The Joan & James Shapiro Foundation supports a mix of cultural, scientific/policy, educational literacy, and local religious community causes. Grants include arts (notably Chicago Opera Theater), Jewish congregation support, science and nuclear policy organizations, and literacy/education programs, with several repeat awards indicating ongoing relationships. Their giving balances local Chicago-focused investments with a few international or national science and cultural organizations.
Relatively concentrated: 10 grants totaling ~$272k with several sizable awards ($20k–$50k). Mix of repeat grantees and one-off larger gifts, combining local community/arts funding with targeted national/international science and cultural organizations.
A $50,000 grant to Chicago Opera Theater in 2025 is the largest recent award in the Joan & James Shapiro Foundation Inc. record, and it captures the mix of cultural, civic, and policy-oriented giving that appears across the foundation’s grants. The foundation’s recent support also includes repeated awards to Kam Isaiah Israel and Reading Between the Lines, suggesting continuing relationships rather than isolated gifts. Alongside those local commitments, the foundation has funded science-policy organizations such as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Union of Concerned Scientists, and Science Reserch 20, plus alumni and exchange support through Cambridge in America. The pattern points to a funder that moves between Chicago-based institutions, national advocacy and research groups, and smaller grants to education and conservation organizations. Its gifts are generally modest to mid-sized, with a few larger awards concentrated in arts, religious, and policy-related work. The portfolio shows interest in recipient-defined priorities rather than tightly program-specific project support, and it extends across cultural preservation, literacy, nuclear-risk communication, and selected public-interest causes.
In the arts, the foundation gave $50,000 to Chicago Opera Theater in 2025, the clearest single commitment in the recent record. Religious and congregational support is another recurring theme: Kam Isaiah Israel received $33,333 in both 2024 and 2023. Literacy appears in the grant to Reading Between the Lines, which received $25,000 in 2024 and the same amount in 2023. The foundation also supports science-policy and public-interest organizations. It gave $20,000 to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 2024 and $20,000 to the Union of Concerned Scientists in 2023, then added $25,000 to Science Reserch 20 in 2025. The mix shows a portfolio that includes cultural institutions, Jewish congregational activities, literacy work, and organizations focused on science communication and civic policy.
Grant sizes cluster in the low thousands, with a typical award of $500 at the 25th percentile, $1,203 at the median, and $3,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also shows a handful of larger, repeated gifts at $20,000, $25,000, $33,333, and $50,000. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Kam Isaiah Israel, Reading Between the Lines, Cambridge in America, and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which points to recurring support rather than one-off awards. The foundation is a private foundation; it does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The data provided does not show an application process or unsolicited-grant mechanism.
$481K
$2.6M
$199K
$153K
Most grants fall between $500 and $3K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$3K
About 53% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Chicago Opera Theater, Kam Isaiah Israel, Reading Between the Lines, Union of Concerned Scientists, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Grantmaking is national, but it is heavily concentrated in Illinois: 53% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is the most visible city in the record, with grants to Chicago Opera Theater, Kam Isaiah Israel, Reading Between the Lines, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Innovation 80, Aclu Inc, and Planned Parenthood of Illinois. New York is the top state by grant count, and named recipients there include Cambridge in America, Cornell University, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Outside the Midwest and Northeast, the record reaches Bozeman, Lander, Denver, and Alexandria.
The record shows support for Chicago performing arts, Jewish congregational activity, literacy and education, science-policy and nuclear-risk communication, and selected public-interest advocacy. Named recipients include Chicago Opera Theater, Kam Isaiah Israel, Reading Between the Lines, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Kam Isaiah Israel in 2024 and 2023, Reading Between the Lines in 2024 and 2023, Cambridge in America in 2025 and 2023, and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 2024 and 2023. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships.
The grant-size distribution is relatively small: p25 is $500, median is $1,203, and p75 is $3,000. The recent record also includes larger awards such as $20,000, $25,000, $33,333, and $50,000.
