The SHS Foundation is a private independent foundation established in January 2003 and based in Plainview, New York. The foundation operates as a non-operating private foundation with a focused approach to philanthropic grantmaking, primarily supporting performing arts organizations across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$30.7M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
+0.3% YoY
Grant Count
67
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
-13.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Performing Arts: Primary focus on dance and theater companies, including support for established performing arts institutions
- Arts Education: Selected grants supporting arts education programs
- Commissioning Partnerships: Co-funding new works through collaborative programs
The foundation is particularly known for its partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation on the "Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Award for New Works" commissioning program through the American Dance Festival.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and does not maintain a public website or publish contact information for grant inquiries.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $515,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation concentrates its funding primarily in New York and across major U.S. cultural centers, with occasional international giving to locations including Iceland and Tel Aviv.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $30.7 million to $32.9 million
- Total annual giving: $3.4 million to $3.45 million
- Investment income and dividends: $768,846 (2023)
Historical Trends:
- 2023: $35.0 million in assets, $5.2 million in giving, 66 grants
- 2022: $30.5 million in assets, $4.2 million in giving, 64 grants
- 2021: $31.1 million in assets, $2.9 million in giving, 56 grants
Staffing: The foundation operates with 1 employee on staff.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $30,697,090 | $32,914,593 | $35,036,579 |
| Revenue | $1,892,370 | $1,769,760 | $17,337,363 |
| Expenses | $4,125,953 | $3,945,944 | $5,669,024 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,455,000 | $3,445,000 | $5,170,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,686,605 | $1,630,015 | $7,126,033 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,808,855 | $1,769,362 | $1,552,224 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brooklyn Academy of Music ($400,000), Paul Taylor Dance Company ($400,000), American Dance Festival ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABRAHAM IN MOTION FLUSHING, NY | THE ARTS | $50,000 |
| ALVIN AILEY DANCE NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN BALLET THEATER NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $350,000 |
| ARTHUR AVILES TYPICAL THEATRE BRONX, NY | THE ARTS | $50,000 |
| ATLANTIC THEATER CO NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $50,000 |
| BALA MUSIC AND DANCE PORTLAND, OR | THE ARTS | $40,000 |
| BALLET HISPANICO NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $100,000 |
| BEDLAM THEATER NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $35,000 |
| BLESSED UNREST THEATRE NEW YORK, NY | THE ARTS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Richard E. Feldman: Manager (35 hours per week, compensation of $300,000)
- Luis Miguel Rodriguez Villa: Director
- Sara Throne: Secretary & Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD E FELDMAN | MANAGER | 35 | $433,333 |
| LUIS MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ VILLA | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SARA THRONE | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Shs Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • **Performing Arts**: Primary focus on dance and theater companies, including support for established performing arts institutions • **Arts Education**: Selected grants supporting arts education programs • **Commissioning Partnerships**: Co-funding new works through collaborative programs The foundation is particularly known for its partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation on the "Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Award for New Works" commissioning prog…
How do I apply for a grant from The Shs Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $5,000 to $515,000 • Median grant: $33,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $3.4 million • Number of grants: 58 grants (2024) **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Brooklyn Academy of Music: $515,000 • Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival: $400,000 • The Paul Taylor Dance Company: $300,000 • American Dance Festival: $300,000 • Gibney Dance: $150,000 • Theater for a New Audience: $100,000 • Fortune Society: $100,000 • New York City Ballet: $80,000 • The Joyc…
Where does The Shs Foundation make grants?
The foundation concentrates its funding primarily in New York and across major U.S. cultural centers, with occasional international giving to locations including Iceland and Tel Aviv.
What size grants does The Shs Foundation award?
In 2024, The Shs Foundation awarded 67 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $52K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Shs Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Shs Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Shs Foundation's EIN?
The Shs Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6819008. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shs 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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