Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation
The Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island. It made 16 grants totaling $101,400 in 2024 to charitable organizations including Rhode Island congregations, educational institutions, and organizations in New York.
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation at a glance
In short: Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation gave $101K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Rhode Island. 38% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $101,400
- -9.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -5.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,338
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,700
- Total assets
- $1,824,110
- -0.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 38% first-time grantees (6 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (65% 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 Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated in its 2022 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 909 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904
Phone: (401) 331-6851
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Communal Fund ($25K). Together the top 10 received $93K.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 108 grants of 108 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island and 32% to recipients in New York. Massachusetts received 2% and New Jersey 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation open to new grantees?
38%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 16 grantees (38%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% 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 $90K (2020) to $135K (2022). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $101K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Communal Fund New York, NY | General Charitable | $25,000 |
| Congregation Beth Shalom Providence, RI | General Charitable | $15,000 |
| Johnson Wales University Providence, RI | General Charitable | $15,000 |
| Temple Beth El Providence, RI | General Charitable | $10,000 |
| Chain Reaction Foundation Warwick, RI | General Charitable | $9,000 |
| Jewish Community Day School Providence, RI | General Charitable | $8,200 |
| Temple Emanuel Providence, RI | General Charitable | $4,000 |
| International Beit Din Bronx, NY | General Charitable | $3,600 |
| Bradley Hospital East Providence, RI | General Charitable | $1,800 |
| Hadar Institute New York, NY | General Charitable | $1,800 |
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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 | $1,824,110 | $112,395 | $118,640 | $101,400 | 16 | $101,450 | $96,031 | $105,567 |
| 2023 | $1,830,355 | $124,285 | $128,161 | $111,500 | 17 | $111,550 | $109,799 | $106,953 |
| 2022 | $1,834,231 | $174,000 | $151,636 | $134,521 | 21 | $134,571 | $160,040 | $111,501 |
| 2021 | $1,811,867 | $187,464 | $119,073 | $101,641 | 25 | — | $171,898 | $116,449 |
| 2020 | $1,743,476 | $100,091 | $106,278 | $90,155 | 29 | — | $84,018 | $109,494 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $106K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. Among the grantees, Johnson & Wales University describes its mission as providing an exceptional education that inspires professional success and lifelong personal and intellectual growth. Jewish Community Day School’s supporting foundation describes its mission as furthering the development and programs of the Jewish Day School of Providence. Special Olympics Rhode Island describes its mission as providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $101,400. Grant amounts ranged from $600 to $25,000, with a median of $2,700. Among the largest listed grants were $25,000 to Jewish Communal Fund, $15,000 each to Congregation Beth Shalom and Johnson & Wales University, $10,000 to Temple Beth El, and $9,000 to Chain Reaction Foundation. Other listed recipients included Jewish Community Day School ($8,200), Temple Emanuel ($4,000), and International Beit Din ($3,600). Special Olympics Rhode Island reported receiving $1,000 in 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mathew Shuster and Grace Goldberg as directors.
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Grace Goldberg
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mathew Shuster
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lee Malkin (2020–2021) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation
How much does Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation give each year?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation gave $101K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $112K across 17 grants.
What is Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's typical grant size?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,700, and its average grant was $6,338, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation give grants?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (6 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's largest grantees?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Communal Fund ($25,000), Congregation Beth Shalom ($15,000) and Johnson Wales University ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $101K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $106K (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 Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation?
The foundation stated in its 2022 filing 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 Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's EIN?
Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-1714042. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ralph & Clara Shuster 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ralph & Clara Shuster Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ralph-and-clara-shuster-foundation-morg_9b87947366ef449a9b198fc756872c36
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_221714042_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ralph \& Clara Shuster Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ralph-and-clara-shuster-foundation-morg_9b87947366ef449a9b198fc756872c36},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Ralph & Clara Shuster 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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