The Tillie & Alfred Shemanski Testamentary Trust concentrates funding in the Seattle area, supporting Jewish communal life and local higher education through sizeable, repeat grants. Their giving prioritizes synagogue education/outreach and scholarships or program support at major regional universities, often with multi-grant relationships tied to the Shemanski name.
The Tillie & Alfred Shemanski Testamentary Trust stands out for its sustained support of Seattle Jewish communal life and higher education, especially through repeated grants to Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, and the University of Washington. Across 2023 to 2025, those relationships recur in the trust’s recent giving, with Temple De Hirsch Sinai receiving $95,000 in each of those three years and Seattle University receiving $87,000 in each of those same years. The University of Washington also appears repeatedly through Shemanski-designated support, including grants of $60,000, $60,000, and $55,000. Beyond these anchor institutions, the trust funds a mix of direct-service and scholarship-oriented work in Seattle and nearby communities. Recent grants include support for Hillel at the University of Washington, Jewish Family Services of Seattle, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Givat Haviva Educational Foundation, and several local organizations serving students, families, and people experiencing homelessness. The pattern suggests a funder that combines Jewish education and outreach with university-based student support and selected community services, often through multi-year relationships rather than isolated gifts.
In Jewish education and outreach, the trust gave $95,000 to Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle, for strengthening Jewish education and outreach, and $20,000 to Givat Haviva Educational Foundation, New York, for education for a shared society. That pairing shows support for both local synagogue-based programming and broader Jewish educational work. Higher education is another clear lane. The trust awarded $87,000 to Seattle University for fostering scholars and $18,000 to Hillel at the University of Washington for UW counseling and wellness. It also supported University of Washington initiatives with Shemanski-designated grants, including one for $60,000. The trust also backs community services. It gave $25,000 to the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project for unrestricted general support and $12,000 to The Sophia Way for bringing hope to people experiencing homelessness. Separate grants also supported Jewish Family Services of Seattle’s Dvora Kids Club.
$468K
$8.9M
$972K
$611K
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$15K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Concentrated, large grants to a small number of repeat grantees in one metropolitan area; multi-grant relationships rather than many small, one-off gifts.
Notable grantees: Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, University of Washington
Typical grants are tightly clustered: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $10,000, $10,000, and $15,000. That indicates many awards sit in a narrow band, with a smaller set of larger institutional grants reaching well above that level. The trust’s recent record also shows recurring relationships rather than one-time gifts: Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, the University of Washington, Jewish Family Services of Seattle, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project all appear in multiple years. It funds individuals as well as organizations, and it is not making program-related investments.
Grantmaking is regional and heavily centered in Washington, with the top state by grant count being WA. Seattle appears most often in the recent grants, including Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, the University of Washington, Hillel at the University of Washington, Jewish Family Services of Seattle, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, Westside Baby, Harvest Against Hunger, and The Mockingbird Society. Other Washington recipients include Issaquah, Bellevue, and Mercer Island. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 66 grants going to U.S. organizations.
The trust supports Jewish education and outreach, higher-education scholarships and campus support, and selected community services. Recent recipients include Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, University of Washington, Hillel at the University of Washington, Jewish Family Services of Seattle, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project.
The distribution is tightly grouped around smaller awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $15,000. Recent giving also includes larger institutional grants such as $95,000 and $87,000 awards.
Yes. Several grantees appear in multiple years, including Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Seattle University, the University of Washington, Jewish Family Services of Seattle, Givat Haviva Educational Foundation, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Washington is the top state by grant count, and Seattle is the main city in the recent grants list. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 66 grants to U.S. organizations.
