The Shen Family Foundation
The Shen Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Its website says it was started in 1994 by Ted Shen as a vehicle for family charitable giving. The foundation supports exceptionally gifted and original composers and choreographers creating new works in musical theater and ballet, with a stated mission to foster artistic aspiration and innovation.
The Shen Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Shen Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), mostly in New York. 21% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,246,380
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $51,933
- +18.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $9,324,821
- -3.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (5 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Shen Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
- Contact
Mailing address: C/O Silvercrest 230 Court Square, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: (434) 977-4420
Website: https://shenfamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Shen Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alabama Shakespeare Festival ($257K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 126 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 24% to Alabama, 3% to Connecticut, and 2% to New Jersey. The foundation’s website also lists funded productions and ballet projects in multiple locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Shen Family Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 24 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $62K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 71% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 194% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2023) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Shakespeare Festival Montgomery, AL | General | $256,780 |
| New York City Ballet New York, NY | General | $250,000 |
| Ballet Theatre Foundation Inc New York, NY | General | $190,000 |
| Brooklyn Institute of Arts Brooklyn, NY | General | $163,100 |
| New York Public Library New York, NY | General | $50,000 |
| Masters School Bobbs Ferry, NY | General | $40,000 |
| Prospect Theater Company New York, NY | General | $40,000 |
| Alabama Values Montgomery, AL | General | $38,000 |
| Green-Wood Historic Fund Brooklyn, NY | General | $35,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | General | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Shen Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,324,821 | $966,791 | $1,284,800 | $1,246,380 | 24 | $1,246,380 | $929,121 | $643,738 |
| 2024 | $9,642,830 | $605,748 | $1,270,276 | $1,230,835 | 28 | $1,230,835 | $572,057 | $656,036 |
| 2023 | $10,662,358 | $90,104 | $1,119,694 | $1,087,492 | 25 | $1,087,492 | $290,053 | $601,029 |
| 2022 | $11,691,948 | $608,694 | $1,275,806 | $1,244,350 | 26 | $1,244,350 | $272,099 | $630,470 |
| 2021 | $12,359,060 | $-554,025 | $1,291,372 | $1,215,000 | 23 | $1,215,000 | $228,362 | $732,312 |
| 2020 | $14,204,457 | $1,560,327 | $1,271,125 | $1,206,000 | 20 | — | $1,160,952 | $710,285 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $644K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance musical theater and ballet through distinctive new creations that expand the art forms’ boundaries and deepen their cultural impact. Its website says it supports musical theater composers and ballet choreographers, including new ballet works and projects connected to the legacies of Stephen Sondheim and George Balanchine.
The 2025 filing includes support for organizations whose missions illustrate a range of recipient activities. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival describes its work as theatrical productions and educational and outreach programs. Prospect Theater Company says it develops and produces new musicals and supports emerging artists. Ballet Theatre Foundation (American Ballet Theatre) describes its work as presenting and preserving classical dance, alongside educational programming. Other 2025 recipients include schools, a public library, and Alabama Values, which describes its work as raising awareness and civic engagement around community issues in Alabama.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 24 grants totaling $1,246,380. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $256,780, with a median of $25,000. The largest reported grants included $256,780 to Alabama Shakespeare Festival, $250,000 to New York City Ballet, $190,000 to Ballet Theatre Foundation, and $163,100 to Brooklyn Institute of Arts. Other grants included $50,000 to New York Public Library, $40,000 each to Masters School and Prospect Theater Company, and $38,000 to Alabama Values.
The foundation’s website lists extensive support for musical theater productions and cast recordings, as well as ballet commissions. It describes approximately 150 musical theater productions and cast recordings as having received lead or major funding. The website says grants are generally restricted to nonprofit theatrical productions of qualifying composers’ works and are generally not for general operations or special events. It also says the foundation cannot make direct grants to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Theodore P. Shen and Carla Shen as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies Ted Shen and Mary Jo Shen as executive directors.
The Shen Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carla Shen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theodore P. Shen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/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.
Frequently asked questions about The Shen Family Foundation
How much does The Shen Family Foundation give each year?
The Shen Family Foundation gave $1.2M across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 28 grants.
What is The Shen Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shen Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $51,933, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shen Family Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Shen Family Foundation give grants?
The Shen Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Alabama (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (10 grants), Brooklyn, NY (6 grants) and Montgomery, AL (2 grants).
Does The Shen Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Shen Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Shen Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shen Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alabama Shakespeare Festival ($256,780), New York City Ballet ($250,000) and Ballet Theatre Foundation Inc ($190,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Shen Family Foundation?
The Shen Family Foundation reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $644K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Shen Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance musical theater and ballet through distinctive new creations that expand the art forms’ boundaries and deepen their cultural impact. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shen Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Shen Family Foundation's EIN?
The Shen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6627837. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Shen 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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Shen Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-shen-family-foundation-morg_fd0220fbb5014900a9d7028fa8570ed8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226627837_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Shen Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-shen-family-foundation-morg_fd0220fbb5014900a9d7028fa8570ed8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Shen Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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