The Y S Shin Foundation concentrates its giving on the Los Angeles Korean-American community, with a particular emphasis on supporting Koreatown institutions and services for elderly residents. Nearly all grants are directed to a very small set of local organizations, suggesting a targeted, community-specific philanthropic focus rather than broad geographic or issue diversification.
Highly concentrated giving: a small number of mid-sized grants distributed repeatedly to the same local Korean-American organizations (two organizations received all documented funding).
Y S Shin Foundation’s giving centers on the welfare of the Korean American community in Los Angeles, with the largest recent grant going to Korean American Foundation for that purpose. The pattern is narrow and local: grants go to a small cluster of organizations serving Koreatown, senior residents, and Korean American community needs, rather than to a broad mix of regions or issue areas. In 2025, the foundation awarded $13,000 to Korea Town Senior and Community Cen for elderly services, and it also supported Korean American Special Education C for music lessons in South Bay communities. Other recipients point to the same community-specific approach, including work connected to Korean women’s leadership, gospel broadcasting, and local public safety support. The foundation’s recent giving suggests a preference for direct service and community institutions that operate within Korean American networks in Southern California. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025, and the grant record shows a consistent emphasis on local organizations that address social support, elder care, cultural programming, and civic life.
Elder services are a visible part of the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $13,000 to Korea Town Senior and Community Cen for elderly support, and it had already made an $11,000 grant there in 2023 for the same purpose. The foundation also funded Korean American Special Education C twice, including a $5,000 grant in 2023 and a $3,000 grant in 2025 to expand musical lesson programs in South Bay communities. Another recurring thread is support for Korean American civic and cultural organizations: a $5,000 grant to The Asia Society in 2025 sits alongside smaller gifts tied to gospel broadcasting, Catholic missions, and Korean women’s leadership. The causes differ, but each grant is tied to a specific local institution and program.
Typical grants are small and clustered tightly: the 25th percentile, median, and 75th percentile are $3,000, $3,000, and $6,000. Even the larger awards are limited, with the recent grant list showing a $30,000 top grant and several $3,000 gifts. The record also shows repeat support across years for the same recipients, including multiple grants to Korean American Foundation, Korea Town Senior and Community Cen, Korean American Special Education C, and Kcbc America. The foundation is not described as making program-related investments, and it does not fund individuals. Its pattern is straightforward direct grantmaking to organizations rather than to people.
$214K
$28K
$50K
$54K
Most grants fall between $3K and $6K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$6K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Notable grantees: Korean American Foundation, Korea Town Senior and Community Center, Other Koreatown community service providers (local senior and social service organizations)
Grantmaking is entirely local and stays in California. All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients, and the top state by grant count is CA at 100% of grants. Los Angeles appears repeatedly, including awards to Korean American Foundation, Korea Town Senior and Community Cen, Kcbc America, The Asia Society, and Oba Foundation. Other California recipients include Walnut, Santa Fe Springs, Fullerton, Irvine, and Vernon, showing a Southern California footprint centered on the Los Angeles area.
The foundation supports Korean American community welfare organizations, elder services in Koreatown, Korean women’s leadership, music education in South Bay communities, faith-based broadcasting and missions, and a local police support effort. The grants are tied to specific community institutions rather than a wide range of unrelated causes.
Typical grant size is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, median, and $6,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards include both smaller $1,000 gifts and larger grants such as $30,000, but most of the observed giving clusters around the $3,000 level.
No recent grants in the data went outside California. The geographic scope of giving is local, and 100% of the grants listed went to recipients in CA. Recent recipient cities include Los Angeles, Walnut, Santa Fe Springs, Fullerton, Irvine, and Vernon.
