Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation supports organizations that operate in New York City and across the United States. Its grants focus on Jewish causes, education and youth, arts and culture, human services, and health.
IP TAKE: This funder is not transparent or accessible. It does not have a website and keeps a low profile, which restricts information about its grantmaking strategies. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Grantseekers looking to secure funding will have to flip through their rolodex to what connections they have in common. This is a tough funding nut to crack.
PROFILE: The Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation is the family foundation for John and Shonni Shapiro. The foundation's philanthropy centers around New York City and the east coast. John M. Shapiro graduated from Wesleyan University in 1974 and is on the board of trustees. He co-founded Chieftain Capital Management in 1984 and currently serves as its managing director. The foundation does not have grantmaking programs; however, it appears to prioritize support for Jewish causes, education, arts & culture, health, and public policy.
Grants for Jewish Causes
While the Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation does not appear to have clearly defined grantmaking programs, tax records indicate that funding for the domestic and international Jewish communities and advocacy for Israel are the foundation’s top area of support, and many grants in other funding areas overlap considerably with this space. And as with all of this funder’s areas of support, grantmaking for the American Jewish community tends to stay within the New York City area.
The foundation steadily supports the UJA Federation of New York, where Shapiro once served as president and where the couple once funded a fellowship for future leaders, Shapiro Family Fellowship. The foundation also supports the Jerusalem Foundation, The Jewish Museum, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, various synagogues, and American Jewish Committee, another organization where Shapiro is a former president.
Other organizations the foundation supports include the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, Hillel International, Birthright Israel, and the Jewish Agency for Israel. The latter also reflects the couple's support of peace in Israel, including support of the Jerusalem Foundation and Hiddush (which self-describes as standing for "religious freedom and equality.")
Grants for Higher Education and Community Development
Shapiro and Shonni graduated from Wesleyan University in the 1970s and, consequently, the foundation steadily supports their alma mater. Much of this funding involves writing programs at the school. A gift in 2009 established the Shapiro Creative Writing Center and a $3 million gift builds on their previous support. The liberal arts school is also the site of the Shapiro Silverberg Endowed Chair in Creative Writing, as well as the Gittel and Mervin Silverberg Visiting Scholar in Jewish Studies, and the Jeremy Zwelling Professor of Jewish Studies. Apart from Wesleyan, the foundation has funded schools like Dalton, Rockefeller University (Shapiro has served on the board), and Weill Cornell Medical College, from where Shonni graduated. An important grantee here is Lawyers for Children, which "offers free legal and social work advocacy to abused and neglected children, children in foster care, and children in high conflict custody cases." Shapiro has chaired the board of directors of Lawyers for Children.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The foundation does not have a specific program to support arts and culture, but tax records indicate that it supports arts organizations in the New York area, particularly those with ties to the Jewish community. Past grantees include the Jewish Museum (where John has served as vice chair of the board), the American Jewish Historical Society, and the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Also, in addition to support of writing at Wesleyan, the foundation has steadily funded American Academy in Rome, which "supports innovative artists, writers, and scholars living and working together in a dynamic international community." Other grantees have included Jazz at Lincoln Center, Public Art Fund, and Recess, which "supports the rigorous process of the contemporary artist by creating a space for productive activity that initiates a partnership with the public."
Grants for Public Health and Access
Health grantmaking does not appear to be one of the foundation’s major funding areas, but tax records indicate that Shapiro-Silverberg does have an interest in the space.
has not been overwhelming of late, though it is worth mentioning that Shonni is a doctor. Grantees have included New York Stem Cell Foundation and Blythedale Children's Hospital. The foundation has also funded organizations like Westchester Arc Foundation, and Bottomless Closet, which "provides professional clothing, job readiness, and post-employment training and coaching services to women on assistance and working-poor women."
Grants for Global Security and Human Rights
Shapiro has served on the board of Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and steadily funds the think tank via the Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation.
Important Grant Details
According to available tax filings, the foundation awarded around $5 million in grants in a recent year. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to over $1 million. The most common amount is $5,000.
The foundation does not have a website and keeps a low profile. It does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding.
CONTACT:
The Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the couple but below is an address and telephone number:
Shapiro-Silverberg Foundation
1375 Broadway
New York City, NY 10018
(212) 840-3456
