Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests, and its filing describes its giving as by invitation only, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; your best route is a warm introduction to someone who can invite a proposal.
- Its recipients are varied, including hospitals, universities, schools and charities serving children and people with health needs, and no particular funding field is stated, so fit depends on your work matching those kinds of organisations.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $300 and $35,000 and half are $4,000 or less, so a request in that region suits its pattern, though its largest grant was $350,000 and that band is typical, not a ceiling.
- Around 68% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in the earlier filings, so it leans heavily on repeat relationships.
- No geographic focus is stated, though its grants have mainly gone to Virginia, Connecticut, Washington and New York, so check fit with the work itself before reaching out.
Overview
Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation is a US private foundation based in Belmont, MA.
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 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's filings state no particular funding field; grants are described as assisting recipients in carrying out their charitable purposes. Its recipients range across broadcasting and journalism, health care, education, community and international relief, and organisations addressing food systems, the environment, animal welfare and science. The grant record includes hospitals, universities, schools, public-interest organisations and charities serving children and people with health needs. Grants went to organisations in many states and overseas, with the largest shares recorded for Virginia, Connecticut and Washington. These are the kinds of organisations represented in the grants, rather than a stated set of eligibility rules or funding priorities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Virginia, Connecticut, Washington and New York.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 68% 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 64 grants to organisations were $4,000 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: 10%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 4%
- The largest single recipient received 44% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 68% of grant dollars went to organisations Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 3% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- WETA · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$350,0002024 tax year
- Yale-New Haven Hospital · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$100,0002024 tax year
- ProPublica · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$50,0002024 tax year
- Good Food Institute · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$30,0002024 tax year
- American Foundation · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$25,0002024 tax year
- Players Philanthropy Fund · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$25,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$5,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation of Middlesex County · To assist the recipient in carrying out its charitable purpose.$5,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Derek Shiller — Trustee
- Virginia Shiller — Trustee
- Robert Shiller — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $517,102 | $498,800 | $10,934,004 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $512,237 | $485,000 | $13,670,017 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $678,512 | $602,500 | $15,001,540 | 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 Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Belmont, MA
Applying to Robert and Virginia Shiller Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Belmont, MA