The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation is a private foundation based in Somers Point, New Jersey. Its 2024 filing reports scholarship awards for qualified high school graduates, paid directly to the colleges and universities they attended.
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation at a glance
In short: The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation gave $210K across 83 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $209,660
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 83
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,526
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $2,925,333
- +93.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing names Alan S Gerber Esq as the application contact. Applicants are asked to submit two essays: a one-page account of their accomplishments as a student, activities, and career plans; and a developed essay on one of two specified topics. Essays should be double-spaced, in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial, with one-inch margins, and should identify the selected topic. Eligibility is limited to graduating seniors from Lacey Township, Pinelands Regional, Southern Regional, and Barnegat high schools, as well as qualifying students from the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science or Performing Arts Academy of OCVTS who come from the specified sending districts. Applicants must have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale, an SAT score of at least 1100 excluding writing, and rank in the top 20% of their high school class.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists April 1st as a deadline, but does not give a year for that date. Its eligibility text separately specifies a submission deadline of Wednesday, March 1, 2024; that date is in the past.
- Deadline
- The filing lists April 1st as a deadline, but does not give a year for that date.
- Contact
Application contact: Alan S Gerber Esq
Mailing address: PO Box 605, Somers Point, NJ 08244
Phone: (609) 432-6045
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
348 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 348 grants of 348 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The application criteria identify specific high schools and sending districts in Southern Ocean County, New Jersey. The 2024 filing reports that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey, 2% to Florida, and 1% to South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 83 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation gives
- Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $137K (2021) to $231K (2023). In 2024 it made 83 grants totaling $210K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $145,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2024 filing reports 83 grants, compared with 83 in 2023 and 71 in 2022.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,925,333 | $1,372,374 | $264,451 | $209,660 | 83 | $215,681 | $168,400 |
| 2023 | $1,510,354 | $1,574,793 | $273,130 | $231,250 | 83 | $236,475 | $23,554 |
| 2022 | $154,464 | $195,128 | $243,632 | $207,437 | 71 | $243,632 | $128 |
| 2021 | $202,968 | $250,008 | $163,947 | $136,563 | 52 | $163,947 | $8 |
| 2020 | $116,907 | $210,009 | $205,227 | $169,314 | 59 | — | $9 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes scholarship activity but does not state a broader mission. Its 2024 application requirements describe eligibility for graduating seniors from specified Southern Ocean County, New Jersey, high schools who meet academic criteria.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 83 grants totaling $209,660. The reported grant amounts ranged from $1,250 to $6,250, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards listed were scholarships to individual recipients: $6,250, $5,000, and multiple awards of $3,750. Scholarships were paid directly to the recipients’ colleges and universities.
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alan S Gerber as Trustee and Barbara Freedman Gerber as Secretary.
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Alan S. Gerber
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.9 hrs/week
$37K (2023) → $43K (2024)
Barbara Freedman Gerber
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2.1 hrs/week
$6K (2024)
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 $43K, to Alan S Gerber (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation
How much does The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation give each year?
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation gave $210K across 83 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $231K across 83 grants.
What is The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's typical grant size?
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,526, across 83 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation give grants?
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 83 grants with a stated purpose on The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (83 grants).
How large is The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation?
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.4M.
What does The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes scholarship activity but does not state a broader mission. Its 2024 application requirements describe eligibility for graduating seniors from specified Southern Ocean County, New Jersey, high schools who meet academic criteria. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation?
The filing names Alan S Gerber Esq as the application contact. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's EIN?
The Elizabeth O Shear Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6803705. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from The Elizabeth O Shear 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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