The Shames Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilton, Connecticut. Established in 1998, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
-3.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$389K
+53.8% YoY
Grant Count
38
-13.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+78.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shames Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Health
- Children's Services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$2,500
Average Grant
$5,400–$7,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Connecticut
- New York
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,486,071
- Total Giving: $389,255
- Total Revenues: $248,689
- Total Expenses: $409,779
- Investment Income and Dividends: $149,625
- Net Gain from Sale of Non-Inventory Assets: $99,064
Previous Year (2023):
- Total Revenues: $230,931
- Investment Income and Dividends: $136,308
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,486,071 | $4,647,161 | $4,705,509 |
| Revenue | $248,689 | $231,124 | $259,819 |
| Expenses | $409,779 | $276,072 | $300,727 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $390,753 | $255,665 | $282,620 |
| Net Investment Income | $232,794 | $214,164 | $243,712 |
| Distributable Amount | $318,513 | $308,023 | $347,349 |
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
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nuvance Health Medical Practice Ct Inc ($150,000), Norwalk Acts ($50,000), Family & Childrens Agency Inc ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER CHANCE OF WILTON INC WILTON, CT | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| AMBLER FARMS WILTON, CT | GENERAL | $100 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $100 |
| CONGREGATION RODEPH SHOLOM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $5,500 |
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE ANNUAL FUND DAVIDSON, NC | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $100 |
| ETHICAL CULTURE FIELDSTONE SCHOOL NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| NORTH COUNTRY SCHOOL & CAMP TREETOPS LAKE PLACID, NY | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key individuals associated with the foundation include:
- Ervin R. Shames – Trustee and primary supporter
- Louise G Shames – Trustee
- Allyson Robyn Shames – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERVIN R SHAMES | Trustee | — | — |
| LOUISE G SHAMES | Trustee | — | — |
| ALLYSON ROBYN SHAMES | Trustee | — | — |
| STEVEN SHAMES | Trustee | — | — |
| SARA SHAMES | Trustee | — | — |
| CURTIS ARGO | Trustee | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 35 Mollbrook Dr, Wilton, CT 06897
Phone: 203-762-0298 (or 203-762-1205)
EIN: 06-1520789
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shames Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Health • Children's Services
How do I apply for a grant from Shames Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 42 grants in the most recent fiscal year (2024) • Typical grant awards range from $50,000 to $150,000 • Median grant size: $2,500 • Average grant size: $5,400–$7,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Nuvance Health Medical Practice CT: $150,000 • Norwalk Acts: $50,000 • Family and Children's Agency: $25,000
Where does Shames Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Connecticut • New York • District of Columbia
What size grants does Shames Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Shames Family Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $389K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shames Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shames Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $319K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shames Family Foundation's EIN?
Shames Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1520789. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shames Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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