The Shear Family Foundation concentrates its giving into a very small number of large awards, primarily supporting higher education in Pittsburgh and Jewish/Israeli humanitarian causes. A sizable portion of funds are routed through donor-advised vehicles, suggesting the foundation uses intermediaries alongside direct grants. Grants are few but large, with repeated support to the same institutions rather than broad, distributed funding.
Shear Family Foundation Inc. gives through a small set of large awards, with repeated support to the same institutions across multiple years. A major thread is higher education in Pittsburgh: the University of Pittsburgh received $1,150,000 in 2024, $1,050,000 in 2023, and $600,000 in 2025, all listed for various programs. The foundation also backs Jewish and Israeli humanitarian work at scale, including $705,500 in 2023 and $600,000 in 2025 to American Friends of Leket Israel Inc for food insecurity, plus support to Jewish National Fund for Lotem and other programs. Its grantmaking includes donor-advised vehicles as well, with seven-figure awards routed to Donor Advised Funds- Charles Schwab and a $655,800 grant to Charles Schwab Charitable Fund. The pattern suggests a funder that makes concentrated, repeat grants rather than a broad spread of smaller gifts. Alongside those core areas, the foundation has supported mental health training, medical research, food banks, and Jewish community organizations.
In higher education, the foundation has backed the University of Pittsburgh across multiple years for various programs, including grants of $1,150,000 in 2024, $1,050,000 in 2023, and $600,000 in 2025. In food insecurity work, it supported American Friends of Leket Israel Inc with $705,500 in 2023, $550,000 in 2024, and $600,000 in 2025. The foundation also funded the University of Nevada Las Vegas twice, giving $400,000 in 2024 and $400,000 in 2025 for The Practice - Mental Health Training Clinic. Medical research appears in the grant list as well, with $350,000 in 2024 and $350,000 in 2025 to the University of Colorado.
Typical award size is concentrated at the upper end: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $156,850. That spread fits a pattern of a few large grants rather than many mid-sized ones. Recipients do appear across multiple years, especially universities, food-security organizations, and Jewish community or Israel-related nonprofits. The foundation’s grantmaking also includes donor-advised vehicles, with multiple awards to Donor Advised Funds- Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Charitable Fund. It does not fund individuals and makes no program-related investments.
$9M
$225.8M
$14M
$12.9M
Most grants fall between $10K and $157K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$157K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants; repeat funding to the same core recipients; a mix of direct institutional support and substantial transfers to donor-advised/charitable funds.
Notable grantees: University of Pittsburgh, American Friends of Leket Israel Inc, Donor Advised Funds - Charles Schwab, Charles Schwab Charitable Fund
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States. Pennsylvania is the main destination, accounting for 38% of grants, with Pittsburgh and Duquesne appearing repeatedly. Other recurring recipient cities include Las Vegas, Denver, Teaneck, Northbrook, Palm Beach Gardens, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The top state by grant count is Nevada, even though the foundation is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Its recent grants show repeated support for universities, food-security organizations, Jewish communal and Israel-focused organizations, and a smaller set of health-related and community-service nonprofits. The University of Pittsburgh, American Friends of Leket Israel Inc, and Jewish National Fund each appear multiple times in the grant list.
The grant-size distribution is skewed toward large awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $50,000, and the 75th percentile is $156,850. Several individual grants in the recent list are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
No. Grants are national, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Pennsylvania receives 38% of grants, while Nevada is the top state by grant count. Recent recipients are spread across Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Las Vegas, Denver, Teaneck, Northbrook, Chicago, Palm Beach Gardens, and Washington, DC.
Recurring support is a clear pattern. The University of Pittsburgh appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; American Friends of Leket Israel Inc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and the University of Nevada Las Vegas appears in both 2024 and 2025. Donor-advised vehicles also appear across multiple years.
Yes. The recent grants list includes $1,207,000 in 2023 to Donor Advised Funds- Charles Schwab, $951,000 in 2025 to Donor Advised Funds- Charles Schwab, and $655,800 in 2024 to Charles Schwab Charitable Fund, alongside direct grants to operating nonprofits.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DONOR ADVISED FUNDS- CHARLES SCHWAB | PITTSBURGH, PA | $951,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL INC | TEANECK, NJ | $600,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $600,000 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| AMERIAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $450,000 | 2025 | AIEF |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $400,000 | 2025 | THE PRACTICE - MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING CLINIC |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NORTHBROOK, IL | $380,000 | 2025 | LOTEM, VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | DENVER, CO | $350,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | FAMILY SUPPORT |
| DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH |
| GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOODBANK | DUQUESNE, PA | $300,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| PALM BEACH COUNTY FOODBANK | LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $250,000 | 2025 | THE PITTSBURGH STUDY (TPS) LAUNCH |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CAMPAIGN |
| ALPERT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $250,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES | CHICAGO, IL | $231,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CAMPAIGN |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) | LAS VEGAS, NV | $225,000 | 2025 | MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF IR DAVID | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | OPERATING GRANT |
| MAGEE WOMEN'S RESEARCH | PITTSBURGH, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| ERADICATE HATE GLOBAL SUMMIT | PITTSBURGH, PA | $200,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR SUMMIT |
