Shear Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (103 Gamma Dr Ste 120, Pittsburgh, PA 15238-2983). Established in 2015, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization focused on charitable grant-making and fund distribution. The foundation is governed by members of the Shear family and maintains professional management through dedicated staff.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$9.0M
-0.5% YoY
Grant Count
78
+5.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$116K
-5.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated mission is to "continue the Shear family legacy of making a meaningful impact and inspiring generosity through our grants."
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations seeking funding would need to establish contact through the Executive Director or foundation officers. Grants are typically awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees and officers.
Grant Range
$50,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $132,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Shear Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Pennsylvania (primary focus)
- Florida
- Illinois
These three states account for approximately 62% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 17 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income (2024):
- Total assets: $225,788,687
- Total annual giving: $9,042,000 to $10,035,421
- Total revenues: $13,952,948
- Total expenses: $12,924,120
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from undisclosed amounts in 2014 to $225.8 million by 2024
- Annual giving has grown from $7.4 million in 2020 to approximately $9.5 million in 2022
Foundation Status:
- Ranked in the top 1% of foundations by assets (#888 of 159,550)
- Tax-exempt status since March 2015
- Files Form 990-PF annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Donor Advised Funds- Charles Schwab ($951,000), American Friends of Leket Israel Inc ($600,000), Amerian Israel Education Fund ($450,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLEGHENY VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY NEW KENSINGTON, PA | LOW INCOME HOUSING AID | $5,000 |
| ALPERT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES WEST PALM BEACH, FL | FOOD INSECURITY | $250,000 |
| AMATEUR HOCKEY ASSOC ILLINOIS INC ELK GROVE, IL | EQUIPMENT | $5,000 |
| AMERIAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | AIEF | $450,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL SPORT CENTER FOR THE DISABLED NORTHFIELD, IL | REHABILITATION- PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL THROUGH SPORTS | $125,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL INC TEANECK, NJ | FOOD INSECURITY | $600,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT | $150,000 |
| BARK NATION FERNDALE, MI | ANIMAL RESCUE SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | MENTORING PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| BIG FLUFFY DOG RESCUE NASHVILLE, TN | ANIMAL RESCUE SUPPORT | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Officers:
- Barbara S Shear – President
- Gerald A Shear – Vice President
- John A Shear – Vice President
- Herbert S Shear – Treasurer
- Richard L Roadarmel – Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
- Ann Felter – Executive Director (40 hours/week, $161,000 annual compensation)
All board members serve on a part-time basis (0.4 hours per week) and receive no compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA S SHEAR | PRESIDENT | 0.4 | — |
| GERALD A SHEAR | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.4 | — |
| JOHN A SHEAR | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.4 | — |
| HERBERT S SHEAR | TREASURER | 0.4 | — |
| RICHARD L ROADARMEL | ASST. SECR./ASST. TREASURER | 0.4 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shear Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's stated mission is to "continue the Shear family legacy of making a meaningful impact and inspiring generosity through our grants." The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Shear Family Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 71-78 grants in its most recent fiscal year • Median grant size: $50,000 • Grant range: $1,500 to $951,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $132,000 • Total annual giving: approximately $9-10 million **Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations seeking funding would need to establish contact through the Executive Director or foundation officers. Grants are t…
Where does Shear Family Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Pennsylvania (primary focus) • Florida • Illinois These three states account for approximately 62% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 17 states.
What size grants does Shear Family Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Shear Family Foundation Inc awarded 78 grants totaling $9.0M — an average of about $116K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Shear Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Shear Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1833006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shear Family Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Wolf Creek Operating Foundation
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA
Assets
$7.1M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The Best Little Cat House in PA
HARRISBURG, PA
Assets
$281K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation
LANCASTER, PA
Assets
$9.4M
Grants
35
Total Given
$304K
The Irene P Sorbara Charitable Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
2
Total Given
$131K
Howmet Aerospace Foundation
PITTSBURGH, PA
Assets
$141.5M
Grants
209
Total Given
$8.4M
Penn and Lisa Seiple Conservancy
SUNBURY, PA
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Shear Family Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Shear Family Foundation Inc to a real strategy.