The KM Shimano Family Foundation
The KM Shimano Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC. It supports work to protect oceans and marine life through conservation, education, and engagement, with its website describing a current focus on marine environment conservation.
The KM Shimano Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The KM Shimano Family Foundation gave $163K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state California. 55% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $162,835
- +13.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +83.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,803
- -38.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $5,028,406
- +3.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (36% 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 The KM Shimano Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 1055 Wisconsin Ave Nw Unit 3W, Washington Dc, DC 20007
Phone: (949) 388-8662
Website: https://www.kmsff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The KM Shimano Family Foundation
Who The KM Shimano Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Marine Mammal Center ($35K). Together the top 10 received $161K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 25 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in California (36% of grant dollars), Florida (21%), Maine (20%), Massachusetts (20%), and New Jersey (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The KM Shimano Family Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) 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 $8K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $144K (2024) to $163K (2025). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $163K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Marine Mammal Center Sausalito, CA | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $35,000 |
| Marine Mammals of Maine Brunswick, ME | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $30,000 |
| California Coastkeeper Alliance Sacramento, CA | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $20,000 |
| African Aquatic Conservation Fund Chilmark, MA | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $20,000 |
| Sea Turtle Conservancy Gainesville, FL | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $15,000 |
| Inwater Research Group Jensen Beach, FL | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $15,000 |
| New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance Inc Middleboro, MA | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $12,000 |
| Marine Mammal Stranding Center Brigantine, NJ | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $7,000 |
| Wildlife Research Alliance Saint Petersburg, FL | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $3,835 |
| Sea Otter Savvy Moss Landing, CA | To further the organization's efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife. | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The KM Shimano Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,028,406 | $539,252 | $369,136 | $162,835 | 11 | $162,835 | — | $143,684 |
| 2024 | $4,858,290 | $537,671 | $346,802 | $143,700 | 6 | $143,700 | — | $163,472 |
| 2023 | $4,667,421 | $538,044 | $343,441 | $150,000 | 8 | $150,000 | $38,044 | $151,695 |
| 2022 | $4,472,818 | $4,642,931 | $170,113 | — | — | — | — | $141,194 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The KM Shimano Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $144K 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 stated mission is “using education, engagement, and conservation to help make the world a better place.” Its stated funding areas include marine animal rescue and rehabilitation, marine research and conservation, water conservation—especially in saltwater and brackish ecosystems—and marine and environmental education. The foundation also says its support can include scientific research on the oceanic environment and legislative work.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate these areas. The Marine Mammal Center describes its work as marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, scientific research, and education in service of ocean conservation. Marine Mammals of Maine says it rescues injured, sick, and abandoned marine mammals and educates the public about what to do when they find one. The African Aquatic Conservation Fund describes a focus on research, conservation, and education for African manatees, turtles, and other aquatic wildlife and their habitats. Sea Turtle Conservancy describes work to protect sea turtles through research, education, training, advocacy, and habitat protection.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $162,835. The grants ranged from $2,000 to $35,000, with a median grant of $15,000. Each listed grant was for efforts to protect the ocean and ocean wildlife.
Notable 2025 grants included $35,000 to The Marine Mammal Center, $30,000 to Marine Mammals of Maine, $20,000 each to California Coastkeeper Alliance and the African Aquatic Conservation Fund, and $15,000 each to Sea Turtle Conservancy and Inwater Research Group.
The foundation’s website describes a process for organizations to review donation request guidelines, complete a submission form, and review reporting guidelines. However, the foundation states on its 2025 filing that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website says it is accepting applications for 2026, but the available information does not provide a deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lee Hearn as executive director, Martha Shimano as president, and Kozo Shimano as vice president.
The KM Shimano Family Foundation is led by Lee P. Hearn, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lee P. Hearn
Executive Director
Secretary → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
$110K (2022) → $120K (2025)
Martha Shimano
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kozo Shimano
Vice President
Vice President & Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Lee Hearn (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The KM Shimano Family Foundation
How much does The KM Shimano Family Foundation give each year?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation gave $163K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $144K across 6 grants.
What is The KM Shimano Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $14,803, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The KM Shimano Family Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does The KM Shimano Family Foundation give grants?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation's top state is California, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (21%) and Maine (20%).
Does The KM Shimano Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The KM Shimano Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The KM Shimano Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Marine Mammal Center ($35,000), Marine Mammals of Maine ($30,000) and California Coastkeeper Alliance ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The KM Shimano Family Foundation?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $163K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $144K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The KM Shimano Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “using education, engagement, and conservation to help make the world a better place.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The KM Shimano Family Foundation?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check kmsff.org for any change to that policy.
What is The KM Shimano Family Foundation's EIN?
The KM Shimano Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3647912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The KM Shimano Family 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 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The KM Shimano Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The KM Shimano Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-km-shimano-family-foundation-morg_ca61bdfef68f4ea29e667018ec01740b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873647912_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The KM Shimano Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-km-shimano-family-foundation-morg_ca61bdfef68f4ea29e667018ec01740b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The KM Shimano Family 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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