Jacob S Shapiro Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Baltimore, MD EIN: 52-6072215

The Jacob S Shapiro Foundation is a private foundation based in Baltimore, Maryland, established in 1947. The foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization focused on supporting education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services primarily across Maryland, New York, and Florida.

Key facts about Jacob S Shapiro Foundation

EIN: 52-6072215
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $241,821
Grants made (2024): 38
Average grant: $6,364
Median grant: $2,000
New grantees (estimate): 11% first-time grantees (4 of 38, 2024)
Total assets: $3,932,839
Primary geography: Maryland (67% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals: No
How to apply: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 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 Jacob S Shapiro Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Jacob S Shapiro Foundation's 38 itemized 2024 grants were Maryland (67%) and Ohio (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (25 grants) and Owings Mills, MD (2 grants). 71% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Jacob S Shapiro Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 4 of 38 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $7K. How we count

Medians: $750 first-time, $2K repeat.

89% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

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 Jacob S Shapiro Foundation

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$3.9M

+6.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$242K

-3.8% YoY

Grant Count

+8.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

-11.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jacob S Shapiro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $251K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$250–$132,650

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and cities, including:

Maryland (primary focus, particularly Baltimore and Annapolis)
New York
Florida
Additional states: Alabama, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania

Grant Distribution by State

Maryland $162K (67%)

Ohio $65K (27%)

Florida $8K (3%)

Alabama $4K (2%)

New York $1K (1%)

All other $2K (1%)

Share of all 38 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Alabama Florida Massachusetts Maryland Missouri New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania

Cities

BaltimoreOwings MillsSarasotaBrooklandvilleHudsonKansas CityMontgomeryNew YorkPittsburghPoughkeepsieAnnapolisBostonBrooklynDeerfield BeachIthacaPortland

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total assets: $3,932,839
Total revenues: $401,808
Total expenses: $325,479
Investment income and dividends: $114,645
Number of employees: 0

Giving rate: Approximately 6.4% of assets annually

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$3,932,839	$3,679,263	$3,855,785
Revenue	$401,808	$340,294	$321,947
Expenses	$325,479	$332,906	$370,525
Qualifying Distributions	$243,511	$253,292	$278,150
Net Investment Income	$322,840	$263,726	$238,102
Distributable Amount	$251,408	$242,525	$254,471

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 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

181 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Associated Jewish Community Foundation ($65,000), American Endowment Foundation ($64,821), Baltimore Symphony Orchestra ($10,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ASSOCIATED JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Baltimore, MD	ANNUAL CAMPAIGN	$65,000
AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION Hudson, OH	GENERAL	$64,821
BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Baltimore, MD	GENERAL	$10,000
ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY Baltimore, MD	GENERAL	$10,000
THREAD Baltimore, MD	GENERAL	$10,000
GILMAN SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND Baltimore, MD	GENERAL	$7,500
CENTRAL SCHOLARSHIP BUREAU Owings Mills, MD	SCHOLARSHIPS	$7,000
SARASOTA CUBAN BALLET SCHOOL Sarasota, FL	GENERAL	$7,000
BALTIMORE LEADERSHIP SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN Baltimore, MD	FOUNDATION FOR THE BALTIMORE LEADERSHIP SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WOMEN	$5,000
BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART Baltimore, MD	ANNUAL FUND	$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

James R. Shapiro (Trustee)
Jane Baum Rodbell (Trustee)

Both trustees serve without compensation.

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
James R Shapiro	Trustee	0.5	—
Jane Baum Rodbell	Trustee	0.5	—

Contact Information

Address: PO Box 4436, 2545 Wilkens Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21223-0436
Telephone: 410-566-9200
EIN: 52-6072215

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jacob S Shapiro Foundation fund?

The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services

How do I apply for a grant from Jacob S Shapiro Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Jacob S Shapiro Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations across multiple states and cities, including: • Maryland (primary focus, particularly Baltimore and Annapolis) • New York • Florida • Additional states: Alabama, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania

What size grants does Jacob S Shapiro Foundation award?

In 2024, Jacob S Shapiro Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $242K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Jacob S Shapiro Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jacob S Shapiro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $251K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.