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Sheller Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Sheller Family Foundation

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.

$1.3M
Granted FY2025still arriving
16
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$600k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$3.7MArts & Culture$1.0MHuman Services$648kCrime & Legal$263kYouth Development$165kHealth$139kHousing & Shelter$35kPublic Benefit$25kOther$0
02FY2025 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $40k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $150k
  • $250k+3 grants · $1.1M
$6,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$5.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY$600,000
DREXEL UNIVERSITY$254,000
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY$250,000
MURAL ARTS$150,000
SALVATION ARMY$30,000
TREE HOUSE BOOKS$10,000
WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE$9,000
Individual grant recipient$6,000
PATHWAY TO HOUSING PA$4,000
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF SE PA$1,500
TRANSFORMATION TO RECOVERY$1,000
CHILDERNS CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER$500
MARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION$500
GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN PA$280
PROJECT HOME$250
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 (FY17–25, $82k) land where the poverty rate runs at 22%, 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%CHILDREN FIRST PA: $250 → 22%PROJECT HOME: $3k → 22%PROJECT HOME: $3k → 22%PROJECT HOME: $500 → 22%PROJECT HOME: $250 → 22%PROJECT HOME: $100 → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $28k → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $14k → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $11k → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $9k → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $6k → 22%WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE: $6k → 22%GARCES FAMILY FOUNDATION: $375 → 22%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.
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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.2M · 33 repeat orgs$101k to everyone else

33 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2025, 19 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

33
29

Total granted

$7.2M
$99k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+10%
+16%

Still filing today

73%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EducationHealthArts & CultureHuman ServicesHousing & ShelterYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TU
    Temple University - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    9× · 2017–2025 · $2.1M · revenue +5%
  • TJ
    THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY
    4× · 2022–2025 · $1.4M · revenue +18%
  • DU
    DREXEL UNIVERSITY
    7× · 2017–2025 · $1.2M · revenue +10%

Funded once

  • PP
    PREVENTION POINT PHILADELPHIA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $40k · revenue +94%
  • PENNSYLVANIA VOICEgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $25k · revenue +174%
  • HT
    HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM
    one grant, 2020 · $10k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its 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
Philadelphia Health Partnership
Health
2
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

The philadelphia convention & visitors bureau (phlcvb) is the official tourism promotion agency for the city of philadelphia globally, and the sales and marketing agency for the pennsylvania convention center (pcc). phlcvb markets…

—
3
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation

Pidc plans and implements economic development initiatives (see schedule o) which enhance the competitive environment, generate jobs and produce higher tax ratables throughout philadelphia.

Community Improvement
4
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadephia

The chamber of commerce for greater philadelphia (the chamber) brings area businesses and civic leaders together to promote growth and create opportunity in our region. our members represent eleven counties, three states, and roughly…

—
5
Whyy Inc

Whyy is the philadelphia region's leading public media provider, serving southeastern pennsylvania, southern new jersey, and all of delaware.

Arts & Culture
6
Philadelphia Public Access Corporation

Phillycam provides transformative opportunities for people and communities to express themselves, to learn from each other, and to produce and share media reflective of the experiences of everyday people.

—
7
Philadelphia University

The organization is an affiliate within thomas jefferson university/jefferson health; a comprehensive professional university and tax-exempt integrated healthcare delivery system ("system"), with a tripartite mission of education, research…

Education
8
Public Trust

Public Trust is a non-profit organization on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania that fosters learning, creativity, and collaboration in support of justice and equality.

Arts & Culture
9
Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders Inc

We develop, engage, and retain principals and system leaders who transform schools, dramatically improve student outcomes, and drive systemic change to prepare all philadelphia students for college, career, and life.

Education
10
Urban Affairs Coalition

Driving change from the ground up, the urban affairs coalition (uac) unites government, business, neighborhoods, and individual initiatives to improve the quality of life in the region, build wealth in urban communities, and solve emerging…

—
11
Health Care Improvement Foundation

Hcif is a nonprofit organization that drives high-value health care through multi-stakeholder collaboration and initiatives to improve access to, delivery of, and experience of care. hcif dissolved during fy25-26.

