Lawrence M Shaw Foundation
The Lawrence M Shaw Foundation is a private foundation based in Burien, Washington. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, conservation, civil liberties, community services, and local news.
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation at a glance
In short: Lawrence M Shaw Foundation gave $120K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in Washington. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $120,400
- +10.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- -14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,033
- +28.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,500
- Total assets
- $2,923,922
- +11.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lawrence M Shaw Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2683 Sw 172Nd St, Burien, WA 98166
Phone: (206) 242-8228
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lawrence M Shaw Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chehalis Centralia Railroad & Museum ($40K). Together the top 10 received $120K.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 65 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went primarily to organizations in Washington: 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in that state. The filing also reports shares for Indiana (2%), New York (2%), and Texas (0%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lawrence M Shaw Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $92K (2020) to $120K (2024). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $120K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chehalis Centralia Railroad & Museum Chehalis, WA | To Preserve the Railroad Heritage of the Region | $40,000 |
| Pacific Legal Foundation Bellevue, WA | Protect constitution and the rights and liberties it guarantees all americans | $22,000 |
| Freedom Foundation Olympia, WA | To support the foundations mission to advance individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited, accountable government. | $20,000 |
| Centralia College Foundation Centralia, WA | Support Four Year Scholarship Program | $10,000 |
| Washington Trails Association Seattle, WA | Maintain trails and connect a new generation to the outdoors. | $10,000 |
| United Way of King County Seattle, WA | Building a Strong Community Safety Net | $8,000 |
| Ed Choice Indianapolis, IN | To advance educational freedom and choice for all as a pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. | $3,000 |
| Planned Parenthood New York, NY | Improve women's health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices | $3,000 |
| Student Conservation Association Seattle, WA | To support sca's mission of building the next generation of conservation leaders and inspire lifelong stewardship of the environment and communities by engaging young people in hands-on service to the land. | $3,000 |
| Nature Conservancy Seattle, WA | Protect Natural World | $1,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,923,922 | $416,412 | $125,139 | $120,400 | 12 | $123,375 | $138,770 | $132,658 |
| 2023 | $2,632,649 | $346,810 | $110,972 | $109,250 | 14 | $109,250 | $121,810 | $119,300 |
| 2022 | $2,395,583 | $235,558 | $111,944 | $108,400 | 14 | $111,450 | $35,558 | $111,954 |
| 2021 | $2,271,475 | $150,228 | $106,324 | $104,720 | 13 | $106,270 | $176 | $109,955 |
| 2020 | $2,227,705 | $159,760 | $93,256 | $91,720 | 12 | — | $9,760 | $107,111 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawrence M Shaw Foundation reported a distributable amount of $133K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 grants included support for railroad heritage preservation, scholarships, trails and conservation, community services, constitutional rights, educational choice, women’s health, and local journalism. These are areas reflected in the listed grants and their stated purposes, not a mission statement from the foundation.
Among the recipients, Washington Trails Association describes its mission as connecting people to the outdoors and building a community that gives back to trails and public lands. Centralia College Foundation says it raises money for scholarships and other support for Centralia College. United Way of King County describes its work as building an equitable future alongside communities, and Key Peninsula News says its mission is to reflect and connect the Key Peninsula community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $120,400 through 12 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $40,000, with a median grant of $5,500.
The largest reported grants were $40,000 to Chehalis Centralia Railroad & Museum for regional railroad heritage preservation; $22,000 to Pacific Legal Foundation to support constitutional rights and liberties; and $20,000 to Freedom Foundation to advance individual liberty, free enterprise, and limited, accountable government. Other grants included $10,000 to Centralia College Foundation for its four-year scholarship program, $10,000 to Washington Trails Association, and $8,000 to United Way of King County.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Lawrence M Shaw is listed as president and treasurer on the 2024 filing.
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation is led by Lawrence M. Shaw, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lawrence M. Shaw
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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.
Frequently asked questions about Lawrence M Shaw Foundation
How much does Lawrence M Shaw Foundation give each year?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation gave $120K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $109K across 14 grants.
What is Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's typical grant size?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,500, and its average grant was $10,033, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lawrence M Shaw Foundation that year got $40K on average.
Where does Lawrence M Shaw Foundation give grants?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (4 grants).
Does Lawrence M Shaw Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's largest grantees?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Chehalis Centralia Railroad & Museum ($40,000), Pacific Legal Foundation ($22,000) and Freedom Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lawrence M Shaw Foundation?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $123K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $133K (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 Lawrence M Shaw Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 grants included support for railroad heritage preservation, scholarships, trails and conservation, community services, constitutional rights, educational choice, women’s health, and local journalism. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lawrence M Shaw Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's EIN?
Lawrence M Shaw Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0520714. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lawrence M Shaw Foundation 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lawrence M Shaw Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lawrence M Shaw Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lawrence-m-shaw-foundation-morg_3ae7863fc4b1416a897793a59d158a79
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200520714_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lawrence M Shaw Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lawrence-m-shaw-foundation-morg_3ae7863fc4b1416a897793a59d158a79},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Lawrence M Shaw Foundation'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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