Our mission is to promote peace through service by nurturing future generations.
Shinnyo-en Foundation’s giving is built around youth service, leadership development, social-emotional learning, and interfaith collaboration, with a peacebuilding thread running through much of the portfolio. The foundation describes its mission as promoting peace through service by nurturing future generations. Recent grants show that mission in practice through recurring support for campus-based fellowships, community service programs, and youth development initiatives. Two of the clearest examples are its fellowship partnerships with university-based centers. The foundation awarded $63,624 to Seattle University’s Center for Community Engagement for service leadership and Shinnyo Fellowship programs, and it gave $62,000 to UC Berkeley Public Service Center for the Shinnyo College Access Fellowship. Those grants sit alongside support for other fellowship placements, indicating that the foundation uses both institutional partnerships and programmatic sponsorship to reach undergraduates and post-undergraduates. Its broader grantmaking also reaches youth-serving nonprofits and schools through service-learning, youth voice, and interfaith programming. Grants to Redwood City Together, Youth Community Service, and Brothers on the Rise show repeated support for programs that combine community engagement with reflection and leadership development. The portfolio also includes scholarships for Putney School summer programs and support for Buddhist studies fellowships at UC Berkeley, showing a mix of direct program support and endowed academic funding.
Service-learning is one of the foundation’s most visible cause areas. It gave $40,000 to National Youth Leadership Council for the 2025 National Service-Learning Conference, and $30,000 to Youth Community Service for service-based learning projects and opportunities for the organization’s executive director to share lessons with Shinnyo-en youth. Youth leadership development appears across both fellowships and nonprofit grants. The foundation awarded $63,000 to Redwood City Together for the 2024-2025 Shinnyo Community Impact Fellow, and $15,000 to Brothers on the Rise for its “Brothers, Unite!” program. Interfaith work is another recurring lane. Notre Dame High School received $15,000 for its 2024 New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Program, while Interfaith Youth Alliance received $13,000 for its 2024-2025 programs. Social-emotional learning also shows up in the portfolio: Thinkgive received $15,000 for SEL program implementation in Greater Boston.
$387K
$35.4M
$3.1M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $14K and $50K, with a median of $26K.
25th Percentile
$14K
Median
$26K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 46% of grants go to recipients in MA.
JACK GIBSON
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The typical grant profile sits in the middle range of the foundation’s program grants: p25 is $13,500, median is $26,000, and p75 is $50,000. The recent record also includes smaller bridge funding from $0 to $3,000 under a discretionary program, alongside larger fellowship and partnership grants above that range. The pattern is relationship-based and recurring. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including UC Berkeley Public Service Center, Redwood City Together, National Youth Leadership Council, Youth Community Service, Thinkgive, Brothers on the Rise, Notre Dame High School, Interfaith Youth Alliance, and Putney School. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a DAF and does not fund individuals directly.
The grants land entirely in the United States, with 46% of grants going to recipients in California. Massachusetts is the top state by grant count, and the recent list also includes repeated awards in California cities such as Berkeley, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Oakland, Tustin, San Jose, and Orange. Outside California, notable recipient locations include Seattle, Fairfax, St. Louis Park, Putney, and Concord. The foundation’s geographic scope is regional, with active grant programs centered in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, plus national fellowship and university partnerships.
The foundation supports organizations working in service-learning, social-emotional learning, youth leadership development, interfaith collaboration, and peacebuilding. Its active programs also include a fellowship track for undergraduates and post-undergraduates, plus small discretionary bridge grants for early relationship-building or pilot work.
Its typical grants cluster in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $13,500, median is $26,000, and p75 is $50,000. The foundation also makes smaller discretionary bridge grants of $0 to $3,000 under a separate program.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support for several organizations, including UC Berkeley Public Service Center, Redwood City Together, National Youth Leadership Council, Youth Community Service, Thinkgive, Brothers on the Rise, Notre Dame High School, Interfaith Youth Alliance, and Putney School.
California receives 46% of the foundation’s grants by recipient location, while Massachusetts is the top state by grant count. Recent California recipients include Berkeley, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Oakland, Tustin, San Jose, and Orange.
