Shield-Ayres Foundation
The Shield-Ayres Foundation is a private foundation based in Austin, Texas. It supports organizations working in health and human services, the environment, education, and the arts, with a stated emphasis on basic human needs, educational and arts access, social justice, and land and water conservation.
Shield-Ayres Foundation at a glance
In short: Shield-Ayres Foundation gave $2.1M across 121 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Texas. 13% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,137,925
- +49.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 121
- +6.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,669
- +40.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $19,140,519
- +3.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (15 of 115, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Texas (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Shield-Ayres Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The open application process is paused, and only previous grantees are eligible to submit an LOI. The LOI is the first step; only applicants receiving a favorable response may submit a full proposal. The LOI form and full-proposal materials are provided through the foundation’s grant process. No discussion with staff is required before submitting an LOI. The foundation’s 2024 filing directs applicants to its website for detailed application information.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists February 15 and August 15 as LOI deadlines for consideration at board meetings generally held in March and September. Those 2026 deadlines have passed; the website does not specify a future deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists February 15 and August 15 as LOI deadlines for consideration at board meetings generally held in…
- Contact
Application contact: See Website Wwwshield-Ayresfoundati
Mailing address: 3103 Bee Caves Road Suite 203, Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 467-4021
Website: https://www.shield-ayresfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Shield-Ayres Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Shield Ranch Foundation ($500K). Together the top 10 received $805K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
614 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 605 grants of 614 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds organizations whose programs serve Bexar and Travis counties in Central Texas. Proposals serving other areas of Texas, elsewhere in the United States, or internationally are by invitation only. For environmental grants, it focuses on the Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast, and Trans Pecos regions of Texas, and also considers statewide conservation work in environmental education and public policy. The foundation’s website also identifies Austin, San Antonio, and select other areas where it has special interests.
In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas, 4% to New York, 3% to Washington, DC, and 1% each to North Carolina and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 121 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Shield-Ayres Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 115 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 137% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.4M (2023) to $2.9M (2020). In 2024 it made 121 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shield Ranch Foundation Austin, TX | General Support of the Organization | $500,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Support of the Organization | $45,000 |
| El Buen Samaritano Austin, TX | General Support of the Organization | $40,000 |
| Bread for the World Institute Washington, DC | General Support of the Organization | $30,000 |
| HFCC (Housing First Community Coalition) San Antonio, TX | General Support of the Organization | $25,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy San Antonio, TX | General Support of the Organization | $25,000 |
| American Youthworks Austin, TX | General Support of the Organization | $20,000 |
| Audubon Texas Austin, TX | General Support of the Organization | $20,000 |
| Community Foundation of Western NC Asheville, NC | General Support of the Organization | $20,000 |
| Community Health Development Inc Uvalde, TX | General Support of the Organization | $20,000 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,140,519 | $3,204,438 | $2,698,290 | $2,137,925 | 121 | $2,309,078 | $2,857,808 | $1,683,665 |
| 2023 | $18,570,499 | $3,388,401 | $1,928,282 | $1,429,250 | 114 | $1,593,301 | $3,105,527 | $1,624,078 |
| 2022 | $17,106,663 | $3,850,793 | $2,319,733 | $1,862,083 | 116 | $2,001,266 | $3,564,389 | $1,641,945 |
| 2021 | $15,569,123 | $2,709,010 | $2,706,327 | $2,268,250 | 129 | $2,411,660 | $2,413,747 | $1,422,644 |
| 2020 | $15,568,530 | $2,202,469 | $3,282,109 | $2,887,348 | 134 | — | $1,950,038 | $1,144,521 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shield-Ayres Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to strengthen organizations that meet the basic human needs of vulnerable people, provide access to educational opportunities and the arts, advocate for social justice, and promote land and water conservation.
