George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer is a private foundation based in Norfolk, Virginia. It reported $249,000 in grants to 25 organizations in filing year 2025.
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer at a glance
In short: George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer gave $249K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state Missouri. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $249,000
- +18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +31.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $9,960
- -9.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,235,670
- +7.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (6 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (36% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 531 Washington Park 1, Norfolk, VA 23517
Phone: (703) 425-5838
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Unity School of Christianity ($90K). Together the top 10 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 89 grants of 94 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Norfolk, Virginia. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri (36%), Virginia (22%), Maryland (22%), the District of Columbia (13%), and Pennsylvania (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 25 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $189K (2023) to $249K (2025). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $249K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unity School of Christianity Unity Village, MO | General Use | $90,000 |
| Church of the Epiphany Washington, DC | General Use | $20,000 |
| Food Bank of Southeast Virginia Norfolk, VA | General Use | $15,000 |
| Gabriel Project Inc Crofton, MD | General Use | $10,000 |
| House of Ruth Washington, DC | General Use | $10,000 |
| Sisters of Mary Boystowngirlstown Lanham, MD | General Use | $10,000 |
| St Andrew's Episcopal Church Norfolk, VA | General Use | $10,000 |
| UMD Catholic Student Ctr College Park, MD | General Use | $10,000 |
| 100 Entrepenuers Centerville, MD | General Use | $5,000 |
| Divine Mercy Academy Pasadena, MD | General Use | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,235,670 | $518,977 | $284,711 | $249,000 | 25 | $249,000 | $95,164 | $216,214 |
| 2024 | $3,001,404 | $117,638 | $243,811 | $210,000 | 19 | $210,000 | $83,826 | $201,267 |
| 2023 | $3,127,577 | $1,127,657 | $219,461 | $189,250 | 17 | $189,250 | $60,249 | $192,349 |
| 2022 | $2,219,381 | $125,634 | $230,575 | $191,250 | 17 | $191,250 | $29,245 | $218,006 |
| 2021 | $2,327,044 | $352,233 | $233,807 | $196,250 | 16 | — | $314,676 | $212,048 |
| 2020 | $2,205,896 | $384,421 | $223,821 | $196,250 | 17 | — | $356,146 | $185,333 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer reported a distributable amount of $216K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated work spans food assistance, housing and support services, education, disability services, and religious or spiritual activities. For example, House of Ruth says it helps women, children, and families build safe, stable lives; Hope House Foundation says it supports people with disabilities to live in their own homes and participate in the community; and Divine Mercy Academy describes its work as providing a Catholic liberal arts education. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $249,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $90,000, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $90,000 to Unity School of Christianity for general use; $20,000 to Church of the Epiphany for general use; $15,000 to Food Bank of Southeast Virginia for general use; and $10,000 each to Gabriel Project Inc, House of Ruth, Sisters of Mary BoystownGirlstown, St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, and UMD Catholic Student Ctr, each for general use. Other reported grants included $5,000 to The Urban Renewal Center, Hope House Foundation, Divine Mercy Academy, Facts About Fertility, and For Kids Inc; and $4,000 to St Joseph’s House Ltd.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Vera D Schleeter as director and James S Regan as director.
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer is led by Vera D. Schleeter, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Vera D. Schleeter
Director & President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James S. Regan
Director
On filings since 2020
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 Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer
How much does George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer give each year?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer gave $249K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $210K across 19 grants.
What is George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's typical grant size?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $9,960, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer that year got $7K on average.
Where does George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer give grants?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's top state is Missouri, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (22%) and Maryland (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Norfolk, VA (6 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants), Chesapeake, VA (2 grants) and Rockville, MD (2 grants).
Does George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's largest grantees?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's largest 2025 grantees include Unity School of Christianity ($90,000), Church of the Epiphany ($20,000) and Food Bank of Southeast Virginia ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $249K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $216K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated work spans food assistance, housing and support services, education, disability services, and religious or spiritual activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's EIN?
George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1856732. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-clarence-and-dorothy-shaffer-morg_6d05315f6133406cbf2516a713feee26
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541856732_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George Clarence \& Dorothy Shaffer funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-clarence-and-dorothy-shaffer-morg_6d05315f6133406cbf2516a713feee26},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 George Clarence & Dorothy Shaffer'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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