Krishnan-Shah Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation's filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so unless you already have an introduction, a cold application is unlikely to get a hearing.
- Its filing shows no stated geographic focus, with grants mainly in California, India and District of Columbia; treat that as a record of past giving, not as a rule about who may apply.
- Typical grants fall between $2,500 and $200,000, with a median of $20,000 and a largest grant of about $1,100,000, so a modest request near the middle of that range fits its past pattern.
- Repeat funding is significant, as 58% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had already funded in earlier filings, so a relationship or introduction probably matters more than the size of the ask.
- A small charity new to the foundation should not be put off by this, but should approach it through someone who knows it.
Overview
Krishnan-Shah Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
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 filings describe the giving as support for charitable purposes, without naming a more specific field. The grant record includes educational institutions and schools, community foundations and groups, media and film organisations, conservation bodies, and organisations working in employment and justice. It also includes organisations based in India and the United Kingdom, alongside recipients across the United States. Taken together, these grants show support for a broad range of charitable organisations rather than a stated set of thematic priorities. The filings do not set out further eligibility criteria for organisations seeking support.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, India and District of Columbia.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 58% 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 126 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 1%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 9%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to organisations Krishnan-Shah Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 9% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (India, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Australia).
- 15% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 41 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- American Indian Foundation · To support charitable purposes$787,5002024 tax year
- Accion Equity Campaign · To support charitable purposes$600,0002024 tax year
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation · To support charitable purposes$450,0002024 tax year
- India Energy and Climate Center · To support charitable purposes$250,0002024 tax year
- KQED · To support charitable purposes$200,0002024 tax year
- Stanford University · To support charitable purposes$200,0002024 tax year
- Proximity Fund · To support charitable purposes$150,0002024 tax year
- Press Forward · To support charitable purposes$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Raj Krishnan — Director
- Ajay B Shah — Secretary / Director
- Lata K Shah — President / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,216,873 | $3,493,995 | $70,707,551 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,402,488 | $3,577,586 | $77,240,974 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $4,519,445 | $3,661,000 | $81,796,800 | 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 Krishnan-Shah Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA
Applying to Krishnan-Shah Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- San Francisco, CA