Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family is a private foundation based in Oak Park, Illinois. In 2025, it made 77 grants totaling $547,781, including support for medical research, child welfare, and other charitable work.
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family at a glance
In short: Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family gave $548K across 77 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), top state Michigan. 43% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $547,781
- -6.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 77
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,114
- -17.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,300
- Total assets
- $721,244
- +50.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (31 of 72, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (43% 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 Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1100 W Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
Phone: (708) 358-0301
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chad Tough Foundation ($236K). Together the top 10 received $389K.
Grant Size Distribution
324 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 316 grants of 324 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Michigan received 43% of grant dollars and Illinois received 29%. Tennessee received 7%, Washington, D.C., 3%, and Florida 2%. The listed grants also include recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 77 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 31 of 72 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 173% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 $70K (2020) to $587K (2024). In 2025 it made 77 grants totaling $548K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chad Tough Foundation Saline, MI | To Further Medical Research | $236,321 |
| St Jude Children's Res Hospital Memphis, TN | To Further Charitable and Research W | $39,683 |
| West Side Service Connector Chicago, IL | To Further Charitable Work | $25,000 |
| Growing Community Media Oak Park, IL | To Further Charitable Work | $20,000 |
| Hephzibah Children's Association Oak Park, IL | To Further Child Welfare | $16,150 |
| Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Rye Brook, NY | To Further Charitable Work | $11,000 |
| University of Nebraska Foundation Omaha, NE | To Further Charitable Work | $11,000 |
| Salvation Army Alexandria, VA | To Further Charitable Work | $10,200 |
| Community Foundation - Kerr County Kerrville, TX | To Further Charitable Work | $10,000 |
| Digs with Dignity Chicago, IL | To Further Charitable Work | $10,000 |
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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 | $721,244 | $942,275 | $699,010 | $547,781 | 77 | $547,781 | $17,367 | $26,320 |
| 2024 | $477,979 | $843,018 | $730,511 | $586,887 | 68 | $586,887 | $22,018 | $26,941 |
| 2023 | $365,472 | $871,953 | $683,701 | $486,834 | 66 | $486,834 | $25,953 | $34,067 |
| 2022 | $177,220 | $389,439 | $257,589 | $200,985 | 68 | $200,985 | $1,439 | $12,439 |
| 2021 | $45,370 | $206,596 | $190,820 | $123,200 | 45 | — | $41 | $1,842 |
| 2020 | $29,594 | $116,985 | $114,933 | $70,070 | 46 | — | $246 | $2,282 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family reported a distributable amount of $26K 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 support for medical research and charitable work, as well as organizations whose missions include children’s services and assistance with housing.
For example, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital describes its mission as advancing cures and prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Hephzibah Children’s Association describes itself as a child welfare agency providing group home care, foster care, and daycare. Digs with Dignity says it works to break the cycle of homelessness by furnishing homes, while World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 77 grants totaling $547,781. Grant amounts ranged from $50 to $236,321, with a median of $1,300. The largest listed grant was $236,321 to the Chad Tough Foundation in Saline, Michigan, to further medical research. Other notable grants included $39,683 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, $25,000 to West Side Service Connector, $20,000 to Growing Community Media, and $16,150 to Hephzibah Children’s Association.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Anthony R. Shaker is listed as a trustee on the 2025 filing.
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family is led by Anthony R. Shaker, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anthony R. Shaker
Trustee
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 Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family
How much does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family give each year?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family gave $548K across 77 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $587K across 68 grants.
What is Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's typical grant size?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's median grant in 2025 was $1,300, and its average grant was $7,114, across 77 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family that year got $3K on average.
Where does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family give grants?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's top state is Michigan, with 43% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (29%) and Tennessee (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (16 grants), Oak Park, IL (10 grants), River Forest, IL (5 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 77 grants with a stated purpose on Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Charitable Work" (56 grants) and "To Further Religious Work" (13 grants).
Who are Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's largest grantees?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's largest 2025 grantees include Chad Tough Foundation ($236,321), St Jude Children's Res Hospital ($39,683) and West Side Service Connector ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family reported $721K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $548K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $26K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for medical research and charitable work, as well as organizations whose missions include children’s services and assistance with housing. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's EIN?
Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3572999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-r-and-helen-shaker-family-morg_397eefba173c434e9ddc124ca00b4496
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363572999_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph R \& Helen Shaker Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-r-and-helen-shaker-family-morg_397eefba173c434e9ddc124ca00b4496},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family'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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