Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family
The Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Oak Park, Illinois. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on social services, health care, education, human rights, and child welfare.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$721K
+50.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$548K
-6.7% YoY
Grant Count
77
+13.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-17.6% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Social services
- Health care
- Education
- Human rights
- Child welfare
The foundation demonstrates particular interest in human services and poverty alleviation initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$5,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total assets: $478,000–$721,244
- Annual giving: $547,781–$581,000
- Giving rate: Greater than 100% of assets
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $721,244 | $477,979 | $365,472 |
| Revenue | $942,275 | $843,018 | $871,953 |
| Expenses | $699,010 | $730,511 | $683,701 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $547,781 | $586,887 | $486,834 |
| Net Investment Income | $17,367 | $22,018 | $25,953 |
| Distributable Amount | $26,320 | $26,941 | $34,067 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
245 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Chad Tough Foundation ($236,321), Growing Community Media ($20,000), Hephzibah Children's Association ($16,150).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $200 |
| ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH CENTER CLARKSBURG, MD | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK/RESEARCH | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $200 |
| ARAB AMER BAR ASSOC SCHOLARSHIP CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $3,500 |
| BEST BUDDIES INTERNATIONAL MIAMI, FL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $7,300 |
| BEYOND HUNGER OAK PARK, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $700 |
| CHAD TOUGH FOUNDATION SALINE, MI | TO FURTHER MEDICAL RESEARCH | $236,321 |
| CHEF ANN FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $5,500 |
| CHICAGO SPECIAL HOCKEY INC ROSELLE, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $1,200 |
| CHICAGOLAND FOOD DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORK | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANTHONY R SHAKER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 1100 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301-1015
- Phone: 708-358-0301
- Website: www.shaker.com/shaker_foundati
- EIN: 36-3572999
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Social services • Health care • Education • Human rights • Child welfare The foundation demonstrates particular interest in human services and poverty alleviation initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $547,781–$581,000 • Number of grants: 45 grants annually • Median grant size: $5,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$236,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Recent Grants:** The foundation awarded $50,000 to the Neighborhood Bridge in 2024 to further charitable work.
Where does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family award?
In 2025, Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family awarded 77 grants totaling $548K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family reported a distributable amount of $26K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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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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