Shillman Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,653,190 (2023)
Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
Decision Time: Not applicable
Grant Range: Varies significantly by recipient
Geographic Focus: National and international (primarily U.S. and Israel-focused organizations)
Foundation Type: Private family foundation

Contact Details

Address: Rancho Santa Fe, CA
EIN: 04-3511089

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Shillman Foundation was established in 2000 in Massachusetts and is now based in Rancho Santa Fe, California. Founded by Robert J. Shillman, founder and chairman of Cognex Corporation (a machine vision technology company), the foundation operates as a private family foundation. In 2023, the foundation distributed $8,653,190 in grants across 8 awards. Robert Shillman describes himself as a "Doctor of Philanthropy" and emphasizes that his giving is based on personal relationships with individuals and organizations making a difference. The foundation's strategic focus centers on three core areas: upholding the U.S. Constitution (with emphasis on freedom of speech, assembly, and the right to bear arms), ensuring the continuation of the free enterprise system in America, and helping to ensure the continued security and prosperity of the State of Israel.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Shillman Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set application cycles or published grant ranges. Instead, it makes strategic grants to preselected organizations aligned with the founder's philanthropic priorities.

Recent Grant Activity:

2023: 8 awards totaling $8,653,190
2022: 5 awards
2021: 4 awards
2020: 11 awards
2019: 8 awards

Priority Areas

Pro-Israel Organizations: The foundation is a major supporter of pro-Israel organizations, including:

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) - received over $2.4 million between 2002-2013, plus $1 million in 2014-2015
Christians United for Israel - received over $400,000 from 2013-2015
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
American Israel Education Foundation
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA)
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
Middle East Forum
UN Watch
Jewish National Fund
Zionist Organization of America

Education: Educational institutions, particularly those advancing scientific research and innovation:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (endowed professorships)
Northeastern University (endowed professorships)
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (multiple endowments including professorships, research funds, and facilities)
UC San Diego (blood cancer research)

Conservative and Free Speech Organizations: Organizations focused on constitutional rights, free enterprise, and political advocacy including:

David Horowitz Freedom Center
Project Veritas
American Civil Rights Institute
ACT for America

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only supports preselected organizations. It does not fund organizations whose positions conflict with the founder's stated values regarding Israel, free enterprise, and constitutional rights.

Governance and Leadership

Robert J. Shillman - Founder and Trustee
Founder and former chairman of Cognex Corporation. Holds a B.S.E.E. from Northeastern University and M.S.E.E. and Ph.D. from MIT. Shillman no longer takes a salary from Cognex; instead, the company donates that amount along with any bonus to public charities annually. He received an honorary doctorate from Technion in 2018.

Quote on Philanthropy Strategy:
"I give based on personal relationships," Shillman explains, emphasizing that he designates gifts to individuals who are making a difference.

Quote on Independence:
"Most CEOs are hired guns and their future depends on what their boards think of them. I don't give a f—-." This quote reflects his willingness to make bold philanthropic decisions independent of external pressures.

Note: Dianne Parrotte served as a trustee from March 2000 until her resignation in February 2018.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Shillman Foundation 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 based on established relationships and alignment with the foundation's core priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation operates through personal relationships and strategic alignment with Robert Shillman's stated values. Based on the founder's public statements, the foundation supports organizations that:

Align with Core Values: Organizations must demonstrably support one or more of the foundation's three core causes: upholding the U.S. Constitution (particularly free speech, assembly, and right to bear arms), supporting free enterprise in America, or ensuring Israel's security and prosperity.
Build Personal Relationships: Shillman states "I give based on personal relationships" and designates gifts to individuals making a difference. This suggests that personal connections with the founder or trustees are critical.
Demonstrate Impact: Shillman has shown willingness to withdraw support from organizations whose behavior he disagrees with (he pulled funding from WBUR in 2002 for perceived anti-Israel sentiment), indicating he monitors grantee performance and alignment with his values.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made by trustee discretion rather than through scheduled review cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have successfully received support share these characteristics:

Strong Alignment with Stated Values: The foundation consistently supports organizations advancing its three core areas. Recipients demonstrate clear, unambiguous commitment to these causes.

Track Record and Reputation: Recipients tend to be established organizations with national or international profiles in their respective fields (FIDF, MIT, Technion, etc.), suggesting the foundation values proven impact.

Leadership Relationships: Given Shillman's statement that he "gives based on personal relationships," organizations with leadership known to or connected with the founder appear more likely to receive support.

Consistency in Grantmaking: Historical grant patterns show sustained support for certain causes (particularly pro-Israel organizations and educational institutions), suggesting that once an organization receives support and maintains alignment, continued funding may be possible.

Values Alignment is Non-Negotiable: Shillman has publicly withdrawn support when organizations diverged from his values, demonstrating that ideological alignment is paramount.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion and does not accept unsolicited proposals. Traditional grant applications are not possible.
Relationship-Driven Philanthropy: The founder explicitly states his giving is "based on personal relationships," making personal connections with trustees essential for any potential funding.
Three Clear Funding Pillars: Organizations must align with at least one of three areas: U.S. constitutional rights (especially free speech), free enterprise system support, or Israel's security and prosperity.
Strong Pro-Israel Focus: Historical giving patterns show substantial, sustained support for pro-Israel organizations, making this a dominant funding priority.
Values Over Trends: The foundation supports causes based on the founder's personal convictions rather than popular philanthropic trends, and has withdrawn support when organizations diverged from these values.
Educational Excellence: Beyond political/advocacy organizations, the foundation supports elite educational institutions, particularly in STEM fields, with long-term commitments like endowed professorships.
Transparency Through 990s: While the foundation doesn't publicize its grants, detailed recipient information is available through IRS Form 990-PF filings on ProPublica, Grantmakers.io, and similar platforms.

References

Researched: December 22, 2025