The Shanahan Family Charitable
The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in May 2007 and based in Pasadena, California. With total assets exceeding $418 million, the foundation provides grants primarily for education and children's hospitals, with a particular emphasis on scientific research and higher education institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$439.5M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$18.8M
+6.4% YoY
Grant Count
47
+17.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$399K
-9.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shanahan Family Charitable reported a distributable amount of $21.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission reflects founder R. Michael Shanahan's vision of creating a place where his family could work together to make a difference in individuals' lives. The foundation is committed to:
- Education: Support for higher education institutions, with particular emphasis on innovation and student fellowships
- Children's Healthcare: Funding for children's hospitals and pediatric research institutions
- Brain Health & Alzheimer's Research: Scientific discovery in neuroscience and Alzheimer's disease research
- Equity and Parity: Values shared across all family members
The foundation's stated mission is to empower people and accelerate scientific discovery.
Grantmaking
The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.
Grant Range
$1,783 to $2,700,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with The Shanahan Family Charitable?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has national reach with concentration in:
- Pennsylvania
- California
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $439,456,028
- Total Revenues: $24,863,436
- Total Expenses: $23,539,806
- Total Liabilities: $19.8 million
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $418.8 million
- Annual Giving: $17,626,736
- Total Expenses: $8.89 million
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation, tax-exempt since May 2007
EIN: 20-7267377
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $439,456,028 | $418,792,137 | $382,158,548 |
| Revenue | $24,863,436 | $25,396,820 | $13,697,435 |
| Expenses | $23,539,806 | $8,889,213 | $31,345,919 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $19,908,416 | $18,758,806 | $20,811,971 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,714,146 | $22,720,279 | $12,377,017 |
| Distributable Amount | $21,155,759 | $19,219,441 | $19,412,455 |
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
187 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundati ($2,676,667), Harvey Mudd College ($2,136,524), Allen Institute ($2,110,308).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Episcopal Academy Newtown Square, PA | General Purpose | $365,341 |
| Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | General Purpose | $1,663,332 |
| Community Backstop Media, PA | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Cora Services Inc Philadelphia, PA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| United Friends of the Children Los Angeles, CA | General Purpose | $118,000 |
| Computing Research Association Washington, DC | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA | General Purpose | $2,136,524 |
| Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Livermore, CA | General Purpose | $150,000 |
| Children's Hospital of Orange Count Orange, CA | General Purpose | $300,000 |
| Ocean Institute Dana Point, CA | General Purpose | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee: Robert Michael Shanahan (founder)
Co-Trustee: Capital Bank Trust Company
R. Michael Shanahan was a thoughtful and strategic philanthropist with a passion for education. He was particularly committed to the Stanford Graduate School of Business and Harvey Mudd College, providing significant support for buildings, faculty, student fellowships, and innovation initiatives. He also volunteered his time and professional experience to leverage his financial support.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Bank Trust Company | Trustee | 5 | $437,084 |
Contact Information
Address: 150 S Los Robles Ave, Suite 860, Pasadena, CA 91101-4628
Phone: 626-568-0915
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shanahan Family Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission reflects founder R. Michael Shanahan's vision of creating a place where his family could work together to make a difference in individuals' lives. The foundation is committed to: • **Education**: Support for higher education institutions, with particular emphasis on innovation and student fellowships • **Children's Healthcare**: Funding for children's hospitals and pediatric research institutions • **Brain Health & Alzheimer's Research**: Scientific discovery in neurosc…
How do I apply for a grant from The Shanahan Family Charitable?
The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. **Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: Approximately $17.6 million to $18.7 million • Grant range: $1,783 to $2,700,000 • Median grant: $132,000 • Number of grants: Approximately 37-40 awards annually **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Harvey Mudd College: $2,136,524 • Allen Institute: $2,110,308 • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP): $1,663,3…
Where does The Shanahan Family Charitable make grants?
The foundation has national reach with concentration in: • Pennsylvania • California • Texas
What size grants does The Shanahan Family Charitable award?
In 2024, The Shanahan Family Charitable awarded 47 grants totaling $18.8M — an average of about $399K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shanahan Family Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shanahan Family Charitable reported a distributable amount of $21.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shanahan Family Charitable's EIN?
The Shanahan Family Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-7267377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shanahan Family Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Gochnauer Family Foundation
CORONA DEL MAR, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
39
Total Given
$313K
Cottage Health
SANTA BARBARA, CA
Assets
$172.1M
Grants
6
Total Given
$179K
International Right of Way Association
GARDENA, CA
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
Quince Interfaith Housing Corporation
LEMON GROVE, CA
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
William & Lillian Schwartz Charitable Foundation
LA JOLLA, CA
Assets
$325K
Grants
1
Total Given
$3K
Covia Foundation
GLENDALE, CA
Assets
$15.2M
Grants
1
Total Given
$4.8M
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Shanahan Family Charitable on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Shanahan Family Charitable to a real strategy.