Shards of Light Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHEVY CHASE, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $126K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $53K. Net investment income was $2K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$126K
+64.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$53K
-38.4% YoY
Grant Count
7
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-47.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shards of Light Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Shards of Light Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Shards of Light Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHEVY CHASE, MD. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $126K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $53K. Net investment income was $2K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $125,735 | $76,394 | $45,917 |
| Revenue | $238,290 | $256,666 | $86,551 |
| Expenses | $188,949 | $226,189 | $40,634 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $188,940 | $226,189 | $40,634 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,171 | $641 | $83 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,019 | $7,158 | $977 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Friends of the Impj ($50,000), Stars That Shine ($1,000), Facing History in Ourselves ($500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF THE IMPJ PASADENA, CA | CHARITABLE GIFT | $50,000 |
| STARS THAT SHINE CHARLES TOWN, WV | CHARITABLE GIFT | $1,000 |
| FACING HISTORY IN OURSELVES BOSTON, MA | CHARITABLE GIFT | $500 |
| RESETTING THE TABLE NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE GIFT | $500 |
| SINAI ASSISTED HOUSING FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE GIFT | $500 |
| YACHAD SILVER SPRING, MD | CHARITABLE GIFT | $265 |
| RECONSTRUCTING JUDAISM WYNCOTE, PA | CHARITABLE GIFT | $18 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISABEL P DUNST | FOUNDER | 10 | — |
| PERI SMILOW | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 25 | $77,818 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shards of Light Foundation?
Shards of Light Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHEVY CHASE, MD. It holds $126K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Shards of Light Foundation?
As of 2024, Shards of Light Foundation holds $126K in total assets with $238K in annual revenue. It awarded 7 grants totaling $53K in 2024.
Where does Shards of Light Foundation operate?
Shards of Light Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
What size grants does Shards of Light Foundation award?
In 2024, Shards of Light Foundation awarded 7 grants totaling $53K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shards of Light Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shards of Light Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shards of Light Foundation's EIN?
Shards of Light Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-6584360. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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