Leo M Shortino Family Foundation
The Leo M Shortino Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Jose, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to California organizations, including schools, youth programs, and nonprofits providing educational, community, and human services.
Key facts about Leo M Shortino Family Foundation
In short: Leo M Shortino Family Foundation gave $2.5M across 65 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in California. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 68-0237238
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,539,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 65
- Average grant
- $39,069
- Median grant
- $35,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (3 of 60, 2024)
- Total assets
- $65,195,281
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s filing says applicants provide an online letter of intent; the foundation determines whether the request is in its area of interest and may then request an online proposal. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing says a letter of intent is required 60 days and a grant proposal 30 days before any board meeting.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 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
$65.2M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.5M
-2.3% YoY
Grant Count
65
-25.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+30.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leo M Shortino Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Leo M Shortino Family Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 60 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for summer learning and literacy, scholarships, college-success programs, arts and culture, and general operating support. The foundation’s filing says it most often supports direct services and capital projects, particularly at organizations primarily serving Santa Clara County.
Examples illustrate the range of grantees’ work: the Kiwanis Club of San Jose Foundation says it raises funds for educational scholarships for students who have overcome adverse circumstances; 10,000 Degrees describes its work helping students from low-income backgrounds access and complete higher education; and the School of Arts and Culture at MHP says its mission is to catalyze creativity and empower community. These are the grantees’ missions, not stated missions of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 65 grants totaling $2,539,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $190,000, with a median of $35,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $190,000 to Franklin-McKinley School District for summer school programming, $126,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley for summer programming, $102,000 to Springboard Collaborative for a summer literacy program, and $97,000 to YMCA of Silicon Valley for a summer learning program. Other awards included $80,000 to Kiwanis Club of San Jose Foundation for scholarships and $60,000 to City Year San Jose Silicon Valley for its Whole School Whole Child program.
Review Cycle
The filing says a letter of intent is required 60 days and a grant proposal 30 days before any board meeting. It also describes an online letter of intent submitted 30 days before the proposal grant date.
How to Apply
The foundation’s filing says applicants provide an online letter of intent; the foundation determines whether the request is in its area of interest and may then request an online proposal. Applicants may also provide a written grant proposal to the executive director. The foundation primarily makes grants to organizations recognized by the IRS under Section 501(c)(3). It says it most often funds direct services and capital projects, and favors organizations with clearly stated strategic plans, measurable objectives, and a track record of matching and exceeding performance goals.
Ready to take the next step with Leo M Shortino Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in California. The foundation’s filing says it most often funds organizations primarily providing services in Santa Clara County.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 65 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2021) to $2.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 65 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Franklin - McKinley School District ($190K). Together the top 10 received $885K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($74,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
367 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 291 grants of 367 (79%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin - McKinley School District San Jose, CA | Franklin-McKinley School District Summer School Programming | $190,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley Milpitas, CA | Summer Programming | $126,000 |
| Springboard Collaborative Philadelphia, CA | Summer Literacy Program | $102,000 |
| YMCA of Silicon Valley San Jose, CA | YMCA Summer Learning Program | $97,000 |
| Kiwanis Club of San Jose Foundation San Jose, CA | Scholarship Program | $80,000 |
| City Year San Jose Silicon Valley San Jose, CA | City year san jos/silicon valley whole school whole child (WSWC) program | $60,000 |
| Cristo Rey San Jose Jesuit High School San Jose, CA | General Operating Support | $56,000 |
| School of Arts and Culture at MHP San Jose, CA | General Operating Support | $53,000 |
| Via Services Inc Redwood City, CA | Camp via West | $53,000 |
| 10000 Degrees San Rafael, CA | 10,000 Degrees College Success Programming in San Jose | $52,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $65,195,281 | $2,556,532 | $4,099,507 | $2,539,500 |
| 2023 | $62,845,642 | $2,077,861 | $3,749,629 | $2,598,100 |
| 2022 | $57,131,439 | $1,648,830 | $4,606,979 | $2,799,500 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $65,195,281 | $62,845,642 | $57,131,439 |
| Revenue | $2,556,532 | $2,077,861 | $1,648,830 |
| Expenses | $4,099,507 | $3,749,629 | $4,606,979 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,895,854 | $2,958,395 | $3,087,140 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,467,574 | $2,158,873 | $798,119 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,120,220 | $2,832,842 | $2,894,941 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gary T Shara as chairman; Buu Thai as vice chair; Linda Murray as secretary; and David Heiman as treasurer. It lists Christine Burroughs, Frank Boitano, Maria Garcia, Michele Lew, Ricardo Benavidez, and Robert Harrison Staedler Jr as board members. The filing names Mara Williams Low as the contact for application inquiries.
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation is led by Mara Williams Low, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 10 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mara Williams Low
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$91K (2021) → $228K (2024)
Gary T. Shara
Chairman
Board Member → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Christine Burroughs
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
David Heiman
Treasurer
Chairman → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Frank Boitano
Board Member
Treasurer → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Linda Murray
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Michele Lew
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Ricardo Benavidez
Board Member
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $5K (2024)
Buu Thai
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$4K (2022) → $0 (2024)
Maria Garcia
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$1K (2024)
Robert Harrison Staedler Jr.
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
$5K (2024)
Miguel Salinas
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Gerald T. Wade Jr. (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Anne Ehresman (2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Sonya Arriola (2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Tamara Alvarado (2020) — Executive Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $228K, to Mara Williams Low (Executive Director). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Mara Williams Low
Mailing address: 1760 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 275-6306
Frequently asked questions about Leo M Shortino Family Foundation
How much does Leo M Shortino Family Foundation give each year?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation gave $2.5M across 65 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 87 grants.