| UCLA FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | CAPPS RESEARCH |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL | CEDARHURST, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | CYBERWELL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $150,000 | 2025 | MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL SPORT CENTER FOR THE DISABLED | NORTHFIELD, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | REHABILITATION- PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL THROUGH SPORTS |
| NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI) | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | ENHANCE TELEHEALTH/CONFERENCE SOFTWARE AND EQUIP- HOTLINE |
| PALM BEACH POLICE AND FIRE FOUNDATION | PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| SOLDIERS SAVE LIVES | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | JEWISH CAUSES |
| THREE SQUARE FOOD BANK | LAS VEGAS, NV | $100,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| HUNTSMAN CANCER FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $100,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | BOCA RATON, FL | $92,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL IN UNIFORM, FIREFIGHTERS |
| CONNECTING CHAMPIONS | PITTSBURGH, PA | $76,000 | 2025 | CANCER JOURNEY SUPPORT |
| WEST PALM BEACH CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $75,000 | 2025 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALARY |
| SECURE COMMUNITY NETWORK | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY |
| JCFS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | DUMAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER |
| ISRAEL GUIDE DOG ASSOC | WARRINGTON, PA | $54,000 | 2025 | GUIDE DOGS FOR BLIND |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION | CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | $50,000 | 2025 | MISSION & LONG RANGE STABILITY |
| FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF LAS VEGAS | LAS VEGAS, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE DANIEL CENTERS FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDIASM | CHEVY CHASE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | ISRAELI CAUSES |
| SUMMIT LAND CONSERVANCY | PARK CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | LAND PRESERVATION |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | PRECISION MEDICINE ONCOLOGY |
| VIBE ISRAEL | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | JEWISH CAUSES |
| LIVE LIKE SAM INSTITUTE | PARK CITY, UT | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH SUPPORT |
| THE ARK | CHICAGO, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | FOOD INSECURITY |
| GRANT A GIFT AUTISM | LAS VEGAS, NV | $50,000 | 2025 | FAMILY SUPPORT |
| PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | ANIMAL RESCUE SUPPORT |
| LIGHT OF LIFE MISSION | PITTSBURGH, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | MINISTRIES |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | MENTORING PROGRAM |
| CLUBHOUSE SUMMIT COUNTY | PARK CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT |
| THE CRANBERRY CUP | CRANBERRY TWP, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | ASSISTANCE FAMILIES IN NEED |
| NEVADA MEDICAL CENTER | LAS VEGAS, NV | $15,000 | 2025 | HOPE MEANS NEVADA |
| VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | FORMER PLAYER SUPPORT |
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS- CHARLES SCHWAB
$951,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET ISRAEL INC
$600,000FOOD INSECURITY
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
$600,000VARIOUS PROGRAMS
AMERIAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FUND
$450,000AIEF
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
$400,000THE PRACTICE - MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING CLINIC
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$380,000LOTEM, VARIOUS PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO
$350,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
JEWISH FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH
$300,000FAMILY SUPPORT
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY
$300,000CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALTH
GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOODBANK
$300,000FOOD INSECURITY
PALM BEACH COUNTY FOODBANK
$250,000FOOD INSECURITY
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION
$250,000THE PITTSBURGH STUDY (TPS) LAUNCH
FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES
$250,000GENERAL CAMPAIGN
ALPERT JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES
$250,000FOOD INSECURITY
FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES
$231,000GENERAL CAMPAIGN
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
$225,000MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF IR DAVID
$200,000OPERATING GRANT
MAGEE WOMEN'S RESEARCH
$200,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
ERADICATE HATE GLOBAL SUMMIT
$200,000SUPPORT FOR SUMMIT
UCLA FOUNDATION
$200,000CAPPS RESEARCH
CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL
$150,000CYBERWELL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADOM
$150,000MOBILE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ISRAEL SPORT CENTER FOR THE DISABLED
$125,000REHABILITATION- PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL THROUGH SPORTS
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS (NAMI)
$100,000ENHANCE TELEHEALTH/CONFERENCE SOFTWARE AND EQUIP- HOTLINE
PALM BEACH POLICE AND FIRE FOUNDATION
$100,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
SOLDIERS SAVE LIVES
$100,000JEWISH CAUSES
THREE SQUARE FOOD BANK
$100,000FOOD INSECURITY
HUNTSMAN CANCER FOUNDATION
$100,000MEDICAL RESEARCH
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$92,000SPECIAL IN UNIFORM, FIREFIGHTERS
CONNECTING CHAMPIONS
$76,000CANCER JOURNEY SUPPORT
WEST PALM BEACH CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY
$75,000EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SALARY
SECURE COMMUNITY NETWORK
$75,000JEWISH COMMUNITY SECURITY
JCFS CHICAGO
$75,000DUMAN OPPORTUNITY CENTER
ISRAEL GUIDE DOG ASSOC
$54,000GUIDE DOGS FOR BLIND
HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION
$50,000MISSION & LONG RANGE STABILITY
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF LAS VEGAS
$50,000MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE DANIEL CENTERS FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDIASM
$50,000ISRAELI CAUSES
SUMMIT LAND CONSERVANCY
$50,000LAND PRESERVATION
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
$50,000PRECISION MEDICINE ONCOLOGY
VIBE ISRAEL
$50,000JEWISH CAUSES
LIVE LIKE SAM INSTITUTE
$50,000YOUTH SUPPORT
THE ARK
$50,000FOOD INSECURITY
GRANT A GIFT AUTISM
$50,000FAMILY SUPPORT
PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE
$30,000ANIMAL RESCUE SUPPORT
LIGHT OF LIFE MISSION
$30,000MINISTRIES
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF UTAH
$25,000MENTORING PROGRAM
CLUBHOUSE SUMMIT COUNTY
$25,000MENTAL ILLNESS SUPPORT
THE CRANBERRY CUP
$25,000ASSISTANCE FAMILIES IN NEED
NEVADA MEDICAL CENTER
$15,000HOPE MEANS NEVADA
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
$10,000FORMER PLAYER SUPPORT