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.
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
The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only.
Grant Range
$50–$410,000
Average Grant
$39,000
How to Apply
**
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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
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 |
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 include Thomas Jefferson Univ ($400,000), Temple University ($370,000), Drexel University ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BIG SANDBOX PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $300 |
| CONGREGATION RODEPH SHALOM PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DREXEL UNIV THOMAS KLINE SCHOOL OF LAW PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| DREXEL UNIVERSITY PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| ESPERANZA - ARTISTAS Y MSICOS LATINOAMERICANOS (AMLA) PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $500 |
| MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| MOORE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SIPPORT | $2,500 |
| MURAL ARTS PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| PATHWAY TO HOUSING PA PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| PHA - PHILLY SEEDS PHILADELPHIA, PA | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $3,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $50–$410,000 • Average grant size: $39,000 • Median grant amount: $48,416 • Annual giving: $1,152,435–$1,167,500 (recent years) • Total grants awarded: 27–80 grants (depending on reporting period) **Application Process:** The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only.
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
Browse active grant opportunities in Sheller 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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