New York is the top state by grant count, while 53% of grants go to recipients in Illinois, the headquarters state. Chicago appears repeatedly in the recipient list, including Chicago Opera Theater, Kam Isaiah Israel, Reading Between the Lines, and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
No. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHICAGO OPERA THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| SCIENCE RESERCH 20 | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $25,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST | BOZEMAN, MT | $7,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $7,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CHELSEA FUND | LANDER, WY | $5,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CHICAGO WEST COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS | DENVER, CO | $2,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| THE MARSHALL PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| WYOMING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NETWORK | CHEYENNE, WY | $2,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $2,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| WFMT 987 | CHICAGO, IL | $2,400 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| THE ROGER BALDWIN FOUNDATION OF THE ACLU | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| WBEZ CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE TO |
| COURT THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| ILLINOIS HUMANITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| MADD RHYTHMS | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| HYDE PARK HUNGER PROGRAMS | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CERES | BOSTON, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| BOSTON REVIEW | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $250 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $160 | 2025 | FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANZATAION. |
| NATIONAL WILDLIFE FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $25 | 2025 | SEE ABOVE |
| KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL | CHICAGO, IL | $33,333 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| READING BETWEEN THE LINES | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST | BOZEMAN, MT | $7,500 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $7,500 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| WELLSPRING HEALTH ACCESS | LANDER, WY | $5,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| NAACP | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| BROWN UNIVERSITY | PROVIDENCE, RI | $3,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS | DENVER, CO | $3,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| CORNELL UNIVERSITY | ITHACA, NY | $3,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| THE MARSHALL PROJECT | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| COURT THEATER | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| ILLINOIS HUMANITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| WFMT 987 | CHICAGO, IL | $1,206 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL | CHICAGO, IL | $1,150 | 2024 | SEE ABOVE |
CHICAGO OPERA THEATER
$50,000SEE ABOVE
SCIENCE RESERCH 20
$25,000SEE ABOVE
CAMBRIDGE IN AMERICA
$20,000SEE ABOVE
GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST
$7,500SEE ABOVE
CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
$7,500SEE ABOVE
CHELSEA FUND
$5,000SEE ABOVE
CHICAGO WEST COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER
SEE ABOVE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
$2,500SEE ABOVE
THE MARSHALL PROJECT
$2,500SEE ABOVE
WYOMING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT NETWORK
$2,500SEE ABOVE
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$2,500SEE ABOVE
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
$2,500SEE ABOVE
WFMT 987
$2,400SEE ABOVE
THE ROGER BALDWIN FOUNDATION OF THE ACLU
$2,000SEE ABOVE
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$2,000SEE ABOVE
CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
$2,000SEE ABOVE
WBEZ CHICAGO
$2,000SEE ABOVE
AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
$1,500ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE TO
COURT THEATER
$1,500SEE ABOVE
ILLINOIS HUMANITIES
$1,500SEE ABOVE
WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC
$1,000SEE ABOVE
MADD RHYTHMS
$1,000SEE ABOVE
HYDE PARK HUNGER PROGRAMS
$1,000SEE ABOVE
CERES
$1,000SEE ABOVE
BOSTON REVIEW
$1,000SEE ABOVE
RUSH UNIVERSITY
$500SEE ABOVE
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION
$250SEE ABOVE
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
$160FURTHER THE GOALS OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANZATAION.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FOUNDATION
$25SEE ABOVE
KAM ISAIAH ISRAEL
$33,333SEE ABOVE
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
$25,000SEE ABOVE
BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS
$20,000SEE ABOVE
GALLATIN VALLEY LAND TRUST
$7,500SEE ABOVE
CENTER FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
$7,500SEE ABOVE
WELLSPRING HEALTH ACCESS
$5,000SEE ABOVE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF ILLINOIS
$5,000SEE ABOVE
COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS
$5,000SEE ABOVE
NAACP
$3,000SEE ABOVE
BROWN UNIVERSITY
$3,000SEE ABOVE
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
$3,000SEE ABOVE
EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND
$3,000SEE ABOVE
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$3,000SEE ABOVE
THE MARSHALL PROJECT
$2,500SEE ABOVE
AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE
$2,000SEE ABOVE
CHICAGO COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
$2,000SEE ABOVE
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
$2,000SEE ABOVE
COURT THEATER
$1,500SEE ABOVE
ILLINOIS HUMANITIES
$1,500SEE ABOVE
WFMT 987
$1,206SEE ABOVE
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF WIGMORE HALL
$1,150SEE ABOVE