Shore Capital Charitable Foundation
The Shore Capital Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, formed by Shore Capital Partners in 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis. It was established to provide financial assistance to individuals and families affected by the crisis and, beyond that period, to aid Shore portfolio company team members, their families, and communities.
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Shore Capital Charitable Foundation gave $17K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 100% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $16,725
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $1,520
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $62,617
- -21.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 100% first-time grantees (11 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Shore Capital Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: One East Wacker Drive 2900, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 348-7580
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Shore Capital Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was America Scores Chicago ($3K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 22 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (81%), Texas (9%), Ohio (9%), and Missouri (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Shore Capital Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
100%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 11 grantees (100%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $2K. How we count
- Giving fell 89% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 552% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2025) to $570K (2020). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| America Scores Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| The Lam Foundation Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $3,000 |
| Juvenile Protective Assocaitaion Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Midtown Education Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Open Heart Magic Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Pilot Light Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| The Novi Community Midland, TX | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| The Uniform Funding Foundation Mentor, OH | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Paws Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Highwind Impact Fund Inc Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $625 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $62,617 | $2,500 | $19,340 | $16,725 | 11 | $19,340 | $3,501 |
| 2024 | $79,457 | — | $4,355 | — | — | $4,355 | $4,062 |
| 2023 | $83,812 | $111,135 | $65,015 | $65,000 | 3 | $65,015 | $1,010 |
| 2022 | $37,692 | $74,245 | $154,025 | $153,910 | 3 | $153,910 | $3,705 |
| 2021 | $117,472 | $161,370 | $397,497 | $397,497 | 5 | $397,497 | $10,837 |
| 2020 | $353,599 | $923,350 | $569,751 | $569,721 | 21 | — | $17,432 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shore Capital Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — 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 website describes its initial role as providing tax-free financial assistance to people and families affected by COVID-19, including those facing lost jobs or medical bills. It says the foundation will also aid portfolio company team members, their families, and communities, and that future programs are being prepared.
Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, America SCORES Chicago says it empowers students through soccer, writing, creative expression, and service-learning. PILOT LIGHT says it partners with pre-K–12 teachers to support experiential food education. Open Heart Magic says it uses magic and laughter to support seriously ill children, while PAWS Chicago describes its work in animal welfare, including spay/neuter, medical, and adoption programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $16,725. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $3,000, with a median grant of $1,500. Listed grants included $3,000 each to America SCORES Chicago and The LAM Foundation; $1,500 each to Juvenile Protective Association, Midtown Education, Open Heart Magic, PILOT LIGHT, The Novi Community, and The Uniform Funding Foundation; $1,000 to PAWS Chicago; $625 to Highwind Impact Fund Inc; and $100 to Pedal the Cause. The filing lists each of these grants as unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Justin Ishbia as president and Tom Smithburg as secretary.
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation is led by Justin Ishbia, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Justin Ishbia
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Smithburg
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Shore Capital Charitable Foundation
How much does Shore Capital Charitable Foundation give each year?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation gave $17K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,520, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Shore Capital Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Shore Capital Charitable Foundation give grants?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (9%) and Ohio (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants).
Does Shore Capital Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include America Scores Chicago ($3,000), The Lam Foundation ($3,000) and Juvenile Protective Assocaitaion ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Shore Capital Charitable Foundation?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation reported $63K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Shore Capital Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website describes its initial role as providing tax-free financial assistance to people and families affected by COVID-19, including those facing lost jobs or medical bills. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Shore Capital Charitable Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-5187975. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Shore Capital Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Shore Capital Charitable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shore Capital Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Figures come from Shore Capital Charitable 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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