What is Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $39,069, across 65 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leo M Shortino Family Foundation that year got $24K on average.
Where does Leo M Shortino Family Foundation give grants?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Jose, CA (43 grants), Milpitas, CA (4 grants) and Redwood City, CA (3 grants).
Does Leo M Shortino Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 29% of Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 65) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Tuition Assistance" (5 grants).
Who are Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Franklin - McKinley School District ($190,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley ($126,000) and Springboard Collaborative ($102,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($74,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Leo M Shortino Family Foundation?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation reported $65.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (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 Leo M Shortino Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided in the available information. Its 2024 grants show support for summer learning and literacy, scholarships, college-success programs, arts and culture, and general operating support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leo M Shortino Family Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says applicants provide an online letter of intent; the foundation determines whether the request is in its area of interest and may then request an online proposal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's EIN?
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0237238. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Leo M Shortino Family Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Leo M Shortino Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Applied Materials Foundation
Santa Clara, CA
The foundation funds education, arts and culture, civic engagement, environmental work, and girls’ empowerment, prioritizing community needs where Applied Materials operates; recent grants went to organizations in California, South Carolina, and Texas. In 2025, grants ranged from $101,907 to $2.5 million, with a median of $373,541. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations, and its guidelines provide application details.
Assets
$39.2M
Grants
20
Total Given
$13.4M
Rotary Club of San Jose Foundation
San Jose, CA
The foundation primarily funds San Jose nonprofits for specific capital purchases and small facility improvements, while also supporting youth, community, disaster-relief, and international service; it offers separate $5,000 awards to emerging artists in Santa Clara County. Community grants are capped at $15,000, though recent awards ranged from $5,616 to $71,450; at least half of project beneficiaries must be San Jose residents. It accepts community grant applications using its required form and supporting documentation.
Assets
$8.3M
Grants
16
Total Given
$246K
Excite Credit Union (FKA Alliance Credit Union)
San Jose, CA
Excite Credit Union supports community organizations focused on financial access, children’s well-being, education, poverty alleviation, Hispanic community empowerment, and foster-youth success. In 2024, grants ranged from $6,000 to $112,500, with a median of $25,000; its service area includes counties in California and North Carolina, though all reported 2024 grants went to California recipients. No application process is stated in the available information.
Assets
$625.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$570K
Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation
Los Altos, CA
It supports nonprofits and community initiatives in areas such as housing, education, arts, climate, and social justice, primarily in Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and Mountain View. Its Spring 2025 community grants were typically $20,000; the reported 2025 grant median was $10,500, though awards varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$64.1M
Grants
103
Total Given
$77.5M
The Health Trust
San Jose, CA
The Health Trust funds nonprofits and public agencies working on health equity, including food and nutrition, chronic disease, supportive housing, and health disparities in Santa Clara County and Northern San Benito County. Its 2025 grants typically were around $124,000, with listed awards ranging from $32,374 to $450,000. Health Partnership Grants are by invitation only; the profile does not state whether other grant programs accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$136.8M
Grants
24
Total Given
$3.6M
Destination Home SV co Silicon Valley Community Foundation
San Jose, CA
Destination: Home supports deeply affordable and supportive housing, homelessness prevention, and housing stability for extremely low-income and homeless households, primarily in Santa Clara County. In 2024, grants ranged from $7,500 to $5,991,728, with a median of $32,625. It accepts unsolicited requests through an online grant inquiry form from eligible organizations with projects aligned with its priorities.
Assets
$86.6M
Grants
62
Total Given
$17.6M
Star One Credit Union
Sunnyvale, CA
Star One Credit Union supports nonprofits working in areas such as food access, health, homelessness prevention, and education, primarily in Santa Clara County and neighboring counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.5B
Grants
49
Total Given
$691K
Atkinson Foundation
San Francisco, CA
The Atkinson Foundation funds community-based nonprofits serving primarily San Mateo County residents, with support for education and youth development, community services, and people with disabilities. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $20,000; its materials describe an application process but do not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$29.3M
Grants
142
Total Given
$1.9M
The Sobrato Family Foundation
Mountain View, CA
The foundation supports economic opportunity and education, including small-business access, workforce and college pathways, English learners, supportive housing, and community-based organizations serving people facing challenges. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $5 million, with a median of $75,000; its focus is Silicon Valley, though most grant dollars went to California. The filing says applications are sent directly and nonprofits can use an online form to receive funding-opportunity information; it does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$886.3M
Grants
526
Total Given
$69.3M
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Los Altos, CA
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation funds charitable organizations working on just societies, healthy families and communities, and a healthy natural world, including climate solutions, ocean conservation, and science. Its 2024 grants had a median of $150,000, and half of grant dollars went to California recipients. It accepts unsolicited requests, but less than 1% of its grants come from them.
Assets
$8.5B
Grants
1,029
Total Given
$350.0M
The Catholic Community Foundation
San Jose, CA
The Catholic Community Foundation funds Catholic ministries and programs, including parish projects in evangelization, family ministry, formation, music, outreach, worship, and youth in the Diocese of San José; donor-advised funds may also support Catholic and non-Catholic nonprofits nationwide. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,250 to $5.16 million, with a median of $13,600. It accepts applications through its annual Living the Faith Grants for diocesan parishes; other grants are donor-directed or determined by fund terms.
Assets
$159.5M
Grants
86
Total Given
$12.0M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
More Funders in California
Leo M Shortino Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?