Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter
SHIFT (formerly known as the Aaron and Martha Schecter Private Foundation) is a small family foundation based in Hollywood, Florida. Established in June 1982 by Aaron Schecter, a Florida property developer, the foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation with a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.0M
-22.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+104.0% YoY
Grant Count
10
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$128K
+63.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter reported a distributable amount of $285K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: SHIFT envisions a common good that includes people seeking to use community resources for the benefit of all members, greater economic equality, broadest possible participation, and a healthy environment. The foundation defines "common good" as the wellbeing of the whole community, made possible when a society's skills and resources are used in ways that benefit everyone.
Mission: To expand the common good by creating an expanding community of people working toward the common good and supporting individuals, projects, organizations, or collaborations that advocate for the common good.
Primary Funding Areas: The foundation focuses on education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services. The foundation makes grants to left-of-center organizations and supports unrestricted donations to grantees.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Awards typically range from $10,000 to $400,000, with median grants around $65,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California and the District of Columbia, though it emphasizes looking locally first in its grantmaking approach.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3.0–$6.1 million (varies by reporting year)
Annual Giving: Recent annual distributions range from approximately $185,000 to $1.57 million in expenses, with total grants and contributions varying significantly year to year.
Revenue: Annual revenue ranges from approximately $723,000 to $795,100, with investment income and dividends comprising a portion of annual revenue.
Financial Trend: The foundation's financial profile shows fluctuation in giving patterns, with significant variation in annual contributions and grant distributions across recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,000,013 | $3,847,572 | $3,811,310 |
| Revenue | $722,632 | $795,113 | $766,897 |
| Expenses | $1,570,191 | $758,839 | $1,429,465 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,538,070 | $717,964 | $1,398,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $673,926 | $332,651 | $736,097 |
| Distributable Amount | $284,998 | $293,173 | $213,005 |
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
37 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Media Matters ($400,000), Sustainable Economies Law Center ($300,000), Democracy Collaborative ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU OF FLORIDA MIAMI, FL | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $30,000 |
| DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE CLEVELAND, OH | UNRESTRIACTED DONATION | $200,000 |
| TIDE FDTN - CNTR FOR WRKING FAMILY LOS ANGELES, CA | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $30,000 |
| SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES LAW CENTER OAKLAND, CA | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $300,000 |
| CURIOUS COMMUNICATIONS INC NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $100,000 |
| BOSTON UNIVERSITY NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $100,000 |
| BEYOND THE BARS MIAMI, FL | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $10,000 |
| MEDIA MATTERS WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $400,000 |
| MEDIATORS FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $25,000 |
| MOMENTUM COMMUNITY LONG BEACH, CA | UNRESTRICTED DONATION | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Laurie Schecter
- Julie Schecter
- Will Hapgood
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURIE SCHECTER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JULIE SCHECTER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| WILL HAPGOOD | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
SHIFT Community Cycles received a $247,000 grant for youth programming in Eugene, Oregon, supporting bicycling non-profit work.
Shift Community Cycles awarded $247,000 grant - KEPW 97.3 Whole CommunityFrequently Asked Questions
What does Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter fund?
**Vision:** SHIFT envisions a common good that includes people seeking to use community resources for the benefit of all members, greater economic equality, broadest possible participation, and a healthy environment. The foundation defines "common good" as the wellbeing of the whole community, made possible when a society's skills and resources are used in ways that benefit everyone. **Mission:** To expand the common good by creating an expanding community of people working toward the common go…
How do I apply for a grant from Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter?
**Grant Approach:** SHIFT uses a relationship-building approach rather than a public-facing grants program. The foundation does not accept applications or require formal reports from grantees. SHIFT invests in a small handful of programs and does not add new grantees regularly. **Grant Strategy:** As a small family foundation, SHIFT provides resources needed to get something moving that wouldn't otherwise be possible, especially during key moments of transition or growth. The foundation aims to…
Where does Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California and the District of Columbia, though it emphasizes looking locally first in its grantmaking approach.
What size grants does Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter award?
In 2024, Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter awarded 10 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $128K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter reported a distributable amount of $285K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter's EIN?
Shift Fka Aaron & Martha Schecter's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2185762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
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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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