Yes. The grant record shows repeat support for several organizations across multiple years, including Korean American Foundation, Korea Town Senior and Community Cen, Korean American Special Education C, and Kcbc America. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The data shows annual grants given of $114,000, total assets of $32,772, and that it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The record presented here is consistent with direct grantmaking to organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,000 | 2026 | SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY |
| KOREAN WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL NETWOR | FULLERTON, CA | $10,000 | 2026 | EMPOWERING KOREAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP |
| KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C | SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES |
| LOVE IN MUSIC | BREA, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | EXPAND THE MUSICAL LEASSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES |
| SHEMA STELLA FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | CATHOLIC MISSIONS |
| THEATER L A | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2026 | THEATHER ACTIVITIES |
| KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,000 | 2026 | ELDERY |
| SPECTRUM OF HOPE FOUNDATION | FULLERTON, CA | $1,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON EARLY INTERVENTION SO CHILDREN WITH AUTISOM CAN GET THE RIGHT HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE |
| KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY |
| KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $13,000 | 2025 | ELDERY |
| THE ASIA SOCIETY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | ASIA SOCIETY |
| SHEMA STELLA FOUNDATION | IRVINE, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | CATHOLIC MISSIONS |
| KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C | SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES |
| KCBC AMERICA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | GOSPEL BROADCASTING |
| KOREAN WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL NETWOR | FULLERTON, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERING KOREAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP |
| OBA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | LAPD OLYMPIC DIVISION SUPPORT |
| KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY |
| KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | ELDERY |
| KCBC AMERICA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | GOSPEL BROADCASTING |
| SPECTRUM OF HOPE FOUNDATION | FULLERTON, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON EARLY INTERVENTION SO CHILDREN WITH AUTISOM CAN GET THE RIGHT HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE |
| KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C | SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA | $3,000 | 2024 | EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES |
| TAEGU KYUNGBUK SOCIETY USA INC | VERNON, CA | $1,000 | 2024 | THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY |
| KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN | LOS ANGELES, CA | $11,000 | 2023 | ELDERY |
| CIRCLE OF FRIENDS IN LOVE | WALNUT, CA | $6,000 | 2023 | DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED |
| KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C | SANTA FE SPRINGS, CA | $5,000 | 2023 | EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES |
KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$25,000SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
KOREAN WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL NETWOR
$10,000EMPOWERING KOREAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP
KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C
$3,000EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES
LOVE IN MUSIC
$3,000EXPAND THE MUSICAL LEASSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES
SHEMA STELLA FOUNDATION
$3,000CATHOLIC MISSIONS
THEATER L A
$3,000THEATHER ACTIVITIES
KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN
$2,000ELDERY
SPECTRUM OF HOPE FOUNDATION
$1,000PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON EARLY INTERVENTION SO CHILDREN WITH AUTISOM CAN GET THE RIGHT HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$30,000SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN
$13,000ELDERY
THE ASIA SOCIETY
$5,000ASIA SOCIETY
SHEMA STELLA FOUNDATION
$3,000CATHOLIC MISSIONS
KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C
$3,000EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES
KCBC AMERICA
$3,000GOSPEL BROADCASTING
KOREAN WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL NETWOR
$1,000EMPOWERING KOREAN WOMEN LEADERSHIP
OBA FOUNDATION
$1,000LAPD OLYMPIC DIVISION SUPPORT
KOREAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$20,000SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN
$3,000ELDERY
KCBC AMERICA
$3,000GOSPEL BROADCASTING
SPECTRUM OF HOPE FOUNDATION
$3,000PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ON EARLY INTERVENTION SO CHILDREN WITH AUTISOM CAN GET THE RIGHT HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C
$3,000EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES
TAEGU KYUNGBUK SOCIETY USA INC
$1,000THE WELFARE OF THE KOREAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
KOREA TOWN SENIOR AND COMMUNITY CEN
$11,000ELDERY
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS IN LOVE
$6,000DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
KOREAN AMERICAN SPECIAL EDUCATION C
$5,000EXPAND THE MUSICAL LESSON PROGRAMS IN SOUTH BAY COMMUNITIES