The Shanks Family Foundation
The Shanks Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Albany, New York. Its 2025 filing reports 11 grants totaling $42,000 to charitable organizations.
Key facts about The Shanks Family Foundation
In short: The Shanks Family Foundation gave $42K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 43-2036817
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $42,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $3,818
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $212,545
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$213K
-15.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$42K
+13.5% YoY
Grant Count
11
+1000.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-89.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shanks Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Shanks Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 180% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including cerebral palsy research, children’s education and therapeutic services, pancreatic cancer, PKU, maternal and infant health, legal education, and other causes. These are examples of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation.
For example, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation says it funds U.S.-based research and advances innovation for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities. High Hopes Inc says it equips children, youth, and families through education, therapeutic services, and support. Pancreatic Cancer Action Network says it advances research, builds community, shares knowledge, and advocates for patients affected by pancreatic cancer. National PKU Alliance says it works to improve the lives of people with PKU, expand research, and provide education and support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $42,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest grants were $10,000 to American Red Cross; $6,000 each to United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee Inc and Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation; and $2,500 each to March of Dimes, High Hopes Inc, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, California Western School of Law, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Equal Vote Coalition, National PKU Alliance, and Transparency International US.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with The Shanks Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Albany, New York. In 2025, its grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (30%), Tennessee (20%), California (18%), New York (14%), and Virginia (12%); the listed grants also included a recipient in Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $69K (2020). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $42K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Red Cross ($10K). Together the top 10 received $40K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 16 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross Washington, DC | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee Inc Nashville, TN | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation New York, NY | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| March of Dimes Arlington, VA | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| High Hopes Inc Franklin, TN | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Segundo, CA | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| California Western School of Law San Diego, CA | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| Electronic Frontier Foundation San Francisco, CA | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| Equal Vote Coalition Eugene, OR | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| National PKU Alliance Roanoke, VA | General Purpose | $2,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $212,545 | $5,380 | $43,015 | $42,000 (11 grants) |
| 2024 | $250,180 | $99,597 | $39,211 | $37,000 (1 grant) |
| 2023 | $189,794 | $33,211 | $30,015 | $30,000 (2 grants) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $212,545 | $250,180 | $189,794 |
| Revenue | $5,380 | $99,597 | $33,211 |
| Expenses | $43,015 | $39,211 | $30,015 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $42,015 | $37,015 | $30,015 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,380 | $97,401 | $33,211 |
| Distributable Amount | $48,311 | $41,597 | $32,289 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these trustees: Eugene B Shanks Jr, Susan B Shanks, E Baylis Shanks III, Virginia L Shanks, and Daniel H Shanks.
The Shanks Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel H Shanks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
E. Baylis Shanks III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene B. Shanks Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan B. Shanks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia L. Shanks
Trustee
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: C/O Goldman Sachs Ayco PO Box 15201, Albany, NY 12212-5201
Phone: (518) 640-5000
Frequently asked questions about The Shanks Family Foundation
How much does The Shanks Family Foundation give each year?
The Shanks Family Foundation gave $42K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $37K across 1 grant.
What is The Shanks Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shanks Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,818, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Shanks Family Foundation give grants?
The Shanks Family Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Tennessee (20%) and California (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Shanks Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Shanks Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Shanks Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shanks Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Red Cross ($10,000), United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee Inc ($6,000) and Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation ($6,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Shanks Family Foundation?
The Shanks Family Foundation reported $213K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Shanks Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including cerebral palsy research, children’s education and therapeutic services, pancreatic cancer, PKU, maternal and infant health, legal education, and other causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shanks Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Shanks Family Foundation's EIN?
The Shanks Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-2036817. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Shanks 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.
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