The Shamrock Foundation
The Shamrock Foundation is a private foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. Its 2020 filing is marked as a final return and reports a transfer of all assets to Shamrock Trust, another 501(c)(3) organization; the foundation therefore appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Shamrock Foundation at a glance
In short: The Shamrock Foundation gave $97K across 24 grants in 2020 (avg $4K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $96,725
- Grants made (2020)
- 24
- Average grant
- $4,030
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Primary geography
- Arizona (86% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Shamrock Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Its 2020 filing is marked as a final return.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7301 E Desert Moon Loop, Tucson, AZ 85750
Phone: (520) 721-5000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Shamrock Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Holy Trinity Newman Center ($50K). Together the top 10 received $89K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 24 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2020, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona. The remaining reported shares went to Maryland (5%), Washington, DC (3%), Illinois (2%), and Oklahoma (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 24 grants totaling $97K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity Newman Center Flagstaff, AZ | As Needed | $50,000 |
| Cathedral Cultural Program Diocese Tucson, AZ | As Needed | $10,000 |
| Catholic Community Services Tucson, AZ | As Needed | $10,000 |
| American for Prosperity Foundation Baltimore, MD | As Needed | $5,000 |
| Forest Highlands Fdtn Flagstaff, AZ | As Needed | $5,000 |
| Judicial Watch Washington, DC | As Needed | $2,000 |
| Proton Pals Foundation Oklahoma City, OK | As Needed | $2,000 |
| St Thomas the Apostle Tucson, AZ | As Needed | $2,000 |
| St Francis De Asis Flagstaff, AZ | As Needed | $2,000 |
| Conservative Leadership for Politic Alexandria, VA | As Needed | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $77,499 | $99,930 | $96,725 | 24 | $74,294 | $45,366 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shamrock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $45K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, St. Vincent de Paul described its mission as providing food, clothing, and household items for people in need; Friends of Sabino Canyon said it raises funds and awareness for the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area; and Judicial Watch described its work as promoting government integrity and accountability through public advocacy, litigation, monitoring, and investigation. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $96,725. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $50,000, with a median of $1,000.
The largest reported awards included $50,000 to Holy Trinity Newman Center, $10,000 each to Cathedral Cultural Program Diocese and Catholic Community Services, and $5,000 each to American for Prosperity Foundation and Forest Highlands Fdtn. Other reported grants included $2,000 to Judicial Watch and $500 to Friends of Sabino Canyon.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed Patricia O Johnston as president and J Robert Johnston as secretary/treasurer.
The Shamrock Foundation is led by Patricia O. Johnston, President on the 2020 filing; none of the 2 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Patricia O. Johnston
President
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
J. Robert Johnston
Secretary & Treasurer
New on the 2020 filing
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Shamrock Foundation
How much does The Shamrock Foundation give each year?
The Shamrock Foundation gave $97K across 24 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Shamrock Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shamrock Foundation's median grant in 2020 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,030, across 24 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Shamrock Foundation give grants?
The Shamrock Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (8 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (5 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does The Shamrock Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2020: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on The Shamrock Foundation's 2020 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "As Needed" (24 grants).
Who are The Shamrock Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shamrock Foundation's largest 2020 grantees include Holy Trinity Newman Center ($50,000), Cathedral Cultural Program Diocese ($10,000) and Catholic Community Services ($10,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The Shamrock Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2020 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. For example, St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shamrock Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Shamrock Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, The Shamrock Foundation reported a distributable amount of $45K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shamrock Foundation's EIN?
The Shamrock Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0570378. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020.
Does The Shamrock 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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Figures come from The Shamrock 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.
The Shamrock Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?