Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc
The Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation makes grants to further the goals of recipient organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$151K
+2.9% YoY
Grant Count
29
-19.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+27.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $188K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
Grantmaking
All contributions are made to the recipient organization to further their goals.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- New York
- Wyoming
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,607,144
- Total Revenues: $199,247
- Total Expenses: $153,046
- Investment Income & Dividends: $62,867
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $136,380
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,560,000
- Total Revenues: $77,100
- Total Expenses: $151,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,607,144 | $2,560,943 | $2,634,815 |
| Revenue | $199,247 | $77,058 | $124,014 |
| Expenses | $153,046 | $150,930 | $185,032 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $151,345 | $147,099 | $182,168 |
| Net Investment Income | $197,546 | $75,237 | $121,150 |
| Distributable Amount | $187,571 | $170,217 | $176,230 |
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
179 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Opera Theater ($50,000), Science Reserch 20 ($25,000), Cambridge in America ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE NEW YORK, NY | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE TO | $1,500 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANZATAION. | $160 |
| BOSTON REVIEW CAMBRIDGE, MA | SEE ABOVE | $1,000 |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY PROVIDENCE, RI | SEE ABOVE | $2,500 |
| CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | SEE ABOVE | $20,000 |
| CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION BOZEMAN, MT | SEE ABOVE | $7,500 |
| CHELSEA FUND LANDER, WY | SEE ABOVE | $5,000 |
| CERES BOSTON, MA | SEE ABOVE | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS CHICAGO, IL | SEE ABOVE | $2,000 |
| CHICAGO OPERA THEATER CHICAGO, IL | SEE ABOVE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Shapiro – President/Director
- Joan Shapiro – Secretary/Treasurer/Director
- Dr. Sandra Panem – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES SHAPIRO | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JOAN SHAPIRO | SECR/TREAS/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR SANDRA PANEM | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Telephone: 773-288-5143
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation has not provided a formal mission statement. However, its grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Arts, Culture & Humanities
How do I apply for a grant from Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $25,000–$50,000 • Made 40 grants in 2024 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Chicago Opera Theater: $50,000 • Cambridge in America (CAm): $20,000 • Gallatin Valley Land Trust (GVLT): $7,500 **Grant Philosophy:** All contributions are made to the recipient organization to further their goals.
Where does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • New York • Wyoming
What size grants does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc awarded 29 grants totaling $151K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $188K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's EIN?
Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3486763. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc'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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