Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 36-3486763

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it made grants to organizations including an opera company, a university-support organization, a land trust, and organizations working in music instruction, journalism, food assistance, and human rights.

Key facts about Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc

In short: Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc gave $151K across 29 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Illinois. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-3486763
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$151,335
Grants made (2024)
29
Average grant
$5,218
Median grant
$2,000
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (7 of 29, 2024)
Total assets
$2,607,144
Primary geography
Illinois (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

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.

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.

Is Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 29 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−8%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. Chicago Opera Theater says it expands opera as a living art form through innovative experiences, while the Gallatin Valley Land Trust says it conserves working lands, rivers, wildlife habitat, and trails in Montana. The Committee to Protect Journalists says it promotes press freedom and journalists’ safety; The Marshall Project describes itself as a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization covering criminal justice. Other recipients include the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which says its mission is to end hunger, and American Jewish World Service, which says it works to realize human rights and end poverty.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation made 29 grants totaling $151,335. Individual grants ranged from $25 to $50,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable grants included $50,000 to Chicago Opera Theater, $25,000 to Science Reserch 20, $20,000 to Cambridge in America, and $7,500 each to the Center for Large Landscape Conservation and the Gallatin Valley Land Trust. Other grants included $5,000 to the Chelsea Fund and $3,000 to Chicago West Community Music Center.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (46%), New York (18%), Virginia (17%), Montana (10%), and Wyoming (5%).

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkBostonBozemanWashingtonCambridgeProvidenceIthacaLanderDenverMadisonJacksonOak ParkAlexandriaBaltimoreCheyenneMountain ViewRestonWilmingtonWilson

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K36 grants2020 38 grants2021 40 grants2022 36 grants2023 29 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $147K (2023) to $182K (2022). In 2024 it made 29 grants totaling $151K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Chicago Opera Theater: $50KChicago Opera Theater$50KScience Reserch 20: $25KScience Reserch 20$25KCambridge in America: $20KCambridge in America$20KCenter for Large Landscape Conservation: $8KCenter for Large LandscapeConservation$8KGallatin Valley Land Trust: $8KGallatin Valley Land Trust$8KChelsea Fund: $5KChelsea Fund$5KChicago West Community Music Center: $3KChicago West Community MusicCenter$3KBrown University: $3KBrown University$3KCommittee to Protect Journalists: $3KCommittee to ProtectJournalists$3KPlanned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: $3KPlanned Parenthood of theRocky Mountains$3K

The largest 2024 recipient was Chicago Opera Theater ($50K). Together the top 10 received $126K.

Grant Size Distribution

179 grants across all recorded years

178<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 178 grants of 179 (99%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Chicago Opera Theater Chicago, ILSee Above$50,000
Science Reserch 20 Alexandria, VASee Above$25,000
Cambridge in America New York, NYSee Above$20,000
Center for Large Landscape Conservation Bozeman, MTSee Above$7,500
Gallatin Valley Land Trust Bozeman, MTSee Above$7,500
Chelsea Fund Lander, WYSee Above$5,000
Chicago West Community Music Center Chicago, ILSee Above$3,000
Brown University Providence, RISee Above$2,500
Committee to Protect Journalists New York, NYSee Above$2,500
Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Denver, COSee Above$2,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2024 $2,607,144 $199,247 $153,046 $151,335 29
2023 $2,560,943 $77,058 $150,930 $147,099 36
2022 $2,634,815 $124,014 $185,032 $182,168 40
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100K$200K$300K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
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

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists James Shapiro as president/director, Joan Shapiro as secretary/treasurer/director, and Dr. Sandra Panem as director.

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc is led by James Shapiro, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • James Shapiro

    President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joan Shapiro

    Secretary, Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sandra Panem

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 5614 S Dorchester Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: (773) 288-5143

Frequently asked questions about Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc

How much does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc give each year?

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc gave $151K across 29 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $147K across 36 grants.

What is Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $5,218, across 29 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc that year got $5K on average.

Where does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc give grants?

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's top state is Illinois, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Virginia (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (14 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Bozeman, MT (2 grants).

Does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "See Above" (27 grants).

Who are Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Chicago Opera Theater ($50,000), Science Reserch 20 ($25,000) and Cambridge in America ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc?

Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $151K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $188K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

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.

Does Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

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

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