Yes. The trust funds individuals, and its recent grants also show a strong scholarship and student-support pattern through awards to Seattle University, University of Washington, Hillel at the University of Washington, and College Success Foundation.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI | SEATTLE, WA | $95,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION & OUTREACH FOR |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $87,000 | 2026 | FOSTERING SCHOLARS; |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $60,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI |
| UNION OF REFORMED JUDAISM ATTN RABBI LAURENCE RUBINSTEIN | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | URJ CAMP KALSMAN |
| GIVAT HAVIVA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION FOR A SHARED |
| NW IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| COLLEGE SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ISSAQUAH, WA | $15,000 | 2026 | LEADERSHIP 1000 SCHOLARSHIP |
| HILLEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2026 | UW COUNSELING & WELLNESS |
| WESTSIDE BABY | SEATTLE, WA | $12,500 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BACKPACK BRIGADE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | PURCHASE FOOD FOR WEEKEND |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT DVORA KIDS CLUB |
| HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN WASHINGTON STATE | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACCESS |
| YWCA OF SEATTLE KING SNOHOMISH COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PASSAGE POINT |
| THE SOPHIA WAY | BELLEVUE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | BRINGING HOPE TO HOMELESS |
| MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HARVEST AGAINST HUNGER | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $9,000 | 2026 | ASSIST WITH FUNERAL & |
| CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM | SEATTLE, WA | $8,000 | 2026 | CBS OZERIM TEEN LEADERSHIP |
| DRESS FOR SUCCESS SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $6,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| TEEN FEED | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| PATHST TO UNDERSTANDNG | LYNNWOOD, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MINYAN OHR CHADASH | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT SCHOLAR IN |
| ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $550 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR OPERATION |
| TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI | SEATTLE, WA | $95,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION & OUTREACH FOR |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $87,000 | 2025 | FOSTERING SCHOLARS; |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $60,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI |
| NW IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GIVAT HAVIVA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION FOR A SHARED |
| HILLEL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $18,000 | 2025 | UW COUNSELING & WELLNESS |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT DVORA KIDS CLUB |
| WESTSIDE BABY | SEATTLE, WA | $12,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| THE SOPHIA WAY | BELLEVUE, WA | $12,000 | 2025 | BRINGING HOPE TO HOMELESS |
| MOCKINGBIRD SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $12,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| HARVEST AGAINST HUNGER | SEATTLE, WA | $12,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| BACKPACK BRIGADE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | PURCHASE FOOD FOR WEEKEND |
| YWCA OF SEATTLE KING SNOHOMISH COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT PASSAGE POINT |
| HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN WASHINGTON STATE | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACCESS |
| CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM | SEATTLE, WA | $8,000 | 2025 | CBS OZERIM TEEN LEADERSHIP |
| COLLEGE SUCCESS FOUNDATION | ISSAQUAH, WA | $7,500 | 2025 | LEADERSHIP 1000 SCHOLARSHIP |
| SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $7,000 | 2025 | ASSIST WITH FUNERAL & |
| DRESS FOR SUCCESS SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $6,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| MINYAN OHR CHADASH | SEATTLE, WA | $5,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT SCHOLAR IN |
| WASHINGTON STATE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOC | MERCER ISLAND, WA | $2,500 | 2025 | STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY |
| TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI | SEATTLE, WA | $95,000 | 2024 | STRENGTHENING JEWISH |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $87,000 | 2024 | FOSTERING SCHOLARS; |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $55,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SEATTLE | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT DVORA KIDS CLUB |
| NW IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT | SEATTLE, WA | $15,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL |
| GIVAT HAVIVA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2024 | GHIS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS |
| SEATTLE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | ASSIST WITH FUNERAL & |
TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI
$95,000EDUCATION & OUTREACH FOR
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$60,000SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI
UNION OF REFORMED JUDAISM ATTN RABBI LAURENCE RUBINSTEIN
$25,000URJ CAMP KALSMAN
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN WASHINGTON STATE
$10,000SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACCESS
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$9,000ASSIST WITH FUNERAL &
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM
$8,000CBS OZERIM TEEN LEADERSHIP
PATHST TO UNDERSTANDNG
$5,000UNRESTRICTED GENERAL
MINYAN OHR CHADASH
$5,000SUPPORT SCHOLAR IN
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SEATTLE
$550SUPPORT FOR OPERATION
TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI
$95,000EDUCATION & OUTREACH FOR
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$60,000SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF SEATTLE
$15,000SUPPORT DVORA KIDS CLUB
HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN WASHINGTON STATE
$10,000SUPPORT FOR STUDENT ACCESS
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM
$8,000CBS OZERIM TEEN LEADERSHIP
SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$7,000ASSIST WITH FUNERAL &
MINYAN OHR CHADASH
$5,000SUPPORT SCHOLAR IN
TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI
$95,000STRENGTHENING JEWISH
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
$55,000SUPPORT FOR SHEMANSKI
SEATTLE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$10,000ASSIST WITH FUNERAL &