Its stated priorities include basic-needs services, financial and legal assistance, mental and physical healthcare, self-reliance, faith and spirituality, and social-justice policy advocacy. Environmental priorities include land and water conservation, endangered-species protection, environmental education, access to natural spaces, and environmental-stewardship policy advocacy. In education and the arts, it supports programs offering underserved populations educational opportunities or access to the arts.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate these areas. The San Antonio Food Bank describes its mission as fighting hunger through food distribution, programs, education, and advocacy. Community Health Development Inc. says it provides primary healthcare and dental services in its local service area. The Safe Alliance describes its work as assisting people and families affected by child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. On the environmental side, Hill Country Alliance says it works to preserve the Texas Hill Country’s open spaces, night skies, waters, and character; Save Barton Creek Association says it protects and conserves the six watersheds of the Barton Springs Aquifer. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
The foundation generally does not fund unsolicited requests for animal welfare or therapeutic animal programs, private primary or secondary schools, or universities seeking support for access to education. It may consider university-sponsored programs aligned with other funding priorities; prospective university applicants are asked to contact the foundation before submitting an LOI.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 121 grants totaling $2,137,925. Grant amounts ranged from $6,250 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. The foundation’s FAQ describes its average grant size as around $10,000 and says it may make smaller or significantly larger grants.
The largest 2024 grant was $500,000 to Shield Ranch Foundation for general support. Other large grants included $45,000 to Doctors Without Borders, $40,000 to El Buen Samaritano, and $30,000 to Bread for the World Institute, each for general support. Bread for the World Institute describes its mission as providing analysis and education on hunger issues in the United States and around the world. Other 2024 grants included $25,000 each to HFCC (Housing First Community Coalition) and The Nature Conservancy, and $20,000 each to American YouthWorks, Audubon Texas, Community Foundation of Western NC, Community Health Development Inc., Great Springs Project, and Hill Country Alliance.
The foundation considers requests for capital campaigns, endowments, programs, capacity building, and unrestricted operating expenses. It may consider multi-year commitments of up to three years; applicants seeking multi-year funding should explain the case for it in their proposal. The foundation typically does not consider multi-year funding for first-time grantees. Organizations may apply once in a 12-month period and may receive grants for up to three consecutive years; after a third consecutive year of funding, grantees are asked to sit out for a full year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Patricia Shield Ayres as founder and trustee; Vera Ayres Bowen as president; Margaret Bowers Ayres as vice president; Robert Atlee Ayres as treasurer; Marshall Ayres Bowen as secretary; Elizabeth Ayres Domenech and Gentry Shield Bowen as trustees; and Cindy Raab as executive director.
Shield-Ayres Foundation is led by Cindy Raab, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cindy Raab
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$111K (2020) → $131K (2024)
Vera Ayres Bowen
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Ayres Domenech
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gentry Shield Bowen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Shield Ayres
Founder & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Bowers Ayres
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marshall Ayres Bowen
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Atlee Ayres
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $131K, to Cindy Raab (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Shield-Ayres Foundation
How much does Shield-Ayres Foundation give each year?
Shield-Ayres Foundation gave $2.1M across 121 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 114 grants.
What is Shield-Ayres Foundation's typical grant size?
Shield-Ayres Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,669, across 121 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Shield-Ayres Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Shield-Ayres Foundation give grants?
Shield-Ayres Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (67 grants), San Antonio, TX (17 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does Shield-Ayres Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Shield-Ayres Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (121 of 121) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Shield-Ayres Foundation's largest grantees?
Shield-Ayres Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Shield Ranch Foundation ($500,000), Doctors Without Borders ($60,000 across 2 grants) and Bread for the World Institute ($40,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Shield-Ayres Foundation?
Shield-Ayres Foundation reported $19.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Shield-Ayres Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to strengthen organizations that meet the basic human needs of vulnerable people, provide access to educational opportunities and the arts, advocate for social justice, and promote land and water conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Shield-Ayres Foundation?
The open application process is paused, and only previous grantees are eligible to submit an LOI. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Shield-Ayres Foundation's EIN?
Shield-Ayres Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-1938157. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Shield-Ayres Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/shield-ayres-foundation-morg_4cccbb543dc94e078c518b3bd154b0aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_741938157_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Shield-Ayres Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/shield-ayres-foundation-morg_4cccbb543dc94e078c518b3bd154b0aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Shield-Ayres Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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