I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation
The I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1943 in honor of Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy. Based in Bloomington, Minnesota, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since February 1943. The foundation is governed by the O'Shaughnessy family and distributes charitable grants to enrich communities and improve people's lives.
Key facts about I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation
- EIN
- 41-6011524
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,233,440
- Grants made (2024)
- 110
- Average grant
- $47,577
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (43 of 91, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation's 110 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (22%), Minnesota (21%) and Colorado (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (15 grants), Chicago, IL (11 grants), Minneapolis, MN (10 grants) and Denver, CO (10 grants). 20% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Lawrence M. O'Shaughnessy Memorial Grant" (5 grants) and "Membership" (4 grants).
Is I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 43 of 91 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $69K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $31K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation
- How to evaluate I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.2M
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
110
+29.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
-21.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated mission is to "share the legacy of Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy for the common good, making grants that enrich communities and improve people's lives."
While specific funding priorities are not publicly disclosed, the foundation indicates its grants are designed to enrich communities and improve people's lives, though detailed focus areas remain undisclosed.
Grantmaking
The I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaker and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation explicitly does not accept:
Grant Range
s and specific funding ranges are not publicly disclosed.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Minnesota.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 110 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $79.7 million
- Annual Revenue: $7.66 million
- Annual Expenses: $6.33 million
- Net Income: $1.32 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Annual Giving: Approximately $5.9 million (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
474 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of Notre Dame Du Lac ($442,145 across 7 grants), Boston College - City Connects ($306,000), Uchicago Impact ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOSTON COLLEGE - CITY CONNECTS Chestnut Hill, MA | SCALING AND SUSTAINING INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORT | $306,000 |
| UCHICAGO IMPACT Chicago, IL | ENHANCING CULTIVATE TO DEEPEN ITS IMPACT ON EDUCATION | $300,000 |
| BIG SHOULDERS FUND Chicago, IL | EMERGING SCHOOL LEADERS PROGRAM | $250,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS - CHICAGO Chicago, IL | EXPANSION OF CIS OF CHICAGO'S INTENSIVE STUDENT SUPPORTS PROGRAM | $175,000 |
| READING PARTNERS TWIN CITIES Saint Paul, MN | LITERACY TUTORING GROWTH AND INNOVATION TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS | $175,000 |
| TNTP New York, NY | DENVER METRO CHARTER LEADER COHORT | $175,000 |
| READING PARTNERS Wheat Ridge, CO | EXPANDING ACCESS TO LITERACY TUTORING | $150,000 |
| RESILIENT COMMUNITIES RESILITIENT FUTURE INC Denver, CO | TRAUMA INFORMED FUTURES PROJECT | $150,000 |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE OF ILLINOIS INC Wilmette, IL | MORE HOPE: BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOME HOMES | $140,000 |
| OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH Kansas City, MO | RISING RAYS PROGRAM TO PREPARE FOR KINDERGARTEN | $140,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by the O'Shaughnessy family, with multiple family members serving as officers and directors, including Patrick W O'Shaughnessy in the role of Vice President & Director.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel J O'Shaughnessy | President & Director | 2 | — |
| Elizabeth L Wysong | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Patrick W O'Shaughnessy | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Karen J O'Shaughnessy | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Brendan P O'Shaughnessy | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Lucille M O'Shaughnessy | Secretary & Director | 2 | — |
| Mary K O'Shaughnessy | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Michael J Monahan | Treasurer & Director | 2 | — |
| Erin O's Martin | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
| Connor O's Monahan | Vice President & Director | 2 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated mission is to "share the legacy of Ignatius Aloysius O'Shaughnessy for the common good, making grants that enrich communities and improve people's lives." While specific funding priorities are not publicly disclosed, the foundation indicates its grants are designed to enrich communities and improve people's lives, though detailed focus areas remain undisclosed.
How do I apply for a grant from I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation?
The I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation operates as an invitation-only grantmaker and does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation explicitly does not accept: • Public applications • Letters of inquiry • Unsolicited grant requests Grant sizes and specific funding ranges are not publicly disclosed.
Where does I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus is primarily Minnesota.
What size grants does I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation award?
In 2024, I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation awarded 110 grants totaling $5.2M — an average of about $48K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation's EIN?
I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6011524. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does I a O'Shaughnessy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.