Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17,626,736 (2023)
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $1,783 - $2,700,000
Median Grant: $132,000
Geographic Focus: National, with concentration in Pennsylvania and California
Total Assets: $418.8 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 150 S Los Robles Ave, Suite 860, Pasadena, CA 91101-4628
Phone: 626-568-0915
EIN: 20-7267377

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly accessible website or email listed.

Overview

The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in May 2007 and based in Pasadena, California. With total assets of $418.8 million and annual giving of approximately $17.6 million, the foundation provides grants primarily for education and children's hospitals. The foundation focuses on supporting scientific research, particularly in Alzheimer's disease and neuroscience, as well as educational institutions and pediatric healthcare organizations. Led by trustee Robert Michael Shanahan with Capital Bank Trust Company serving as co-trustee, the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Grant amounts vary significantly, ranging from less than $2,000 to over $2.7 million, with a median grant of $132,000 across 40 awards in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formally named grant programs but focuses its grantmaking in three primary areas:

Scientific Research & Alzheimer's: Major grants supporting Alzheimer's research and drug discovery - $1,550,000 - $2,700,000
Higher Education: Grants to colleges and universities, particularly for STEM education - $100,000 - $2,200,000
Children's Healthcare: Support for children's hospitals and pediatric research institutions - $500,000 - $1,700,000

Grant sizes vary considerably based on the institution and project, with smaller grants (under $50,000) also awarded to various educational and charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

Based on 2023 grant recipients, the foundation actively funds:

Alzheimer's Disease Research: Including drug discovery initiatives, data research, and scientific advancement
Higher Education Institutions: Particularly institutions focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
Children's Hospitals: Major pediatric healthcare and research institutions
Neuroscience Research: Brain health initiatives and neuroscience data research
Medical Research Institutions: Including major research centers like the Allen Institute

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has not publicly disclosed specific exclusions. However, based on their stated focus on education and children's hospitals, and their pattern of grantmaking to major institutions, they appear not to fund:

Individual scholarships or direct student aid
General operating support for small community organizations
International organizations (grantmaking appears focused on U.S. institutions)
Arts and culture programs
Environmental initiatives
Social service programs unrelated to healthcare or education

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Robert Michael Shanahan - Trustee
Primary trustee overseeing the foundation's grantmaking activities.

Capital Bank Trust Company - Co-Trustee
Professional trustee providing fiduciary oversight and grant administration. The trust company received $398,415 in compensation for approximately 5 hours per week of service in 2023.

The foundation operates without dedicated staff, relying on the trustees for decision-making and Capital Bank Trust Company for administrative functions.

Family Connection

The foundation is associated with the Shanahan family, which includes prominent figures in professional football coaching, though the exact relationship to NFL coaches Mike Shanahan and Kyle Shanahan has not been publicly confirmed in foundation documents.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to the foundation's official policy: "The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organizations they have proactively identified and selected. The foundation does not maintain an online application portal, accept letters of inquiry, or respond to funding requests from organizations not already on their radar.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation does not provide public guidance on how organizations become "preselected" for funding consideration. Based on their grantmaking patterns, the foundation appears to identify organizations through:

Established relationships with major research institutions, universities, and children's hospitals
Focus on nationally recognized organizations in Alzheimer's research, neuroscience, and pediatric healthcare
Concentration in specific geographic areas, particularly Pennsylvania and California

Organizations seeking support would need to establish connections through professional networks in the scientific research, higher education, or pediatric healthcare sectors, though the foundation's processes for relationship-building are not publicly documented.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose its decision-making timeline or grant review schedule. With 40 grants made in 2023, the foundation appears to make funding decisions throughout the year rather than on a fixed cycle.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable given the foundation's invitation-only approach. The foundation made 40 grants in 2023, 53 grants in 2022, and 26 grants in 2021, indicating variability in annual grantmaking volume.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, the following observations about their grantmaking patterns may be useful:

Institution Type and Size: The foundation strongly favors well-established, nationally recognized institutions. Top recipients in 2023 included major organizations such as the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation ($2.7M), Harvey Mudd College ($2.2M), Allen Institute ($2.1M), and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia ($1.7M).

Scientific Research Focus: A significant portion of funding goes to organizations conducting research in Alzheimer's disease and neuroscience. The foundation's support for the Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative ($1.55M) and multiple Alzheimer's research organizations indicates this as a core priority.

Educational Excellence: Higher education grants tend to support institutions known for STEM education and research excellence, such as Harvey Mudd College, suggesting the foundation values academic rigor and innovation.

Children's Healthcare Leadership: Grants to children's hospitals support major pediatric research and care institutions, indicating preference for organizations that combine clinical care with research advancement.

Geographic Concentration: While the foundation gives nationally, Pennsylvania received 11 grants and California received 10 grants in 2023, suggesting potential regional preferences or trustee connections to these states.

Grant Size Flexibility: The foundation demonstrates flexibility in grant sizes, from small grants under $2,000 to multi-million-dollar awards, suggesting they tailor funding to specific projects rather than applying rigid grant tiers.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-Only Structure: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or applications. Organizations cannot apply for funding through standard channels.
Focus on Major Institutions: Grantmaking strongly favors nationally recognized research institutions, top-tier universities, and leading children's hospitals rather than smaller community organizations.
Alzheimer's Research Priority: Significant funding allocated to Alzheimer's disease research, drug discovery, and neuroscience initiatives represents a clear strategic priority.
Education & Healthcare: The stated focus on "education and children's hospitals" is borne out in actual grantmaking, with these two areas dominating the portfolio.
Wide Grant Range: With grants ranging from less than $2,000 to over $2.7 million (median $132,000), the foundation demonstrates flexibility in funding levels based on institutional needs and project scope.
Professional Administration: The use of Capital Bank Trust Company as co-trustee suggests professional fiduciary management and formal grant administration processes, despite the lack of public application procedures.
Limited Public Information: The foundation maintains minimal public presence, with no website and limited publicly available information about selection criteria or strategic priorities beyond IRS Form 990 filings.

References

Information compiled from IRS Form 990-PF filings and nonprofit database profiles. Accessed December 2025.