Shams Foundation
Shams Foundation is a private foundation, based in Woodland Hills, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $492K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $109K. Net investment income was $52K.
Shams Foundation at a glance
In short: Shams Foundation gave $109K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $108,525
- +92.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,088
- +28.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $491,583
- +16.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (69% 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 Shams Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Niac ($75K). Together the top 6 received $109K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 26 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Shams Foundation gives
- Giving grew 36% from 2022 to 2025. 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 $35K (2020) to $109K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $109K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Niac Washington, DC | Charitable Donation | $75,025 |
| Westminster Free Clinic Oak Park, CA | Charitable Donation | $10,000 |
| Quincy Institute for Responsible St New York, NY | Charitable Donation | $10,000 |
| Alameda County Community Food Bank Oakland, CA | Charitable Donation | $10,000 |
| Save the Children Fairfield, CT | charitable donation | $2,000 |
| The Intercept New York, NY | Charitable Donation | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $491,583 | $68,204 | $124,477 | $108,525 | 6 | $108,525 | $52,252 |
| 2024 | $422,305 | $135,462 | $62,629 | $56,440 | 4 | $56,440 | $72,366 |
| 2023 | $337,281 | $109,668 | $88,699 | $83,500 | 7 | $83,500 | $21,699 |
| 2022 | $336,120 | $62,295 | $86,222 | $80,000 | 3 | $80,000 | $774 |
| 2021 | $360,048 | $136,056 | $62,857 | $57,118 | 6 | $57,118 | $63,158 |
| 2020 | $285,165 | $51,877 | $43,509 | $35,134 | 6 | — | $17,717 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Shams Foundation is led by Ahmad Shams, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ahmad Shams
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Victoria Shams
CFO
On filings since 2020
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 Shams Foundation
How much does Shams Foundation give each year?
Shams Foundation gave $109K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $56K across 4 grants.
What is Shams Foundation's typical grant size?
Shams Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,088, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Shams Foundation give grants?
Shams Foundation gives mostly in District of Columbia: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (18%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Shams Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Shams Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Donation" (6 grants).
Who are Shams Foundation's largest grantees?
Shams Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Niac ($75,025), Westminster Free Clinic ($10,000) and Quincy Institute for Responsible St ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Shams Foundation?
Shams Foundation reported $492K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $68K.
What is Shams Foundation's EIN?
Shams Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4774764. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Shams Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shams Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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