The Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation based in Bloomington, Illinois. Established in 1969, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation makes grants to organizations aligned with its funding priorities.
Key facts about Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation
- EIN
- 23-7022709
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,127,440
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- Average grant
- $53,688
- Median grant
- $4,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2024)
- Total assets
- $18,342,335
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation's 21 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bloomington, IL (10 grants), Normal, IL (5 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants). None of its 21 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Expense" (19 grants).
Is Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $79K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 65% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation
- How to evaluate Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.3M
-4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+14.6% YoY
Grant Count
21
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
+9.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $906K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- Pennsylvania
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 21 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $19,225,459
- Total revenues: $686,655
- Total expenses: $1,095,958
- Investment income and dividends: $226,893
- Net rental income: $9,083
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $18,342,335
- Total giving: $1,127,440
Staffing:
- The foundation operates with 0 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,342,335 | $19,225,459 | $19,634,762 |
| Revenue | $357,348 | $686,655 | $404,683 |
| Expenses | $1,240,472 | $1,095,958 | $1,039,999 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,162,383 | $1,016,798 | $969,293 |
| Net Investment Income | $510,113 | $597,495 | $419,749 |
| Distributable Amount | $906,371 | $949,199 | $928,429 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include B-N YMCA Charitable Foundation ($767,102), Illinois Wesleyan University ($257,000), The Arts Campus at Willits ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| B-N YMCA Charitable Foundation Bloomington, IL | YMCA Building | $767,102 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, IL | Shirk Center Endowment | $257,000 |
| The Arts Campus at Willits Basalt, CO | Program Expense | $15,000 |
| McLean County Chamber of Commerce Bloomington, IL | Program Expense | $12,000 |
| Beyond the Books Educational Foundation Bloomington, IL | Program Expense | $10,000 |
| ISU Foundation Normal, IL | Program Expense | $10,000 |
| Books and Breakfast Evanston, IL | Program Expense | $7,500 |
| The Academy at St Joan Arc Evanston, IL | Program Expense | $7,500 |
| Simmons University Boston, MA | Program Expense | $6,000 |
| Illinois Art Station Normal, IL | Program Expense | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's trustees include:
- James A Shirk
- Linda S Shirk
- Cynthia L Shirk
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James A Shirk | President/Director | 2 | — |
| Linda S Shirk | Treasurer/Director | 1 | — |
| Cynthia L Shirk | Director | 0.5 | — |
| Lia Valerio Shirk | Director | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving in 2023: $1,095,958 • Total giving in 2024: $1,127,440 • Typical award range: $500–$768,738 • The foundation made 20 grants in 2023 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Illinois Wesleyan University: $206,000 (Shirk Center Endowment) • Illinois Art Station: $10,000 (Program Expense) • Books and Breakfast: $10,000 (Program Expense) • David Davis Mansion Foundation: $3,500 (Program Expense)
Where does Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • Pennsylvania • Massachusetts
What size grants does Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation award?
In 2024, Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation reported a distributable amount of $906K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation's EIN?
Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7022709. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Illinois Prairie Community Foundation
Bloomington, IL
Assets
$27.5M
Grants
66
Total Given
$2.1M
Commerce Bancshares Foundation
Kansas City, MO
Assets
—
Grants
645
Total Given
$2.0M
The Owen Foundation
Bloomington, IL
Assets
$2.7M
Grants
21
Total Given
$217K
Parker Kemp Foundation
Bloomington, IL
Assets
—
Grants
55
Total Given
$271K
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
Assets
$6.0B
Grants
3,976
Total Given
$1.4B
Arthur J Gallagher Foundation
Rolling Meadows, IL
Assets
—
Grants
2,692
Total Given
$1.6M
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
Assets
—
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
Assets
$885.0M
Grants
1,485
Total Given
$31.9M
Baxter International Foundation
Deerfield, IL
Assets
$67.5M
Grants
1,300
Total Given
$13.7M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur
Chicago, IL
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$1.2B
Grants
10,334
Total Given
$202.5M
The Pfizer Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$255.3M
Grants
9,306
Total Given
$23.2M
More Funders in Illinois
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.