David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation
The David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Los Angeles, California. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas that include Israeli relief and institutions, scientific research, education, and Holocaust remembrance.
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation at a glance
In short: David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation gave $3.4M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $376K), mostly in New York. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,383,150
- -70.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $375,906
- -63.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $400,000
- Total assets
- $60,276,854
- -3.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- New York (84% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1880 Century Park E Ste 950, Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: (310) 273-7337
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc ($1.0M). Together the top 9 received $3.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 80 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 16% to recipients in California. Listed recipients were in New York and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 45% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.4M (2024) to $11.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $3.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc New York, NY | To promote charitable, educational, literary & scientific research.to promote charitable, educational, literary & scientific research. | $1,000,000 |
| American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science New York, NY | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $667,000 |
| American Friends of Darche Noam - David Shapell College Fresh Meadows, NY | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $610,000 |
| Friends of the Israel Defense Forces New York, NY | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $518,000 |
| Simon Wiesenthal Centermuseum of Tolerance Los Angeles, CA | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $400,000 |
| Beth Jacob Congregation Beverly Hills, CA | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $87,500 |
| American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro New York, NY | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $50,000 |
| Jewish Federation Council Los Angeles, CA | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $50,000 |
| 1939 Club Inc Beverly Hills, CA | To Promote Charitable, Educational, Literary & Scientific Research. | $650 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,276,854 | $1,834,769 | $3,867,116 | $3,383,150 | 9 | $3,383,150 | $1,447,876 | $3,191,839 |
| 2023 | $62,304,101 | $1,169,537 | $11,723,579 | $11,323,650 | 11 | $11,323,650 | $1,103,564 | $3,081,655 |
| 2022 | $72,864,298 | $3,092,297 | $5,342,469 | $4,858,825 | 12 | $4,858,825 | $851,982 | $3,489,409 |
| 2021 | $75,111,551 | $81,376,489 | $6,397,831 | $6,139,150 | 17 | $6,139,150 | — | $355,792 |
| 2020 | $169,980 | $4,509,987 | $5,603,439 | $5,356,360 | 31 | — | — | $56,393 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated grant purpose is to promote charitable, educational, literary, and scientific research. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose own missions address different needs: PEF Israel Endowment Funds describes work providing relief and health services to people in Israel and supporting educational, religious, and scientific institutions; the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science raises funds for scientific research; and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces supports the health, well-being, and education of Israel’s protectors. The foundation also gave to the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance and other organizations.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 9 grants totaling $3,383,150. Grants ranged from $650 to $1,000,000, with a median of $400,000. The largest awards were $1,000,000 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds, $667,000 to the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, $610,000 to American Friends of Darche Noam – David Shapell College, $518,000 to Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, and $400,000 to the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rochelle Shapell as president, Benjamin Shapell as secretary, and Irvin N. Shapell as treasurer.
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation is led by Rochelle Shapell, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rochelle Shapell
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Shapell
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irvin N. Shapell
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation
How much does David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation give each year?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation gave $3.4M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11.3M across 11 grants.
What is David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's typical grant size?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $400,000, and its average grant was $375,906, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation give grants?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation gives mostly in New York: 84% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (2 grants) and Beverly Hills, CA (2 grants).
Does David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's largest grantees?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include PEF Israel Endowment Funds Inc ($1,000,000), American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science ($667,000) and American Friends of Darche Noam - David Shapell College ($610,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation reported $60.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated grant purpose is to promote charitable, educational, literary, and scientific research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's EIN?
David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6187271. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does David & Fela Shapell Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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