Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation
The Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation is a private foundation based in Belmont, Massachusetts. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and supports organizations working in areas including public broadcasting, journalism, education, reproductive rights, and other charitable work, as reflected in its 2025 grants.
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation gave $741K across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Virginia. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $740,500
- +22.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +28.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,139
- -4.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $18,074,038
- +24.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (6 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (57% 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 Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation
- 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: PO Box 136, Belmont, MA 02478
Phone: (203) 787-2182
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was PBS Foundation ($425K). Together the top 10 received $700K.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 133 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia (57%), Washington, DC (18%), and New York (11%). Massachusetts and Oregon each accounted for 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 18 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $81K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 39% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $172K (2020) to $741K (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $741K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PBS Foundation Arlington, VA | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $425,000 |
| Propublica New York, NY | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $50,000 |
| Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NY | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $35,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation America Washington, DC | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $35,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $30,000 |
| Children's Cancer Therapy Development Institute West Beavertown, OR | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $30,000 |
| Good Food Institute Washington, DC | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $30,000 |
| American Journalism Project Washington, DC | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $25,000 |
| League of Women Voters Washington, DC | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $20,000 |
| Global Impact Washington, DC | To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose. | $20,000 |
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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 | $18,074,038 | $5,191,564 | $815,484 | $740,500 | 18 | $742,663 | $1,343,481 | $758,542 |
| 2024 | $14,509,954 | $986,001 | $678,512 | $602,500 | 14 | $612,962 | $489,855 | $688,388 |
| 2023 | $14,202,465 | $2,963,061 | $512,237 | $485,000 | 7 | $495,789 | $440,343 | $549,545 |
| 2022 | $11,751,641 | $3,682,694 | $517,102 | $498,800 | 43 | $504,150 | $166,191 | $440,702 |
| 2021 | $8,586,049 | $226,403 | $484,570 | $473,100 | 51 | $478,432 | $202,341 | $448,140 |
| 2020 | $8,950,086 | $3,618,797 | $180,364 | $171,900 | 30 | — | $114,662 | $285,859 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation reported a distributable amount of $759K 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
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission or formal subject areas of focus. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. PBS Foundation describes its work as raising philanthropic support for public broadcasting and its programs and services. American Journalism Project describes itself as supporting and building local nonprofit news organizations. Brandeis University describes its work as advancing the humanities, arts, and sciences and providing a broad liberal arts education.
Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated work concerns reproductive rights, food systems, civic participation, charitable giving, and children’s cancer therapy development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $740,500. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $425,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants included $425,000 to PBS Foundation, $50,000 to ProPublica, $35,000 each to Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood Federation America, and $30,000 each to Brandeis University, Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, and Good Food Institute.
Other 2025 recipients included American Journalism Project ($25,000), League of Women Voters ($20,000), Global Impact ($20,000), NHPBS ($10,000), Community Foundation of Middlesex County ($5,000), Community Initiatives ($5,000), Sentient Media ($5,000), Players Philanthropy Fund ($5,000), and Boston Children’s Chorus ($3,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Shiller, Virginia Shiller, and Derek Shiller as trustees.
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Shiller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Shiller
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Shiller
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/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 Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation
How much does Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation give each year?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation gave $741K across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $603K across 14 grants.
What is Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $41,139, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation that year got $81K on average.
Where does Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation give grants?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include PBS Foundation ($425,000), Propublica ($50,000) and Center for Reproductive Rights ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation reported $18.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $743K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $759K (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 Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission or formal subject areas of focus. Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. PBS Foundation describes its work as raising philanthropic support for public broadcasting and its programs and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation?
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 Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's EIN?
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0538779. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Robert and Virginia Shiller 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-virginia-shiller-foundation-morg_a549c724a0584517b86e6fe9174e91ef
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_460538779_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-and-virginia-shiller-foundation-morg_a549c724a0584517b86e6fe9174e91ef},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Robert and Virginia Shiller 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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