and economic opportunity. Its 2024 median grant was $80,000, though awards varied widely; it prioritizes organizations serving Coloradans.

Assets

$2.9B

Grants

684

Total Given

$102.2M

The Denver Foundation

Denver, CO

The Denver Foundation supports nonprofits working in economic opportunity, environment and climate, housing, and youth well-being, with an emphasis on racial equity and historically underserved communities in the seven-county Metro Denver region. Its Community Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000; the 2024 median across reported grants was $26,500. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.3B

Grants

1,184

Total Given

$131.7M

Kelter Foundation Inc

San Francisco, CA

Assets

$361K

Grants

25

Total Given

$34K

NV Energy Charitable Foundation

Reno, NV

The foundation supports qualified public charities in the NV Energy service areas, with emphasis on environmental conservation, education, and public safety. Its 2025 grants ranged from $350 to $500,000, with a median of $7,500. It accepts unsolicited requests through a Letter of Interest process, allowing one submission per organization each calendar year.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$26.6M

Grants

207

Total Given

$4.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in Nevada

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

Figures come from George and Helena Shen 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.

George and Helena Shen Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?