The Shillman Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Shillman Foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations, so a small charity should not send it a cold application.
- Its filings show support for conservative and pro-Israel groups, alongside grants for the arts and for community support, so check that your work falls within those themes before anything else.
- Half of its 20 grants to organisations across its latest three filings were $200,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 grants fall between $5,000 and $2,750,000, though the largest grant was about $9,850,000 and that band is not a ceiling.
- Only 9% of its grant dollars to organisations in its latest filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a past grant should not be taken to make a renewal likely.
- No geographic focus is stated, so its grants in the United States and Massachusetts should not be read as a limit on who may apply.
Overview
The Shillman Foundation is a US private foundation based in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and web pages about the foundation (forward.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation has funded conservative and pro-Israeli groups. Its filed grants describe their purpose broadly as support for the community, alongside grants for the arts. Recipients include charitable gift funds, universities, advocacy organisations, Jewish community organisations, a church and an opera academy. The grant record therefore combines grants routed through charitable funds with direct awards to a varied set of organisations. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests from organisations seeking grant support.
Themes
- Conservative groups
- Pro-Israel groups
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in the United States and Massachusetts.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 9% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 20 grants to organisations were $200,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 71% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 9% of grant dollars went to organisations The Shillman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Italy).
- 86% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund · To support the community$2,746,6582025 tax year
- Christians United for Israel · To support the community$265,0002025 tax year
- Club Z - Rimon Club · To support the community$25,0002025 tax year
- Riccardo Multi Italian Opera Academy · To support the arts$20,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dianne M Parrotte — Trustee
- Maxwell L Shillman — Trustee
- Barnett A Shillman — Trustee
- Robert J Shillman — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $8,999,692 | $8,653,190 | $109,620,467 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $11,026,052 | $10,604,199 | $103,737,088 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $3,347,263 | $3,056,658 | $113,466,063 | Filing for 2025 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 Shillman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Applying to The Shillman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Rancho Santa Fe, CA