The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal; look first for a warm introduction or a reason to be invited.
- Its grants are spread across universities, research institutes, hospitals, schools, social-service, animal-welfare and restoration organisations, with no consistent subject priority, so the relationship matters more than a programme match.
- Most grants fall between about $8,100 and $1,350,000, half are about $100,000 or less, and the median is about $100,000, so a request near that size is the realistic guide, though the largest grant was about $2,700,000.
- In the filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had funded in earlier filings, so the existing relationship counts for a great deal.
- Its grants have mainly gone to organisations in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York and Massachusetts, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern describes past giving rather than a rule on who may apply.
Overview
The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pasadena, CA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Recorded grants went to a varied group of charitable organisations, including universities and colleges, research institutes, hospitals and schools, as well as social-service, animal-welfare and restoration organisations. Most grants are reported only as general purpose, so the filings do not specify what those awards support. The recipient list shows a range of organisation types but does not establish a consistent subject priority or eligibility framework. Grants went to organisations in multiple states; the filings do not state a geographic restriction.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Pennsylvania, Washington, New York and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 140 grants to organisations were about $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 8% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 47 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation · General Purpose$2,676,6672024 tax year
- Harvey Mudd College · General Purpose$2,136,5242024 tax year
- Allen Institute · General Purpose$2,110,3082024 tax year
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia · General Purpose$1,663,3322024 tax year
- Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative · General purpose$1,550,0002024 tax year
- Independent Media Initiative · General Purpose$1,200,0002024 tax year
- Cobbs Creek Restoration and Community Foundation · General purpose$1,184,5712024 tax year
- Tufts University · General Purpose$910,1162024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Capital Bank Trust Company — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $31,345,919 | $19,661,611 | $382,158,548 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,889,213 | $17,626,736 | $418,792,137 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $23,539,806 | $18,755,533 | $439,456,028 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pasadena, CA
Applying to The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Pasadena, CA