Awards and Recognition Industry logo

Awards and Recognition Industry

Foundation · Grantmaker Schaumburg, IL EIN: 03-0470216 Website

Form 990-ez, part iii, primary exempt purpose - to award college tuitionscholarships to people associated with the trophy and award industry;to provide and support educational programs designed to improve ordevelop, the capabilities of individuals engaged in the operations ofawards and recognition; to engage in and support research in the awardsand recognition products industry.

Key facts about Awards and Recognition Industry

In short: Awards and Recognition Industry gave $15K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
03-0470216
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$15,000
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$15,000
Median grant
$15,000
Total assets
$210,346
Primary geography
Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$210K

+19.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$15K

-80.0% YoY

Grant Count

1

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

-80.0% YoY

How Awards and Recognition Industry gives

  • Giving fell 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

About Awards and Recognition Industry

Based on IRS filings

Awards and Recognition Industry is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Schaumburg, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $210K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $15K. Net investment income was $5K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 1 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Cities

ChicagoSchaumburg

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K$80K0 grants20200 grants20211 grants20221 grants20231 grants20241 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 1 recipients in 2025

Awards & Personalization Assn: $15KAwards & Personalization Assn$15K

Grant Size Distribution

4 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Awards & Personalization Assn Schaumburg, ILEDUCATION$15,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$210,346$175,894$286,721
Revenue$48,288$56,119$20,529
Expenses$45,986$118,750$81,961
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$4,759$12,020$2,811
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 7, 2023)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 29, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 10, 2025)
  4. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 11, 2026)

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Awards and Recognition Industry is led by Dan Bencsik, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Dan Bencsik

    President

    Trustee → President, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Louise Ristau

    Executive Director

    Staff Liaison → Executive Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Niels Norby

    Trustee

    Treasurer → Trustee, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wilson Brim

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dan Messerschmidt

    Trustee

    Treasurer → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Megan Raymond

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Justin Varn

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2024

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: John Stangle (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Lisa Higginbotham (2020–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Tom Jackson (2020–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Debbie Susdorf (2020) — President
  • Former: Karen Guzman (2020) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Awards and Recognition Industry

How much does Awards and Recognition Industry give each year?

Awards and Recognition Industry gave $15K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $75K across 1 grant.

How large is Awards and Recognition Industry?

Awards and Recognition Industry reported $210K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $48K.

What is Awards and Recognition Industry?

Awards and Recognition Industry is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Schaumburg, IL. It holds $210K in total assets as of 2025.

Where does Awards and Recognition Industry operate?

Awards and Recognition Industry has awarded grants in Illinois.

What is Awards and Recognition Industry's EIN?

Awards and Recognition Industry's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0470216. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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