The Shaw Family Endowment Fund concentrates on lifesaving and community basic-needs work, combining support for emergency humanitarian relief (international and domestic) with local New York City institutions that address healthcare, hunger, and legal justice. Grants are predominantly general operating support to a small set of repeat grantees, with occasional cultural giving. The foundation splits its attention between global emergency/relief organizations and NYC-facing service providers.
The Shaw Family Endowment Fund pairs large, repeat general-support grants with a small set of recurring grantees across emergency relief, New York City public services, and local culture. One of the clearest patterns in the recent record is sustained backing for New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, which received $500,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for general support. The fund also made a $500,000 general grant to Americares in 2023, 2024, and 2025, along with $500,000 general grants to Action Against Hunger in 2023, 2024, and 2025. On the New York side, it has repeatedly supported institutions tied to healthcare, food access, and legal justice, including the Innocence Project and City Harvest. The portfolio is not broad; it is concentrated and repeat-driven, with general operating support appearing across most listed awards. Cultural funding is present as well, including support for Symphony Space and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City. Across the recent grants shown, the foundation gives in high-dollar amounts and returns to the same organizations over multiple years rather than spreading gifts across many one-time recipients.
In emergency humanitarian relief and disaster response, the funder gave $500,000 to Americares for general support in 2025 and matched that level in prior years. It also gave $500,000 to Action Against Hunger in 2025, continuing a pattern of sizable relief funding. For public healthcare, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation received $500,000 for general support in 2025, following similar grants in 2024 and 2023. In criminal-justice work, the Innocence Project received $500,000 for general support in 2024 and 2023. Food security is another clear theme: City Harvest and Feeding America each received $250,000 general grants in 2025. The foundation also extends smaller gifts to arts and civic organizations, including Young People’s Chorus of New York City, Bay Area Legal Aid, Wiser, and United in Harmony.
Typical grants cluster at the high end: p25 is $100,000, median is $250,000, and p75 is $500,000. The recent record shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to a concentrated, multi-year-style pattern rather than one-off support. Most listed grants are general support, indicating flexible funding. The fund does not make program-related investments and does not fund individuals.
$2.8M
$5M
$84K
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $100K and $500K, with a median of $250K.
25th Percentile
$100K
Median
$250K
75th Percentile
$500K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with multiple repeat payments to a small portfolio of core grantees; predominantly unrestricted/general operating support split between international relief organizations and NYC social-service institutions.
Notable grantees: AmeriCares, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Action Against Hunger, Innocence Project, City Harvest
Grantmaking is regional, but the recipient base is overwhelmingly U.S.-based: 32 grants, or 100%, go to U.S. organizations. New York dominates the portfolio, with 52% of grants landing in the foundation’s HQ state. New York City recipients include New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the Innocence Project, Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and The Symphony Space Inc. Outside New York, recurring recipients include Americares in Stamford, Connecticut; Feeding America in Chicago; Bay Area Legal Aid in Oakland; and United in Harmony in Los Angeles.
Its recent grants support emergency humanitarian relief, New York City public healthcare, food security, criminal-justice advocacy, and arts presenting. Named recipients include Americares, Action Against Hunger, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, City Harvest, Feeding America, the Innocence Project, and Symphony Space.
Yes. The recent grants list shows general support as the standard approach, including repeated general grants of $500,000 to New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Americares, Action Against Hunger, and the Innocence Project.
The typical grant size is substantial: p25 is $100,000, median is $250,000, and p75 is $500,000. The recent list also includes a $600,000 grant to The Symphony Space Inc.
Yes. Several grantees appear across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Americares, Action Against Hunger, City Harvest, Feeding America, Young People's Chorus of New York City, The Symphony Space Inc, Bay Area Legal Aid, Wiser, and United in Harmony.
New York is the top giving state, and 52% of grants go to recipients in NY. The recipient list is entirely U.S.-based, with organizations in New York City, Stamford, Brooklyn, Chicago, Oakland, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE SYMPHONY SPACE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $600,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMERICARES | STAMFORD, CT | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CITY HARVEST | BROOKLYN, NY | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WISER | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UNITED IN HARMONY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AMERICARES | STAMFORD, CT | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CITY HARVEST | BROOKLYN, NY | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BAY AREA LEGAL AID | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE SYMPHONY SPACE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNITED IN HARMONY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| WISER | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| INNOCENCE PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICARES | STAMFORD, CT | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION | NEW YORK, NY | $500,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CITY HARVEST | BROOKLYN, NY | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FEEDING AMERICA | CHICAGO, IL | $250,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE SYMPHONY SPACE INC | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| BAY AREA LEGAL AID | OAKLAND, CA | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| UNITED IN HARMONY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| WISER | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| URBAN INSTITUTE | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
AMERICARES
$500,000GENERAL
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION
$500,000GENERAL
CITY HARVEST
$250,000GENERAL
GENERAL
WISER
$25,000GENERAL
AMERICARES
$500,000GENERAL
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION
$500,000GENERAL
WISER
$25,000GENERAL
AMERICARES
$500,000GENERAL
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH AND HOSPITALS CORPORATION
$500,000GENERAL
WISER
$25,000GENERAL