The George L Shields Foundation Inc
The George L Shields Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1993 and based in Bethesda, Maryland. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as an independent foundation focused on distributing grants to nonprofit organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.0M
-2.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+1.1% YoY
Grant Count
82
-9.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+12.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The George L Shields Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports organizations in the following primary areas:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy and Voluntarism
- Disaster Preparedness and Relief
Grantmaking
The George L Shields Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution activity.
Grant Range
$1,000–$150,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus areas including:
- Maryland
- Colorado
- Illinois
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $25.5 million
- Total Revenues: $1.98 million
- Total Expenses: $2.52 million
- Total Liabilities: $798
Revenue Composition (2023):
- Investment income and dividends: $553,118
- Net rental income: $448,988
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $927,968
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $24,965,545
- Total Giving: $2,056,000
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with assets substantially exceeding annual expenses, allowing for consistent grant distribution.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,965,545 | $25,501,486 | $26,046,431 |
| Revenue | $2,012,186 | $1,979,190 | $1,934,348 |
| Expenses | $2,547,329 | $2,524,933 | $2,458,337 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,056,000 | $2,034,000 | $1,977,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,680,801 | $1,636,511 | $1,611,276 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,523,804 | $1,458,167 | $1,526,285 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earth Conservation Corps ($100,000), Frederick Community College Foundation Inc ($85,000), Children's National Hospital Foundation ($78,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION NEW YORK, NY | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $3,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS BOONE, IA | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $15,000 |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION INC STAMFORD, CT | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $15,000 |
| ANACOSTIA RIVERKEEPER INC WASHINGTON, DC | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $35,000 |
| ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL DENVER, CO | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $30,000 |
| ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER DENVER, CO | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $7,000 |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ASPEN, CO | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
| ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BASALT, CO | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| ASPEN VALLEY SKI AND SNOWBOARD CLUB ASPEN, CO | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| ASTRAL ARTISTIC SERVICES PHILADELPHIA, PA | FOR PROGRAM SERVICES | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Robert M. Reiner — Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANN SCHEIN CARLYSS | PRES & DIRECTOR | 5 | $45,000 |
| ROBERT M REINER | SECRETARY/TREAS | 5 | — |
| BRUCE MACDONALD | DIRECTOR | 2 | $4,000 |
| CAROLYN MOORE | DIRECTOR | 2 | $4,000 |
| ROBERT BRENENGEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | $4,000 |
Contact Information
Telephone: 301-634-3125
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The George L Shields Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the foundation supports organizations in the following primary areas: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human Services • Philanthropy and Voluntarism • Disaster Preparedness and Relief
How do I apply for a grant from The George L Shields Foundation Inc?
The George L Shields Foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual distribution activity. **Grant Activity:** • Made 100 grants in 2023 • Total giving: $2,056,000 (2024 fiscal year) • Typical grant range: $1,000–$150,000 **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • Johns Hopkins University: $150,000 (Program Services) • Earth Conservation Corps: $100,000 (Program Services) • The Juilliard School: $97,000 (Program Services) • Frederick Rescue Mission: (Program Services) The foundation primar…
Where does The George L Shields Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends across multiple states, with primary focus areas including: • Maryland • Colorado • Illinois
What size grants does The George L Shields Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The George L Shields Foundation Inc awarded 82 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The George L Shields Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The George L Shields Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The George L Shields Foundation Inc's EIN?
The George L Shields Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1851638. 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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