The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 26-1571606

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is a public charity based in Washington, DC, formed in 2007. Its sole activity, according to its 2024 filing, is making charitable contributions to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) that are not private foundations.

Key facts about The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation

In short: The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation gave $650K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $59K), top state California. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
26-1571606
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$649,600
Grants made (2025)
11
Average grant
$59,055
Median grant
$25,000
New grantees (estimate)
18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
Total assets
$495,840
Primary geography
California (42% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$496K

-59.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$650K

+137.9% YoY

Grant Count

11

+57.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$59K

+51.4% YoY

Is The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation open to new grantees?

18%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) 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 $98K; repeat grants $51K. How we count

Medians: $98K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization states that its sole activity is making charitable contributions to eligible tax-exempt organizations. It expects many recipients to be involved in charitable activities related to law and the legal profession, or to hunger and homelessness.

The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of work supported. Equal Justice Works says it creates opportunities for lawyers to pursue public service focused on equal justice; the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project seeks to exonerate people convicted of crimes they did not commit in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The Kansas University Endowment Association says it partners with donors to support the University of Kansas, while Thrive Scholars says it supports high-achieving students from under-resourced communities in reaching top colleges and meaningful careers. Other 2025 recipients included food banks and organizations addressing homelessness and poverty.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the organization reported 11 grants totaling $649,600. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $170,000, with a median of $25,000. The listed grant purposes were general purpose.

The largest 2025 grants were $170,000 to The Kansas University Endowment Association, $150,000 to Thrive Scholars, and $149,000 to Equal Justice Works. Other listed awards included $48,100 to Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of SF Bay Area, $42,500 to Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Association, and $25,000 each to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project and the American Red Cross.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grant dollars were reported as distributed among recipients in California (42%), the District of Columbia (31%), Kansas (26%), and New York (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonSan FranciscoLos AngelesNew YorkSan DiegoBostonBrooklynMontgomeryWashington DCAustinFt BelvoirHoustonLawrenceNashvillePlacervilleSanta Clara

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K8 grants2020 16 grants2021 16 grants2022 9 grants2023 7 grants2024 11 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $273K (2024) to $709K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $650K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

The Kansas University Endowment Association: $170KThe Kansas UniversityEndowment Association$170KThrive Scholars: $150KThrive Scholars$150KEqual Justice Works: $149KEqual Justice Works$149KLawyers Committee for Civil Rights of SF Bay Area: $48KLawyers Committee for CivilRights of SF Bay Area$48KJustice and Diversity Center of the Bar Associatio: $43KJustice and Diversity Centerof the Bar Associatio$43KMid-Atlantic Innocence Project: $25KMid-Atlantic Innocence Project$25KAmerican Red Cross: $25KAmerican Red Cross$25KCity Harvest: $10KCity Harvest$10KThe Midnight Mission: $10KThe Midnight Mission$10KWestern Center on Law & Poverty: $10KWestern Center on Law &Poverty$10K

The largest 2025 recipient was The Kansas University Endowment Association ($170K). Together the top 10 received $640K.

Grant Size Distribution

59 grants across all recorded years

44<$50K7$50–100K8$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 59 (75%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Kansas University Endowment Association Lawrence, KSGeneral Purpose.$170,000
Thrive Scholars Los Angeles, CAGeneral Purpose.$150,000
Equal Justice Works Washington, DCGeneral Purpose.$149,000
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of SF Bay Area San Francisco, CAGeneral Purpose.$48,100
Justice and Diversity Center of the Bar Associatio San Francisco, CAGeneral Purpose$42,500
Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project Washington, DCGeneral Purpose.$25,000
American Red Cross Washington, DCGeneral Purpose.$25,000
City Harvest Brooklyn, NYGeneral Purpose.$10,000
The Midnight Mission Los Angeles, CAGeneral Purpose.$10,000
Western Center on Law & Poverty Los Angeles, CAGeneral Purpose.$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2025 $495,840 — $724,207 $649,600 11
2024 $1,220,047 $500,000 $346,376 $273,100 7
2023 $1,066,423 — $472,979 $386,040 9
Revenue
Expenses
$0$500K$1M$1.5M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$495,840$1,220,047$1,066,423
Revenue—$500,000—
Expenses$724,207$346,376$472,979

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 14, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 14, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 15, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 12, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists James M. Rishwain Jr., David T. Dekker, and John R. Heisse as directors; Dekker is also chairman of the board, and Heisse is president. Edward A. Perron is vice-president. Sean P. Whelan is secretary and treasurer, and Liza B. Macalolooy is assistant treasurer.

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation is led by John R Heisse, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • John R Heisse

    Director & President

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David T Dekker

    Director & Chairman of Board

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James M Rishwain Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Edward A Perron

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Liza B Macalolooy

    Assistant Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sean P Whelan

    Secretary & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/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.

Contact

Mailing address: 1200 Seventeeth Street Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 663-9096

Frequently asked questions about The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation

How much does The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation give each year?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation gave $650K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $273K across 7 grants.

What is The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's typical grant size?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $59,055, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation that year got $98K on average.

Where does The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation give grants?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's top state is California, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were District of Columbia (31%) and Kansas (26%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and San Francisco, CA (3 grants).

Does The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's largest grantees?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Kansas University Endowment Association ($170,000), Thrive Scholars ($150,000) and Equal Justice Works ($149,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation reported $496K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

What does The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation fund?

The organization states that its sole activity is making charitable contributions to eligible tax-exempt organizations. It expects many recipients to be involved in charitable activities related to law and the legal profession, or to hunger and homelessness. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's EIN?

The Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1571606. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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