The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation
The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation is a private foundation based in West Hollywood, California. Established in 2009, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with no employees. The foundation primarily supports general use grants, the Elaine Tennant Fund, and the Free Museum Admission Project.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$265K
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+42.7% YoY
Grant Count
33
+26.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
+12.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and creative endeavors
- Historic preservation
- Museum access and support
Grantmaking
The foundation made 23 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include:
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
amount in the mid-range of this spectrum.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2023:
- Total Assets: $265,242
- Total Revenues: $1,069,167
- Total Expenses: $989,525
- Total Grants and Contributions: $1,069,150
Year-over-Year Growth: Grants and contributions increased 16.2% from 2022 ($920,000) to 2023 ($1,069,150).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $265,078 | $265,242 | $185,600 |
| Revenue | $1,410,304 | $1,069,167 | $920,019 |
| Expenses | $1,410,468 | $989,525 | $929,598 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,406,238 | $987,337 | $927,799 |
| Net Investment Income | $16 | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $23,370 | $17,945 | $16,115 |
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
134 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Edible Schoolyard Project ($200,000), Mark Morris Dance Group ($192,633), San Francisco Ballet ($173,350).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALONZO KING LINES BALLET SF, CA | GENERAL USE | $25,000 |
| ARTTABLE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL USE | $225 |
| BAKER INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS PALO ALTO, CA | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| BIG SUR FIRE DEPARTMENT BIG SUR, CA | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| BRAVO VAIL VAIL, CO | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL USE | $15,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| CONGREGATION EMANU-EL WICHITA, KS | GENERAL USE | $25,000 |
| CROWDEN MUSIC CENTER BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
| CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART BENTONVILLE, AR | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHELBY M GANS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FREDERICK M GANS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and creative endeavors • Historic preservation • Museum access and support
How do I apply for a grant from The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 23 grants in 2023. Recent grantees include: • University of California Berkeley Foundation ($100,000 for general use) • The Alice Waters Institute ($100,000 for general use) • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art ($92,500 for general use) • Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $200 to $200,000, with an average grant amount in the mid-range of this spectrum.
Where does The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation award?
In 2024, The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation's EIN?
The Shelby and Frederick Gans Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3209213. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shelby and Frederick Gans 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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