The Shapiro Foundation
The Shapiro Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation established in 2000 and based in Needham, Massachusetts. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on serving vulnerable populations globally, particularly refugees, internally displaced people, and asylum-seekers.
Key facts about The Shapiro Foundation
- EIN
- 04-3541595
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,181,775
- Grants made (2024)
- 85
- Average grant
- $60,962
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (36 of 85, 2024)
- Total assets
- $123,741,333
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (20% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Shapiro Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Shapiro Foundation's 85 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (20%), New York (19%) and District of Columbia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (12 grants), Boston, MA (11 grants), Washington, DC (8 grants) and New Orleans, LA (2 grants). None of its 85 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Domestic Needs" (34 grants), "Education" (19 grants) and "International Relief" (13 grants).
Is The Shapiro Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 36 of 85 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $60K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Shapiro Foundation
- How to evaluate The Shapiro Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$123.7M
-1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.2M
-53.3% YoY
Grant Count
85
+14.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$61K
-59.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shapiro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes itself as "a leader in serving the world's most vulnerable population: The more than 75 million refugees, internally displaced people and asylum-seekers."
The foundation's core programmatic focus areas include:
- Lawful Pathways: Partnering with governments and agencies to create new lawful pathways for the arrival, welcome, and integration of displaced people
- Community Sponsorship: Increasing community-driven resettlement opportunities for displaced people
- Serving Refugee Kids: Supporting access to education and services for refugee children
- Basic Needs: Providing assistance with feeding, housing, and emergency relief for survivors of natural disasters and civil wars
The foundation also funds health care (including children's hospitals), human services, education, research, religious organizations, and medical research.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Ready to take the next step with The Shapiro Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Massachusetts, New York, and California, with significant international grantmaking across six continents supporting refugee resettlement and integration efforts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 85 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $125,082,465
- Total Revenue: $4,643,401
- Total Expenses: $14,611,542
- Total Liabilities: $23,300
- Number of Employees: 2
As of 2024 filing:
- Total Assets: $123,741,333
- Total Giving: $5,181,775
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $123,741,333 | $125,082,465 | $136,345,794 |
| Revenue | $7,022,439 | $4,643,401 | $10,733,675 |
| Expenses | $8,385,011 | $14,611,542 | $11,493,755 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,652,722 | $13,325,935 | $9,653,970 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,294,622 | $3,969,041 | $6,724,068 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,124,061 | $7,172,131 | $6,888,475 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
450 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Shapiro Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include International Refugee Assistance Project (Irap) ($500,000), Alight ($405,429), World Learning ($363,258).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT (IRAP) New York, NY | INTERNATIONAL RELIEF | $500,000 |
| ALIGHT Minneapolis, MN | INTERNATIONAL RELIEF | $405,429 |
| WORLD LEARNING Washington, DC | EDUCATION | $363,258 |
| BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER Boston, MA | MEDICAL RESEARCH | $350,000 |
| HORIZONS FOR THE HOMELESS CHILDREN North Hills, CA | DOMESTIC NEEDS | $303,537 |
| PATHWAYS INTERNATIONAL US Washington, WA | INTERNATIONAL RELIEF | $295,000 |
| FOCUSING PHILANTHROPY Santa Monica, CA | DOMESTIC NEEDS | $200,000 |
| LABOR MOBILITY PARTNERSHIPS (LAMP) Washington, DC | DOMESTIC NEEDS | $200,000 |
| THE NISKANEN CENTER Washington, DC | DOMESTIC RELIEF | $178,591 |
| GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT INCUBATOR Washington, DC | DOMESTIC NEEDS | $137,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Laura Mayer - Founder
- Katheryn Tatum - Executive Director
- Lawrence L Tobin - Foundation Director ($339,000 compensation, 2023)
- Kayla W Rowe - Executive Assistant ($190,000 compensation, 2023)
The foundation is led by Ed & Barbara (referenced in foundation materials).
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edward L Shapiro | Trustee | 30 | — |
| Barbara J Shapiro | Trustee | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Malengo secured $12.9 million from The Shapiro Foundation to expand international education pathways and financial security
Malengo Secures $12.9 Million from The Shapiro Foundation to Expand InternationalThe foundation granted 18 full-time scholarships to The HOME Project children
The Shapiro Foundation grants 18 full-time scholarships to The HOME ProjectThe foundation participated in the Welcome Fund, which awarded over $8.3 million to 28 organizations supporting the arrival and housing of Afghan evacuees
Malengo Secures $12.9 Million from The Shapiro Foundation to Expand InternationalContact Information
- Website: www.theshapirofoundation.org
- Address: 197 1st Ave Ste 300, Needham, MA 02494-2874
- Telephone: 818-610-2900
- EIN: 04-3541595
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since October 2001
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shapiro Foundation fund?
The foundation describes itself as "a leader in serving the world's most vulnerable population: The more than 75 million refugees, internally displaced people and asylum-seekers." The foundation's core programmatic focus areas include: • **Lawful Pathways**: Partnering with governments and agencies to create new lawful pathways for the arrival, welcome, and integration of displaced people • **Community Sponsorship**: Increasing community-driven resettlement opportunities for displaced people • …
How do I apply for a grant from The Shapiro Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $30 to $1,285,000 • In 2023, the foundation made 124 grants totaling $8,568,267 • Recent major grants include: • Choose Love: $1,285,000 (International Relief) • Miles4Migrants: $1,130,000 (International Relief) • Airbnborg: $1,100,000 (International Relief) **Total Giving:** • 2023 total giving: $5,181,775
Where does The Shapiro Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Massachusetts, New York, and California, with significant international grantmaking across six continents supporting refugee resettlement and integration efforts.
What size grants does The Shapiro Foundation award?
In 2024, The Shapiro Foundation awarded 85 grants totaling $5.2M — an average of about $61K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shapiro Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shapiro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shapiro Foundation's EIN?
The Shapiro Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3541595. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.