Sheller Family Foundation
The Sheller Family Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Established in 2002, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple states.
Key facts about Sheller Family Foundation
- EIN
- 23-3102577
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,167,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $68,676
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (5 of 17, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,118,625
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sheller Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Sheller Family Foundation's 17 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (15 grants). None of its 17 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (16 grants).
Is Sheller Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 17 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $97K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 81% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 315% 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 Sheller Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Sheller Family Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.1M
-11.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
17
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
-4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheller Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $371K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Higher education
- University education
- Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$50–$410,000
Average Grant
$39,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Sheller Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in:
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- California
- Florida
- Virginia
Additional funding reaches organizations in other states including Texas, Illinois, and Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $6,118,625–$6,913,667
- Total giving: $1,167,500
- Annual revenue: $458,947–$1,010,735
- Annual expenses: $1,250,021–$1,251,480
- Giving rate: 16.4%
Asset Growth: Assets have grown from $5 million in 2011 to approximately $6.9 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,118,625 | $6,913,667 | $7,154,454 |
| Revenue | $458,947 | $1,010,735 | $1,193,301 |
| Expenses | $1,251,480 | $1,250,021 | $706,798 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,167,753 | $1,152,435 | $639,265 |
| Net Investment Income | $375,720 | $50,179 | $125,410 |
| Distributable Amount | $371,031 | $336,484 | $346,518 |
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
97 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Thomas Jefferson Univ ($400,000), Temple University ($370,000), Drexel University ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIV Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $400,000 |
| TEMPLE UNIVERSITY Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $370,000 |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| MURAL ARTS Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| DREXEL UNIV THOMAS KLINE SCHOOL OF LAW Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATION RODEPH SHALOM Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PHA - PHILLY SEEDS Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| MOORE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN Philadelphia, PA | PROGRAM SIPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sandra Sheller – President, Chair, and Treasurer (7 hours per week)
- Stephen A. Sheller – Vice President and Secretary (1 hour per week)
Both serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen a Sheller | Vice President & Secretary | 1 | — |
| Sandra Sheller | President, Chair, & Treasu | 7 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Temple Law School announced a new gift from the Sheller Family Foundation, indicating ongoing support for higher education initiatives.
Sheller Family Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit ExplorerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sheller Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Arts and culture • Education • Higher education • University education • Philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from Sheller Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Sheller Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary concentration in: • Pennsylvania • New Jersey • California • Florida • Virginia Additional funding reaches organizations in other states including Texas, Illinois, and Maryland.
What size grants does Sheller Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Sheller Family Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sheller Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sheller Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $371K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sheller Family Foundation's EIN?
Sheller Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-3102577. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.