No. The active grant programs listed for the foundation all say they do not accept unsolicited applications, and the general grantmaking program is described as relationship-based, with prospective grantees directed to make an inquiry first.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $63,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 SHINNYO COMMUNITY IMPACT FELLOW |
| UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $60,800 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT 2024-2025 SHINNYO COLLEGE ACCESS FELLOWSHIP |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | FAIRFAX, VA | $55,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE CARTER SCHOOL FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION |
| NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2025 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE - FROM PASSION TO ACTION |
| YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE | PALO ALTO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 ELEVATING YOUTH VOICE INITIATIVE |
| PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER ARTS | PUTNEY, VT | $21,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL 2024 SUMMER PROGRAMS |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | SAN JOSE, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT 2024 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM |
| THINKGIVE | CONCORD, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 THINKGIVE SEL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN GREATER BOSTON |
| BROTHERS ON THE RISE | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2024-2025 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE! |
| INTERFAITH YOUTH ALLIANCE | TUSTIN, CA | $13,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 IYA PROGRAMS |
| THE VOLUNTEER CENTER | TORRANCE, CA | $11,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE "IMPACT MAKERS" PROJECT |
| YOUTH IN FOCUS | SEATTLE, WA | $11,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER | BURIEN, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES 2023-2024 PROGRAM |
| TEENS IN PUBLIC SERVICE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE "TRIPLE IMPACT" PROJECT |
| CHILD CREATIVITY LAB | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE "FAMILY STEAM NIGHT" PROJECT |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY | BOSTON, MA | $7,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE NEW YORK CITY - 6-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM |
| UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $62,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT 2023-2024 SHINNYO COLLEGE ACCESS FELLOWSHIP |
| REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $54,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 SHINNYO COMMUNITY IMPACT FELLOW |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC | FAIRFAX, VA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE CARTER SCHOOL FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION |
| NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | ST LOUIS PARK, MN | $40,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2024 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE - FROM PASSION TO ACTION |
| YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE | PALO ALTO, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 ELEVATING YOUTH VOICE INITIATIVE |
| PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER ARTS | PUTNEY, VT | $26,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL 2023 SUMMER PROGRAMS |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | SAN JOSE, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT 2024 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM |
| THINKGIVE | CONCORD, MA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 THINKGIVE SEL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN GREATER BOSTON |
| BROTHERS ON THE RISE | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2023-2024 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE! |
| INTERFAITH YOUTH ALLIANCE | TUSTIN, CA | $13,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 IYA PROGRAMS |
| TEENS IN PUBLIC SERVICE | SEATTLE, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE "TRIPLE IMPACT" PROJECT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER | BURIEN, WA | $10,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES 2023-2024 PROGRAM |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY | BOSTON, MA | $7,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE NEW YORK CITY - 6-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY - CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | SEATTLE, WA | $63,624 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SERVICE LEADERSHIP & SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AT CCE IN 2020-2021 |
| UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER | BERKELEY, CA | $60,500 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SHINNYO-EN PEACEBUILDING INITIATIVE & SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2020-2021 |
| REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $54,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE STANFORD PUBLIC INTEREST NETWORK (SPIN)/SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2021-2022 |
| CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY | ORANGE, CA | $52,265 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE POST-UNDERGRADUATE SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY | FAIRFAX, VA | $50,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL FOR CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND RESOLUTION |
| NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL | ST PAUL, MN | $40,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE 2020 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE |
| YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE | PALO ALTO, CA | $30,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THEIR SERVICE-BASED LEARNING PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ED TO SHARE LESSONS WITH SHINNYO-EN YOUTH |
| PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS | PUTNEY, VT | $26,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS 2021 |
| THINKGIVE | CONCORD, MA | $15,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT 2021-2022 PROGRAM EXPANSION TO PUBLIC/UNDESERVED SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS |
| BROTHERS ON THE RISE | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2021 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE! |
| ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER | BURIEN, WA | $12,500 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT ENVIRNMENTAL EDUCATION, STEWARDSHIP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT |
| NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL | SAN JOSE, CA | $12,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT 2023 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM |
| ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY | BOSTON, MA | $7,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ARTS INITIATIVE - HURLEY SCHOOL MURAL |
REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER
$63,000TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 SHINNYO COMMUNITY IMPACT FELLOW
UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER
$60,800TO SUPPORT 2024-2025 SHINNYO COLLEGE ACCESS FELLOWSHIP
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC
$55,000TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE CARTER SCHOOL FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$40,000TO SUPPORT THE 2025 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE - FROM PASSION TO ACTION
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE
$30,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 ELEVATING YOUTH VOICE INITIATIVE
PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER ARTS
$21,000TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL 2024 SUMMER PROGRAMS
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000TO SUPPORT 2024 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM
THINKGIVE
$15,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 THINKGIVE SEL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN GREATER BOSTON
BROTHERS ON THE RISE
$15,000TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2024-2025 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE!
