Max a Shacknai Foundation
Max a Shacknai Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Santa Barbara, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $926K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $105K. Net investment income was $29K.
Max a Shacknai Foundation at a glance
In short: Max a Shacknai Foundation gave $105K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), top state Wisconsin. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $105,000
- +110.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +200.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,000
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $925,544
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Wisconsin (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Max a Shacknai Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish Family Services Inc ($50K). Together the top 3 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 20 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Max a Shacknai Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 186% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2024) to $208K (2023). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $105K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Family Services Inc Milwaukee, WI | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Washington, DC | General Fund | $50,000 |
| Laguna Blanca School Santa Barbara, CA | General Fund | $5,000 |
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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 | $925,544 | $396,965 | $115,054 | $105,000 | 3 | $105,000 | $28,593 | $56,433 |
| 2024 | $827,526 | $50,644 | $60,261 | $50,000 | 1 | $50,000 | $45,321 | $51,872 |
| 2023 | $837,093 | $75,720 | $215,415 | $207,500 | 6 | $207,500 | $40,205 | $54,141 |
| 2022 | $976,724 | $47,536 | $107,743 | $97,500 | 5 | $97,500 | $41,598 | $57,001 |
| 2021 | $1,037,505 | $85,183 | $131,818 | $119,500 | 5 | $119,500 | $75,537 | $65,936 |
| 2020 | $1,084,523 | $140,825 | $160,256 | $150,000 | 3 | — | $119,498 | $59,417 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Max a Shacknai Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Max a Shacknai Foundation is led by Jonah Shacknai, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jonah Shacknai
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lily B. Phillips
Secretary- Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
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 Max a Shacknai Foundation
How much does Max a Shacknai Foundation give each year?
Max a Shacknai Foundation gave $105K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 1 grant.
What is Max a Shacknai Foundation's typical grant size?
Max a Shacknai Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $35,000, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Max a Shacknai Foundation give grants?
Max a Shacknai Foundation's top state is Wisconsin, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was District of Columbia (48%).
Does Max a Shacknai Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Max a Shacknai Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Max a Shacknai Foundation?
Max a Shacknai Foundation reported $926K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $105K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Max a Shacknai Foundation?
Max a Shacknai Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Santa Barbara, CA. It holds $926K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Max a Shacknai Foundation's EIN?
Max a Shacknai Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0887816. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Max a Shacknai Foundation funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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