JS Charitable Trust
JS Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In filing year 2025, it reported 36 grants totaling $156,325 to charitable organizations, including cultural, educational, scientific, and other recipients.
JS Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: JS Charitable Trust gave $156K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in District of Columbia. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $156,325
- +135.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,342
- +115.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,413,916
- -2.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (7 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (51% 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 JS Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1500 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 787-1121
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who JS Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Geographic Society ($80K). Together the top 10 received $135K.
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 165 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (51%) and Illinois (31%), followed by Minnesota (6%), New Mexico (4%), and California (3%). The trust also made grants to organizations in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is JS Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 36 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 69% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 158% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $31K (2020) to $156K (2025). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $156K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Geographic Society Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $79,500 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Mayo Foundation Rochester, MN | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe, NM | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Solti Foundation Evanston, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Alliance Francais de Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| The Field Museum Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $3,500 |
| Wildlife NOW Malibu, CA | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Cofam San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted | $2,250 |
| Eisenhower Foundation Abilene, KS | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
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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 | $1,413,916 | $164,388 | $166,417 | $156,325 | 36 | $156,515 | $57,135 | $99,026 |
| 2024 | $1,442,156 | $164,283 | $69,275 | $66,375 | 33 | $66,390 | $214,937 | $88,369 |
| 2023 | $1,417,587 | $87,338 | $77,977 | $71,525 | 31 | $71,540 | $52,119 | $79,556 |
| 2022 | $1,318,744 | $64,767 | $94,290 | $92,550 | 32 | $92,565 | $79,975 | $87,659 |
| 2021 | $1,295,996 | $66,928 | $124,430 | $122,840 | 33 | $122,855 | $33,774 | $90,196 |
| 2020 | $1,334,969 | $35,350 | $32,990 | $31,400 | 32 | — | $33,775 | $72,403 |
| 2019 | $1,331,084 | $-3,529 | $36,465 | $34,975 | 32 | — | $27,374 | $71,610 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, JS Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $99K 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 trust is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, museums, and organizations working in areas such as science and exploration. These are descriptions of recipient organizations, not stated purposes of the trust.
For example, the National Geographic Society describes its mission as increasing and diffusing geographic knowledge through science, exploration, education, and storytelling. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association says it aims to enrich, inspire, and transform lives through music, community engagement, and education. Lyric Opera of Chicago describes its work as providing cultural service and advancing opera.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust made 36 grants totaling $156,325. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $79,500, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest awards included $79,500 to the National Geographic Society, $20,000 to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, $10,000 to the Mayo Foundation, and $5,000 each to Santa Fe Opera, Solti Foundation, and Alliance Francaise de Chicago. The listed purposes for these largest grants were unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Thomas C Sheffield Jr, Pamela Sheffield, Thomas C Sheffield III, and Grace W Brettkelly.
JS Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Grace W Brettkelly
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Sheffield
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas C Sheffield III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas C Sheffield Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 JS Charitable Trust
How much does JS Charitable Trust give each year?
JS Charitable Trust gave $156K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $66K across 33 grants.
What is JS Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
JS Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,342, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from JS Charitable Trust that year got $1K on average.
Where does JS Charitable Trust give grants?
JS Charitable Trust gives mostly in District of Columbia: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (31%) and Minnesota (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (17 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Santa Fe, NM (2 grants).
Does JS Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of JS Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (36 of 36) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are JS Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
JS Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include National Geographic Society ($79,500), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($20,000) and Mayo Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is JS Charitable Trust?
JS Charitable Trust reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $157K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $99K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does JS Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for arts and cultural organizations, educational institutions, museums, and organizations working in areas such as science and exploration. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from JS Charitable Trust?
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 JS Charitable Trust's EIN?
JS Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6161278. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does JS Charitable Trust 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in JS Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). JS Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/js-charitable-trust-morg_4e7f72daf0364873ae1663f15e5f0802
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366161278_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{JS Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/js-charitable-trust-morg_4e7f72daf0364873ae1663f15e5f0802},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 JS Charitable Trust'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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