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Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I at a glance

· Private foundation

Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$199k
Granted FY2018
85
Grants FY2018
10
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0187% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$69kReligion$47kArts & Culture$36kCrime & Legal$10kHealth$8kCommunity Improvement$5kScience & Tech$5kCivil Rights$4kOther$0
02FY2018 · 85 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2018

  • Under $10k80 grants · $88k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $61k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$250
Median grant
10
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY$50,000
COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (CALENDERS)$30,000
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO$11,300
FOUNDATION OF THE FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION$10,000
COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (APP)$10,000
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LABORATORY SCHOOLS$5,000
CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATE BOARD$5,000
WTTW$5,000
COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (100 DINNERS)$5,000
ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO$5,000
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA$5,000
RAVINIA FESTIVAL$5,000
WFMT$5,000
AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY$5,000
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–18, $750) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO: $250 → 17%THE SELFHELP HOME: $500 → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
WI
NY
MA
CA
VA
MD
AR
DC
AL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Adler Planetarium

The adler planetarium ('adler') is a not-for-profit cultural institution whose mission is to connect people to the universe and each other under the sky we all share. it aspires to be the world's premier center for engaging in astronomy…

Arts & Culture
2
Institute for Advanced Study - Louis Bamberger & Mrs Felix Fuld Foundation

The institute for advanced study (the institute) is one of the world's leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. see schedule o.

Science & Tech
3
Columbia College Chicago

The organization's mission is to educate students for creative occupations in diverse fields of arts and media.

Education
4
American Museum of Natural History

The museum's mission statement is: "to discover, interpret, and disseminate - through scientific research and education - knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe."

Arts & Culture
5
University of Miami

See Form 990, Part I, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission.

Education
6
Loyola University of Chicago

We are chicago's jesuit, catholic university - a diverse community seeking god in all things and working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith.

Education
7
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
8
New York University

Nyu is a private university with approximately 60,000 matriculating students in 20 schools and institutes. nyu's primary missions are education, research and scholarship, and patient care.

Education
9
Council of the Americas Inc

Council of the americas is a business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law, and democracy throughout the americas. the council's membership consists of…

—
10
The Central European University

Ceu is committed to promoting the values of open society and self-reflective critical thinking. it aims at excellence in the mastery of established knowledge, courage to pursue the creation of new knowledge in the humanities, the social…

International
11
Washington Office On Latin America

To advance human rights and social justice in the americas.

International
12
University of Chicago Medical Center

Our mission at the university of chicago medicine is to provide superior health care through rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing. in partnership with our colleagues, we pursue life-changing…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Chicago Horticultural Society; the most unlike its peers is Special Kids Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

50 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 50 of the 83 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
48/50
Grantees still filing
36/50
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO (CALENDERS): $30,000 · OtherCOUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICA…COUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO: $15,000 · OtherCOUNCIL OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICA…The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association: $10,000 · OtherThe Foundation of the Federal Bar AssociationAMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY: $5,000 · OtherAMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETYIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientCHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATE BOARD: $5,000 · OtherCHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATE BOARDWFMT: $5,000 · OtherWFMTIndividual grant recipient: $3,200 · Other+47 more: $11,410 · Other+47 moreJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $50,000 · EducationJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITYUniversity of Chicago: $16,300 · EducationUniversity of ChicagoTHE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: $5,000 · EducationTHE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO+3 more: $900 · EducationLyric Opera of Chicago: $5,000 · Arts & CultureLyric Opera o…RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · Arts & CultureRAVINIA FESTI…Chicago Symphony Orchestra: $5,000 · Arts & CultureChicago Symph…WINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureWINDOW TO THE…Chicago Architecture Foundation: $1,500 · Arts & CultureChicago Archi…CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER: $1,000 · Arts & Culture+9 more: $1,800 · Arts & Culture+9 morePLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $5,000 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,500 · HealthLa Rabida Children's Hospital: $250 · HealthTHE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INC: $2,500 · Civil RightsAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $500 · Civil RightsJEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO: $2,500 · PhilanthropySOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $1,000 · Crime & Legal
Other$89,610Education$72,200Arts & Culture$24,300Health$6,750Civil Rights$3,000Philanthropy$2,500Crime & Legal$1,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $16,300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Foundation of the Federal Bar Association: $10,000 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetLyric Opera of Chicago: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Symphony Orchestra: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWINDOW TO THE WORLD COMMUNICATIONS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Architecture Foundation: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SELFHELP HOME INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NEWBERRY LIBRARY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONCERN WORLDWIDE (US) INC: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLa Rabida Children's Hospital: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSpecial Kids Foundation: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF BEIT ISSIE SHAPIRO INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFocus on the Arts Inc: $250 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWILLIAM J BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGuttmacher Institute Inc: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $240 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTART EARLY: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD & WATER WATCH: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPLEASANT HOME FOUNDATION: $200 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWriters Theatre Inc: $150 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $150 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetREADING IS FUNDAMENTAL INC: $150 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetORT AMERICA INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPAWS CHICAGO: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Anti-Cruelty Society: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOOKINGGLASS THEATRE COMPANY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThird Coast International Audio Festival: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Chicago Community…Ncrc Community Develo…National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
The Chicago Community TrustIL15× affinity6 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · Ncrc Community Development Fund Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 12%
  • Johns Hopkins University: 12% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I?

Find your warmest path to Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 83 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2018, released 2018. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $629k of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2018, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Ilene & Michael Shaw Charitable Trust I’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home