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David And Fela Shapell Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$11.3M
Grant Range
$0K - $7.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,323,650 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $175 - $7,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California, New York, and Washington D.C., with significant support for Israel-based institutions

Contact Details

Address: Beverly Hills, CA (Los Angeles area)

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or published contact information. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The David and Fela Shapell Family Foundation was established in 1967 (granted charitable status in December 1968) by David Shapell, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor who became a successful real estate developer in Southern California, and his wife Fela. With assets totaling over $62 million, the foundation distributed $11,323,650 in grants in 2023. The foundation focuses on promoting charitable, educational, literary, and scientific research, with a particular emphasis on Holocaust remembrance and education, Jewish higher education, and support for Israeli institutions. The foundation has gained recognition for major philanthropic initiatives, including the 2024 opening of the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections Center at Yad Vashem and a $15 million donation to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2013. Following David Shapell's passing in 2015, the foundation continues to be led by his three children as a family-run organization.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion without formal grant programs or application cycles. Grants range from $175 to $7,000,000, with a median grant of approximately $243,000 (2023 data).

Priority Areas

Holocaust Remembrance and Education: Major support for institutions preserving Holocaust memory, including:

  • Yad Vashem (including the David and Fela Shapell Family Shoah and Heroism Study Center for Youth and the David and Fela Shapell Family Collections Center)
  • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (David and Fela Shapell Family Collections and Conservation Center)
  • American Society for Yad Vashem

Jewish Higher Education: Support for Israeli and American institutions advancing Jewish scholarship, including:

  • Weizmann Institute of Science (David and Fela Shapell Family Center for Genetic Disorders Research, David and Fela Shapell Family Institute for Preclinical Studies)
  • American Friends of Darche Noam - David Shapell College
  • American Friends of Bar-Ilan University
  • American Friends of IDC
  • American Society of the University of Haifa

Jewish Community Organizations: Support for synagogues, federations, and Jewish service organizations in California and New York, including:

  • Beth Jacob Congregation (Beverly Hills)
  • Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
  • Hadassah
  • Jewish agencies and temples

Health and Human Services: Support for organizations promoting health research and human services within the Jewish community.

Geographic Focus

The foundation primarily supports organizations in:

  • California (particularly Los Angeles/Beverly Hills area)
  • New York
  • Washington, D.C.
  • Israel

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by David and Fela Shapell's three children, all of whom serve without compensation:

  • Rochelle Shapell - President
  • Benjamin Shapell - Secretary
  • Irvin N. Shapell - Treasurer

The family maintains direct involvement in grantmaking decisions, continuing the philanthropic legacy established by their parents.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The David and Fela Shapell Family Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Grant decisions are made at the discretion of the family trustees based on their philanthropic priorities and existing relationships with organizations.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on its own timeline for identifying and supporting organizations aligned with its mission.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates exclusively through trustee-initiated grants to preselected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply for funding. However, examining the foundation's funding patterns reveals clear priorities:

Holocaust Connection: The foundation's most significant investments have been in Holocaust remembrance and education, reflecting David Shapell's personal history as a Holocaust survivor. Major capital projects bearing the Shapell family name at Yad Vashem and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum demonstrate this commitment.

Jewish Education and Scholarship: The foundation consistently supports institutions advancing Jewish higher education and research, particularly those with Israeli connections or focus on Jewish studies.

Long-term Institutional Relationships: Grant recipients appear to include organizations with sustained relationships to the family and foundation, suggesting that once an organization is in the foundation's giving circle, they may receive ongoing support.

Substantial Impact Opportunities: While the foundation makes grants across a wide range ($175 - $7,000,000), their largest gifts support major capital projects and institutional initiatives that create lasting impact and can be named in recognition of the Shapell family's philanthropy.

Geographic and Community Ties: Significant support flows to organizations in areas where the Shapell family has lived and maintained connections - particularly Los Angeles/Beverly Hills and the broader Southern California Jewish community, as well as Israeli institutions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. They exclusively fund preselected organizations chosen by family trustees.

  • Holocaust Legacy Focus: The foundation's largest and most visible grants support Holocaust remembrance, education, and preservation - a direct reflection of David Shapell's survivor experience.

  • Israeli and Jewish Higher Education: Consistent support for academic institutions, particularly in Israel, represents a core funding priority.

  • Major Capital Gifts: The foundation has demonstrated capacity and willingness to make transformational gifts ($1 million+) to major institutional projects.

  • Family-Directed Philanthropy: With all three of David and Fela's children serving as officers, this is a tightly-held family foundation where personal values and connections drive funding decisions.

  • Southern California Jewish Community: Local synagogues and Jewish community organizations in the Los Angeles area receive ongoing support.

  • Relationship-Based: Organizations receiving funding appear to have established relationships with the family or align closely with causes personally meaningful to the Shapells.

References

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