—
12
Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

Visit philadelphia is our name and our mission. as the region's official tourism marketing agency, we build greater philadelphia's image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

Community Improvement
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Children First Pa; the most unlike its peers is Transformation to Recovery. 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

46 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. 46 of the 66 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
46/46
Grantees still filing
32/46
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Temple University - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education: $2,136,500 · EducationTemple University - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher EducationTHOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY: $1,420,800 · EducationTHOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITYDREXEL UNIVERSITY: $1,176,500 · EducationDREXEL UNIVERSITY+6 more: $44,050 · EducationPHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS ADVOCATES INC: $986,500 · Arts & CulturePHILADELPHIA MURA…National Liberty Museum: $84,500 · Arts & CultureNational Liberty …OPERA PHILADELPHIA: $64,808 · Arts & CultureOPERA PHILADELPHI…+3 more: $5,130 · Arts & CultureSALVATION ARMY: $598,040 · OtherSALVATION ARMYDREXEL UNIV THOMAS KLINE SCHOOL OF LAW: $260,500 · OtherDREXEL UNIV THOMA…THE BIG SANDBOX: $142,236 · OtherTHE BIG SANDBOXPREVENTION POINT PHILADELPHIA INC: $40,000 · Other+30 more: $124,085 · Other+30 moreMENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS: $70,000 · HealthJEFFERSON HEALTH CORPORATION F/K/A ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK: $25,000 · Health+6 more: $7,300 · HealthWOMEN AGAINST ABUSE INC: $84,494 · Human ServicesPROJECT HOME: $7,310 · Human Services+2 more: $625 · Human ServicesPATHWAYS TO HOUSING - PA: $30,600 · Housing & Shelter+2 more: $2,000 · Housing & ShelterPENNSYLVANIA VOICE: $25,000 · Civil Rights+1 more: $500 · Civil Rights
Education$4,777,850Arts & Culture$1,140,938Other$1,164,861Health$102,300Human Services$92,429Housing & Shelter$32,600Civil Rights$25,500

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 budgetTemple University - Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education: $2,136,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetTHOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY: $1,420,800 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetDREXEL UNIVERSITY: $1,176,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetPHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS ADVOCATES INC: $986,500 over 9y, 1.8% of budgetNational Liberty Museum: $84,500 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetWOMEN AGAINST ABUSE INC: $84,494 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetMENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS: $70,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetOPERA PHILADELPHIA: $64,808 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPREVENTION POINT PHILADELPHIA INC: $40,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetPATHWAYS TO HOUSING - PA: $30,600 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetJEFFERSON HEALTH CORPORATION F/K/A ALBERT EINSTEIN HEALTHCARE NETWORK: $25,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPENNSYLVANIA VOICE: $25,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetWOMEN OF TOMORROW MENTOR AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM INC: $14,900 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetTREE HOUSE BOOKS: $11,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPROJECT HOME: $7,310 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA INC: $5,945 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $4,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION: $4,150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCAPE MAY STAGE INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTransformation to Recovery: $3,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetCORE COMMUNITY ORGANIZED RELIEF EFFORT: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMOORE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGLOBAL EMPOWERMENT MISSION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGreater Philadelphia Film Office: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S CRISIS TREATMENT CENTER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPolice Athletic League Of Philadelphia: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSupport Center for Child Advocates: $1,335 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThree Valleys Community Foundation: $1,050 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetProject Libertad: $1,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetMaternity Care Coalition: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPHILLY SEEDS INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA AND SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPHILADELPHIA FILM SOCIETY: $880 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEVERY CURE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWOMEN'S LAW PROJECT: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBicycle Coalition Of Greater Philadelphia: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGARCES FAMILY FOUNDATION: $375 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCASTLEMAN DISEASE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEducation Law Center - PA: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPHILADELPHIA ACADEMIES INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChildren First PA: $250 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 Philadelphia Foun…Henry Dolfinger 2 Tru…The William Penn Foun…United Way of Greater…The Daniel B and Flor…Lindback Cr & Mf Foun…The Barra Foundation …The Snider FoundationIndependence Foundati…The Patricia Kind Fam…The Cigna Group Found…The Pew Charitable Tr…
The Philadelphia FoundationPA48.7× affinity23 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Philadelphia Foundation · Henry Dolfinger 2 Trust Uw · The William Penn Foundation · United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey · The Daniel B and Florence E Green Foundation · Lindback Cr & Mf Foundation Tw Main · The Barra Foundation Inc · The Snider Foundation · Independence Foundation · The Patricia Kind Family Foundation · The Cigna Group Foundation · The Pew Charitable Trusts

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 Sheller Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Sheller Family Foundation. 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%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Cape May Stage Inc: 7% of income from government
  • Global Empowerment Mission Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
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.

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 66 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Sheller Family’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