Shekels Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,190,000 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Historical range $3,000 - $3,173,876
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Los Angeles area, national causes
• Total Assets: $59.1 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 888 S Figueroa St Ste 2150, Los Angeles, CA 90017-5310

Note: The foundation does not publish contact information for grant applications and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Overview

The Shekels Charitable Foundation was established in 2012 by Allen E. Shay, former CEO of Pacific Architects and Engineers, a defense services company founded by his late father and later acquired by Lockheed Martin in 2006. The foundation received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in May 2014 and is classified under Human Services - Multipurpose and Other. With total assets of $59.1 million as of 2024, the foundation distributed $2.19 million in charitable grants in 2024. The foundation's grantmaking pattern has evolved significantly over time, transitioning from making numerous smaller grants (61 awards in 2019) to making fewer, larger strategic contributions in recent years. Allen E. Shay, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and active member of the Young Presidents Organization since 2004, serves as trustee and brings extensive nonprofit leadership experience, including his service on The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens' Board of Trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grantmaking is conducted at the discretion of the trustee(s) to pre-selected charitable organizations.

Historical Grant Pattern Shift:

• 2019: 61 grants totaling $1,548,725
• 2020: Reduced to single larger strategic grants
• 2022: $1,800,000 in total grants
• 2023: $1,664,500 in total grants
• 2024: $3,173,876 in total grants

Priority Areas

Based on historical grant recipients documented in earlier filings, the foundation has supported organizations in:

• Health & Medical: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Cancer Support Community, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles
• Education: Harvard-Westlake School
• Holocaust Education & Awareness: USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History
• Human Rights & Genocide Prevention: Genocide Watch Inc.
• Impact Investing: ImpactAssets Inc. (indicating potential use of donor-advised fund structures)

The foundation's category designation as "Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C." indicates broad charitable purposes rather than a narrow focus area.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and does not accept unsolicited funding requests. This effectively excludes organizations not already known to or identified by the foundation's leadership.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Allen E. Shay (receives $0 compensation)

Allen E. Shay's Background:

• Former CEO of Pacific Architects and Engineers (appointed 1995; company acquired by Lockheed Martin 2006)
• Graduate of Sarah Lawrence College
• Founded the Shekels Charitable Foundation in 2012
• Active member of Young Presidents Organization since 2004
• Joined The Huntington (Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens) Board of Governors in 2015
• Served as chair of The Huntington's Education and Volunteers Committee (2019-2023)
• Elected to The Huntington's seven-member Board of Trustees (effective July 2023)

The Huntington noted of Shay's appointment to their Board: "Both are seasoned in organizational strategy and nonprofit leadership. Given their lengthy involvement with The Huntington, they understand its aspirations and appreciate its complexity and nuances."

Shay's deep involvement with educational and cultural institutions, particularly The Huntington, suggests philanthropic interests aligned with education, cultural preservation, and volunteer engagement.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Shekels Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustee to organizations already identified through the foundation's networks and the trustee's affiliations.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable for public applications. Internal decision timelines are not publicly disclosed.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so there is no traditional success rate metric for external applicants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since the Shekels Charitable Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received funding share these characteristics:

Organizational Profiles:

• Well-established institutions with strong reputations (Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, USC Shoah Foundation)
• Organizations aligned with education, health, human rights, and social justice
• Mix of large institutional recipients and specialized advocacy organizations
• Geographic connection to Los Angeles area (though not exclusively local)

Alignment with Trustee Interests: Given Allen E. Shay's background and affiliations, organizations most likely to be considered may demonstrate:

• Educational mission or impact (reflecting his service on The Huntington's Education Committee)
• Cultural preservation and historical documentation (USC Shoah Foundation, Genocide Watch)
• Health and human services with established track records
• Volunteer engagement opportunities (reflecting his leadership of The Huntington's Volunteers Committee)

Strategic Grant Shift: The foundation's evolution from many smaller grants (61 in 2019) to fewer, larger strategic grants in recent years suggests a more focused, high-impact approach. Recent grants have been in the $1.6-3.2 million range, indicating preference for substantial commitments to fewer organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Direct applications will not be considered.
• Invitation-Only Grantmaking: Funding decisions are made at trustee discretion to pre-selected organizations already known to the foundation.
• Network Connections Matter: Organizations with connections to Allen E. Shay's professional and philanthropic networks (Young Presidents Organization, The Huntington, defense sector, Los Angeles civic institutions) may have visibility.
• Shifting to Larger Strategic Grants: The foundation has evolved from numerous smaller grants to fewer, larger commitments, suggesting preference for significant impact through major gifts.
• Broad Charitable Interests: Historical recipients span health, education, human rights, and cultural institutions, indicating diverse philanthropic interests rather than narrow focus.
• Education and Cultural Preservation: Trustee's deep involvement with The Huntington and support for USC Shoah Foundation suggests strong interest in educational and historical preservation missions.
• Alternative Approaches: Organizations seeking funding should focus on general prospect research and relationship-building within Los Angeles philanthropic circles rather than direct application to this foundation.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Shekels Charitable Foundation (EIN 46-1614102). Tax filings 2014-2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/461614102 (Accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - The Shekels Charitable Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-shekels-charitable-foundation,461614102/ (Accessed January 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - Shekels Charitable Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/461614102-shekels-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
• The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. "News Release - Huntington Trustees Elect Two New Members." https://www.huntington.org/news/news-release-huntington-trustees-elect-two-new-members (Accessed January 2026)
• Instrumentl - Shekels Charitable Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/shekels-charitable-foundation (Accessed January 2026)