← Back to US Funders Directory

Shapiro Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $1.3M

Shapiro Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,094,363 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $133 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $100 - $1,285,000
  • Median Grant: $31,000
  • Number of Grants: 74 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Massachusetts, New York, California; International (six continents)
  • Application Method: Invitation only / No unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Overview

The Shapiro Foundation was established in 2000 by Edward and Barbara Shapiro and has been tax-exempt since October 2001. With approximately $133 million in assets, the foundation distributed over $11 million in grants in 2023 across 74 awards. Originally focused on supporting established institutions like Boston Children's Hospital and Horizons for Homeless Children, the foundation underwent a significant strategic shift in 2015-2016 when Ed Shapiro retired from a 27-year career as managing partner at PAR Capital Management to focus full-time on philanthropy.

Since then, the foundation has concentrated heavily on refugee resettlement and integration, investing meaningfully in initiatives across six continents. The foundation is guided by Nelson Mandela's principle: "History will judge us by the difference we make in the everyday lives of children." They operate along a continuum of serving immediate refugee needs (shelter, food, water, education) and solving structural gaps in resettlement systems.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation focuses on seven impact areas:

  • Refugee Resettlement & Integration: Their primary focus since 2015, funding refugee support on six continents
  • International Relief: Emergency and humanitarian aid partnerships
  • Global Health: Medical research and healthcare access
  • Medical Research & Treatment: Including longtime support for children's hospitals
  • Education: Access to education for refugees and homeless children
  • Jewish Community: Support through Combined Jewish Philanthropies and related organizations
  • Humanitarian Aid: Disaster relief and emergency response

Priority Areas

Lawful Pathways: Partnering with governments and agencies to create new legal pathways for displaced people's arrival, welcome, and integration

Community-Driven Resettlement: Expanding opportunities where local community groups sponsor newcomers

First-Asylum Country Support: Targeting democratic, stable countries with robust economies where refugee populations represent approximately 1% or less of the host population

Major 2023 Grant Recipients

  • Choose Love: $1,285,000
  • Miles4Migrants: $1,130,000
  • Airbnb.org: $1,100,000
  • Boston Children's Hospital: $1,000,000
  • Boston Medical Center: $450,000

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
  • The foundation focuses specifically on refugee/immigration work and legacy medical/education partners
  • Organizations outside their established geographic and programmatic focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Edward (Ed) Shapiro, Trustee (30 hrs/week, unpaid) Former Managing Partner at PAR Capital Management until 2016. Holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School (B.S. Economics, 1986) and UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA, 1990). Currently serves on the boards of RefugePoint, Social Finance, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, International Refugee Assistance Project, and United Airlines. Recipient of the 2024 John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumni Award from UCLA Anderson.

Barbara Shapiro, Trustee (5 hrs/week, unpaid) Community volunteer with background in advertising and marketing. Serves on the boards of Horizons for Homeless Children and Beaver Country Day School in Boston. Since 2016, actively involved in the Jewish Family Service of Metrowest Syrian Refugee Resettlement Program, directly supporting refugee families and their integration into local communities.

Staff

Lawrence (Larry) Tobin, Foundation Director (40 hrs/week, $339,000) Joined in 2017. Previously led major giving efforts at Combined Jewish Philanthropies, raising $38 million annually.

Kayla W. Rowe, Executive Assistant (40 hrs/week, $190,000)

Sarah Wiseman - Canada point of contact since 2021; former law firm partner and economic development CEO.

Ale Okret - Leads Europe and Latin America work since 2022; background in international community development.

Leadership Philosophy

Ed Shapiro has described his philanthropic approach: "I've tried every year, if not in person at least remotely, to meet these students, do a guest lecture and talk about my investment business and, if they're interested, my philanthropy. Meeting them is really powerful. You're touching lives, and there is no substitute for getting to meet them in person."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation has indicated on IRS Form 990-PF that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

However, the foundation does welcome introductions from organizations that are strongly aligned with their specific geographic and programmatic focus areas. Prospective partners may submit descriptive materials about their organization and mission through the contact form on their website.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on publicly available information about this specific funder:

  1. Demonstrate Strong Alignment: The foundation makes "concentrated commitments to organizations/management teams he believes in." Ed Shapiro's investment background means he favors deep engagement over broad, scattered giving.

  2. Board Connections: Ed Shapiro serves on the boards of RefugePoint, Social Finance, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, International Refugee Assistance Project, and United Airlines. Organizations connected to these networks may have pathways to introduction.

  3. JFS of Metrowest Relationship: Barbara Shapiro has been actively involved with Jewish Family Service of Metrowest's refugee programs since 2016. Organizations working collaboratively in this space may be positioned for introductions.

  4. Collaborative Funding Initiatives: The foundation has participated in major collaborative efforts including Welcome.US/Welcome Fund ($4.6 million contribution) and partnerships with Jewish Federations of North America for refugee resettlement. Organizations invited into these collaborative efforts may gain visibility.

  5. Geographic Entry Points: The foundation has regional staff - Sarah Wiseman handles Canada initiatives, and Ale Okret leads Europe and Latin America work. Organizations in these regions working on refugee issues may contact relevant regional staff.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis with trustees and staff identifying partner organizations.

Grant Statistics

  • 2023: 74 awards totaling $11,094,363
  • 2022: 87 awards totaling $8,533,687
  • 2021: 124 awards
  • Total Since 2015: 726 individual grants totaling $55,508,126

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented approach and funding patterns:

  1. Aligned Mission on Refugee Work: Organizations should demonstrate clear focus on refugee resettlement, integration, or related humanitarian work. The foundation seeks "win-win opportunities for bottom-up, community sponsorship to support resettled refugees."

  2. Strong Management Teams: As a former investment manager, Ed Shapiro makes "concentrated commitments to organizations/management teams he believes in." Organizational leadership and governance matter significantly.

  3. Multi-Year Relationship Potential: The foundation states they "make multi-year grants to minimize long-term funding uncertainty." Organizations should demonstrate capacity for sustained partnership.

  4. Data and Impact: The foundation partners with Social Finance on Pay-for-Success programs, indicating appreciation for measurable outcomes and innovative funding structures.

  5. Autonomy and Expertise: The foundation website states they "try to be as supportive as possible, which often means just staying out of the way and learning from them." Organizations should demonstrate strong operational capacity.

  6. Community-Based Approaches: The foundation prioritizes "bottom-up, community sponsorship" models over top-down interventions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation only funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Cold applications will not be reviewed.

  • Highly focused mission: Since 2015-2016, the foundation has concentrated heavily on refugee resettlement and integration work. Organizations outside this focus area (except legacy partners in children's health and education) are unlikely to receive funding.

  • Relationship-driven: The Shapiros prefer deep, sustained partnerships. They have longtime relationships with organizations like Boston Children's Hospital spanning the foundation's 20+ year history.

  • Significant grants available: With grants ranging up to $1.285 million and median grant of $31,000, organizations that do secure funding can expect meaningful support.

  • Network entry points: Connections through Ed Shapiro's board positions (RefugePoint, Social Finance, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, IRAP) or Barbara's involvement with JFS of Metrowest may provide pathways to introduction.

  • Global scope with Boston roots: While funding operates on six continents, the foundation maintains strong ties to Greater Boston and Massachusetts organizations.

  • Investment-style due diligence: Ed Shapiro immerses himself "in all aspects of the refugee crisis" before committing. Organizations should be prepared for thorough vetting of their programs, leadership, and impact.

References

Research conducted December 2025

← Back to US Funders Directory