INTERFAITH YOUTH ALLIANCE
$13,000TO SUPPORT THE 2024-2025 IYA PROGRAMS
THE VOLUNTEER CENTER
$11,000TO SUPPORT THE "IMPACT MAKERS" PROJECT
YOUTH IN FOCUS
$11,000TO SUPPORT THE 2024 AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AND YOUTH ADVISORY BOARD
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES 2023-2024 PROGRAM
TEENS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE "TRIPLE IMPACT" PROJECT
CHILD CREATIVITY LAB
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE "FAMILY STEAM NIGHT" PROJECT
ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
$7,000TO SUPPORT THE NEW YORK CITY - 6-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM
UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER
$62,000TO SUPPORT 2023-2024 SHINNYO COLLEGE ACCESS FELLOWSHIP
REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER
$54,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 SHINNYO COMMUNITY IMPACT FELLOW
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE CARTER SCHOOL FOR PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$40,000TO SUPPORT THE 2024 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE - FROM PASSION TO ACTION
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE
$30,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 ELEVATING YOUTH VOICE INITIATIVE
PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER ARTS
$26,000TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL 2023 SUMMER PROGRAMS
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000TO SUPPORT 2024 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM
THINKGIVE
$15,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 THINKGIVE SEL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN GREATER BOSTON
BROTHERS ON THE RISE
$15,000TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2023-2024 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE!
INTERFAITH YOUTH ALLIANCE
$13,000TO SUPPORT THE 2023-2024 IYA PROGRAMS
TEENS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE "TRIPLE IMPACT" PROJECT
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER
$10,000TO SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES 2023-2024 PROGRAM
ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
$7,000TO SUPPORT THE NEW YORK CITY - 6-MONTH PILOT PROGRAM
SEATTLE UNIVERSITY - CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
$63,624TO SUPPORT SERVICE LEADERSHIP & SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS AT CCE IN 2020-2021
UC BERKELEY PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER
$60,500TO SUPPORT SHINNYO-EN PEACEBUILDING INITIATIVE & SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2020-2021
REDWOOD CITY TOGETHER
$54,000TO SUPPORT THE STANFORD PUBLIC INTEREST NETWORK (SPIN)/SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM IN 2021-2022
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY
$52,265TO SUPPORT THE POST-UNDERGRADUATE SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
$50,000TO SUPPORT THE SHINNYO FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL FOR CONFLICT ANALYSIS AND RESOLUTION
NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
$40,000TO SUPPORT THE 2020 NATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING CONFERENCE
YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE
$30,000TO SUPPORT THEIR SERVICE-BASED LEARNING PROJECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ED TO SHARE LESSONS WITH SHINNYO-EN YOUTH
PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS
$26,000TO SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PUTNEY SCHOOL SUMMER PROGRAMS 2021
THINKGIVE
$15,000TO SUPPORT 2021-2022 PROGRAM EXPANSION TO PUBLIC/UNDESERVED SCHOOLS & ORGANIZATIONS
BROTHERS ON THE RISE
$15,000TO SUPPORT BOTR'S 2021 PROGRAM CALLED BROTHERS, UNITE!
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER
$12,500TO SUPPORT ENVIRNMENTAL EDUCATION, STEWARDSHIP AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
$12,000TO SUPPORT 2023 NEW MEXICO INTERFAITH IMMERSION PROGRAM
ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY
$7,000TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY ARTS INITIATIVE - HURLEY SCHOOL MURAL