The George L Shields Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,034,000 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 91 awards (2023)
• Average Grant Size: ~$22,000
• Assets: $20 million+
• Geographic Focus: Maryland/Washington DC metropolitan area
• Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 4416 East West Hwy Ste 4, Bethesda, MD 20814-4656

Phone: 301-634-3125

Treasurer/President: Robert M. Reiner

EIN: 52-1851638

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

Overview

The George L Shields Foundation Inc is a well-established private grantmaking foundation that has been operating since 1993, receiving tax-exempt status in March 1995. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington DC metropolitan area, the foundation maintains substantial assets exceeding $20 million and distributes approximately $2 million annually in grants. The foundation operates as an independent private foundation, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. With a consistent grant-making pattern of approximately 90-95 awards per year, the foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, healthcare (particularly nursing education), schools, colleges, and cultural organizations. The foundation's approach is highly selective, working only with organizations and causes identified through trustee discretion rather than through a public application process.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate named grant programs but provides direct grants to charitable organizations in its areas of interest. Based on 2023 data:

• Average Grant Amount: Approximately $22,000 per award
• Total Annual Distribution: $2,034,000 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 91 awards (2023), with similar levels in previous years (95 in 2022, 96 in 2021)
• Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Based on available information from Form 990-PF filings and documented grants:

• Education: Financial support for schools and colleges
• Healthcare/Nursing Education: Scholarships for nursing students (confirmed grant to Hood College nursing program, 2021-2022)
• Cultural Organizations: Support for cultural and arts institutions
• Charitable Organizations: Gifts, grants, and loans to qualifying 501(c)(3) organizations

What They Don't Fund

• Unsolicited Applications: The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds
• Organizations not pre-identified by trustees or foundation leadership
• Direct support to individuals (operates through institutional grants)

Governance and Leadership

Robert M. Reiner serves as both Treasurer and President of The George L Shields Foundation Inc.

Limited information is publicly available about other trustees or board members. The foundation operates with a small governance structure typical of family or private foundations, with decision-making concentrated among a select group of trustees who identify and select grant recipients.

The foundation maintains a low public profile, focusing on its grant-making activities rather than public outreach or communications.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The George L Shields Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Organizations cannot apply directly to this foundation. All grants are made based on trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships or identification of worthy causes by the foundation's leadership.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept applications, organizations seeking to understand potential alignment should note:

• Review Their Grant History: The foundation's Form 990-PF filings (available through ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, GuideStar, or Grantmakers.io) list all grant recipients. Organizations can review past recipients to understand the types of causes and institutions the foundation supports.

• Geographic Alignment: Based in the Washington DC metropolitan area (Bethesda, MD), the foundation may have regional preferences, though specific geographic restrictions are not publicly documented.

• Institutional Focus: Past grants show preference for established educational institutions, healthcare/nursing programs, and cultural organizations rather than startups or new initiatives.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made through trustee-initiated processes rather than application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - organizations cannot apply or reapply as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, organizations that receive support from The George L Shields Foundation typically share these characteristics:

Institutional Profile: Past grant recipients include established educational institutions such as Hood College, suggesting the foundation prefers well-established organizations with proven track records.

Focus Area Alignment: Organizations working in education (particularly higher education), healthcare education (especially nursing programs), and cultural institutions align with documented grant-making patterns.

Regional Connection: While not explicitly stated, the foundation's location in the Washington DC metropolitan area may indicate preference for regional organizations, though this has not been confirmed through publicly available data.

Organizational Stability: As a foundation that preselects recipients, they likely favor organizations with strong governance, financial stability, and clear missions that align with their philanthropic interests.

Track Record: The foundation's pattern of making approximately 90-95 grants annually suggests they may maintain ongoing relationships with certain organizations rather than constantly seeking new recipients.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Application Possible: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications - do not waste time trying to apply or contact them with proposals.

• Research Their Giving: Review the foundation's Form 990-PF filings to understand exactly which types of organizations they fund. If your organization doesn't closely match past recipients, they are unlikely to be a prospect.

• Focus on Similar Funders: Instead of pursuing this foundation, identify foundations with similar giving patterns that DO accept applications - use The George L Shields Foundation's grant list as a reference for finding better prospects.

• Educational and Healthcare Focus: If your organization works in education (especially higher education), nursing education, or cultural programming, and you see similar organizations in their grant list, you may be in their sphere of interest - but still cannot apply directly.

• Substantial but Moderate Grants: With an average grant size around $22,000, this foundation provides meaningful but not transformational funding to most recipients - useful context if comparing to similar Maryland/DC area foundations.

• Stable Grant-Making Pattern: The consistent annual giving (90+ grants totaling ~$2 million) suggests this is a stable, ongoing foundation rather than one winding down or ramping up operations.

• Track Your Network: If your board members, major donors, or institutional partners have connections to Robert M. Reiner or other potential trustees (not publicly listed), those relationships would be the only potential pathway to consideration - but do not make cold contact attempts.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The George L Shields Foundation Inc (EIN 52-1851638). Form 990-PF filings from 2009-2023. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521851638 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Grantmakers.io - The George L Shields Foundation Inc Profile (2023 tax year data). Notation: "Only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Available at: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/521851638-the-george-l-shields-foundation-inc/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• GuideStar Profile - The George L Shields Foundation Inc (EIN 52-1851638). Basic foundation information and tax filing history. Available at: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/52-1851638 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Charity Navigator - The George L Shields Foundation Inc Profile. Available at: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/521851638 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Cause IQ - The George L Shields Foundation (Bethesda, MD). Financial data and grant statistics. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-george-l-shields-foundation-inc,521851638/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory - The George L Shields Foundation Inc C/o Robert M Reiner Treasurer. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=SHIE011 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Hood College Marketing & Communications - Grants received between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, including The George L. Shields Foundation scholarship support for nursing students. Available at: http://www.hoodmarketing.org/honorroll/category/grants/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Instrumentl - The George L Shields Foundation Inc 990 Report. Grant statistics and analysis. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/george-l-shields-foundation-inc-co-robert-m-reiner-treasurer (Accessed March 11, 2026)