The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc
The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The foundation is dedicated to supporting epilepsy research and related charitable causes. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a single employee and is supported by founder Charles L Shor.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.1M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.6M
+4.0% YoY
Grant Count
24
-7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$69K
+12.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that aid in the research of epilepsy and seizures. Beyond epilepsy research, the foundation also supports broader charitable works through its grantmaking activities.
The foundation operates two major initiatives:
Epilepsy Wellness Advocates: A program offering community support, advocacy, and empathy to patients, families, and caregivers affected by epilepsy, serving as a trusted source of information and practical solutions for improving quality of life with epilepsy.
Blue Collar Dollar Institute: An initiative focused on understanding how U.S. subsidies of foreign manufacturing impact the American middle class, poverty rates, and wealth distribution.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving. In 2023, the foundation made 31 grants totaling approximately $1.6 million. Recent notable grants include:
Grant Range
s typically range from $250,000 to $850,000, with a median grant amount of approximately $32,000 based on recent filings.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $28,542,322
- Total Revenues: $766,949
- Total Expenses: $2,938,843
- Investment Income and Dividends: $691,796
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $27,117,222
- Total Giving: $1,645,637
The foundation's investment income represents its primary revenue source, with minimal contributions reported in recent years.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,117,222 | $28,542,322 | $30,539,471 |
| Revenue | $1,220,989 | $766,949 | $1,739,009 |
| Expenses | $2,677,500 | $2,938,843 | $2,428,927 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,584,219 | $2,910,624 | $2,392,573 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,127,708 | $1,254,664 | $1,728,659 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,348,288 | $1,419,829 | $1,425,076 |
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
79 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Society of Manufacturing Engineering ($500,000), Southern Ohio Technical Institute ($176,000), Cincinnati State Foundation ($130,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAPE THERAPEUTIC RIDING RES GREENFIELD, IN | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $80,000 |
| CAMP STONE BEACHWOOD, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $2,000 |
| CINCINNATI YOUTH COLLABORATIVE CINCINNATI, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $125,000 |
| HOPE MEADOWS FOUNDATION WADSWORTH, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $60,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $25,000 |
| LOVESOME STABLES INC DRY RIDGE, KY | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $20,360 |
| PAW IN HAND PROJECT CINCINNATI, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $31,108 |
| CINCINNATI STATE FOUNDATION CINCINNATI, OH | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $130,000 |
| CPA EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $3,000 |
| FCA SUPPORT AGENCY KANSAS CITY, MO | TO FURTHER CHARITABLE WORKS | $1,800 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Charles L Shor - Director and Founder
Charles Shor founded the foundation in 2014 after leading Duro Bag, a paper bag manufacturing company founded by his father, until that year. Shor experienced his first seizure in 1979 while getting off a plane in Manhattan, New York at age 25. This life-changing event ultimately led him to establish the foundation and dedicate his resources to epilepsy research and support.
Gerry Otto - CEO, Secretary & Chair ($184,000 annual compensation)
Michael Berghaus - Treasurer & Vice Chair ($39,000 annual compensation)
Nick Ramler - Secretary ($33,231 annual compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHARLES L SHOR | DIRECTOR | 35 | — |
| GERRY OTTO | CEO, SECRETARY & CHAIR | 36 | $183,568 |
| MICHAEL BERGHAUS | TREASURER & VICE CHAIR | 36 | $39,400 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant recent grants, including a $15.5 million donation to Cleveland Clinic for the establishment of a new neurological institute. The foundation also provided $35,000 to Hope Meadows Foundation, demonstrating ongoing commitment to epilepsy-related causes and broader charitable work in the region.
Shor Foundation gives $35K to Hope Meadows Foundation | Health | clevelandjewishnews.comSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that aid in the research of epilepsy and seizures. Beyond epilepsy research, the foundation also supports broader charitable works through its grantmaking activities. The foundation operates two major initiatives: • **Epilepsy Wellness Advocates**: A program offering community support, advocacy, and empathy to patients, families, and caregivers affected by epilepsy, serving as a trusted source of information and practical solutions for…
How do I apply for a grant from The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving. In 2023, the foundation made 31 grants totaling approximately $1.6 million. Recent notable grants include: • Jewish Federation of Cincinnati: $600,000 • Epilepsy Alliance Ohio: $290,000 • Empowering Epilepsy: $131,625 Grant sizes typically range from $250,000 to $850,000, with a median grant amount of approximately $32,000 based on recent filings. The foundation indicates it operates on a "preselected only" basis, meaning it…
Where does The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
What size grants does The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc awarded 24 grants totaling $1.6M — an average of about $69K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Charles L Shor Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0124473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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