The Shea Foundation
The Shea Foundation is a private charitable foundation incorporated in California in 1960. Based in Walnut, California, it operates as a company-sponsored foundation with a 501(c)(3) designation, making donations to the organization tax-deductible.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$325K
-85.5% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$325K
-85.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizations involved with:
- Secondary and higher education
- Animal welfare
- Health
- Catholicism
- Veterans
Grantmaking
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity, with 271 total grants awarded in the previous year. Recent financial data indicates:
Grant Range
** Approximately $1,000
Average Grant
** Approximately $1,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, with a specific emphasis on Los Angeles.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of most recent filing (2023):
- Total assets: $324,916
- Annual revenue: $4,930
- Annual expenses: $329,846
- Financial status: Operating at a deficit
The foundation's expense ratio of 6,690.6% of total revenue reflects the organization's substantial grant distribution relative to its annual revenue.
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $324,916 | $2,265,348 |
| Revenue | $4,930 | $124,276 | $313,750 |
| Expenses | $329,846 | $2,249,990 | $168,544 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $325,272 | $2,237,786 | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,938 | $113,212 | $279,233 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,115 | $97,714 | $128,139 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2023
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2023 grants, the largest include Catholic Community Foundation of Los Angeles ($325,032).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $325,032 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board consists of:
- John F. Shea – President
- James G. Shontere – Secretary
- Ronald L. Lakey – Chief Financial Officer
All board members serve on a voluntary basis and receive no compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2023 IRS filing
From 2023 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN F SHEA | BOARD MEMBER & PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JAMES G SHONTERE | BOARD MEMBER & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| RONALD L LAKEY | BOARD MEMBER & CFO | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shea Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizations involved with: • Secondary and higher education • Animal welfare • Health • Catholicism • Veterans
How do I apply for a grant from The Shea Foundation?
The foundation has demonstrated significant grantmaking activity, with 271 total grants awarded in the previous year. Recent financial data indicates: • **Total giving (2023):** $325,032 • **Average grant size:** Approximately $1,000 • **Grant distribution:** The foundation appears to fund a broad range of recipients across its focus areas The foundation indicates it is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does The Shea Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in California, with a specific emphasis on Los Angeles.
What size grants does The Shea Foundation award?
In 2023, The Shea Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $325K — an average of about $325K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shea Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, The Shea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shea Foundation's EIN?
The Shea Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6027824. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shea Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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