Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in Wilmette, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $205K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $15K. Net investment income was $6K.
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,000
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,875
- +31.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $205,235
- +40.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern University ($7K). Together the top 8 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 169% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2021) to $15K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Unrestricted | $7,000 |
| Palm Beach United Way Palm Beach, FL | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Palm Beach Country Club Foundation Palm Beach, FL | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Princeton University Princeton, NJ | unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Palm Beach Civic Association Palm Beach, FL | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Harvard Business School Boston, MA | Unrestricted | $500 |
| The Field Museum of Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $500 |
Ready to take the next step with Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $205,235 | $74,625 | $15,252 | $15,000 | 8 | $15,252 | $5,754 | $9,051 |
| 2024 | $145,862 | $4,729 | $10,340 | $10,000 | 7 | $10,000 | $4,729 | $7,118 |
| 2023 | $151,473 | $2,090 | $11,181 | $11,000 | 9 | $11,181 | $2,075 | $6,143 |
| 2022 | $160,564 | $421 | $12,240 | $11,700 | 8 | $12,240 | — | $7,663 |
| 2021 | $172,383 | $32,484 | $5,649 | $5,500 | 5 | — | $22,921 | $5,508 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc is led by Barbara Pearlman, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Barbara Pearlman
President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Pattis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Pearlman
Secretary Treasurer
Sec-Treas → Secretary Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc
How much does Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc give each year?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $10K across 7 grants.
What is Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,875, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc give grants?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (33%) and New Jersey (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Beach, FL (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University ($7,000), Palm Beach United Way ($2,000) and Palm Beach Country Club Foundation ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc reported $205K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's EIN?
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3976364. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Rubin & Minnie Katz Foundation
Wilmette, IL
Assets
$211K
Grants
5
Total Given
$14K
Ellen S Jaffe Foundation
Wellesley, MA
The Ellen S Jaffe Foundation supports a range of charitable organizations, with recent grants including senior living, arts, health, and education. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $35,000, with a median of $5,000, and primarily went to organizations in Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
12
Total Given
$87K
John and Diane Sculley Charitable
Palm Beach, FL
This foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including community services, senior living, civic affairs, the arts, and Jewish community-building. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $25,500, with a median of $10,000, and went primarily to Florida recipients, with some support in New York. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12K
Grants
14
Total Given
$174K
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
The Rothschild Family Foundation Inc
Palm Beach, FL
The foundation supports health, community services, Jewish organizations, arts and culture, and Israel-related causes, with recent grants focused on Florida and New York. Its 2026 grants ranged from $1,000 to $27,800, with a median of $10,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$583K
Grants
17
Total Given
$196K
David and Linda Moscow Foundation
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
The foundation supports varied charitable work, including health research, arts, and community services, with recent grants in New York, Illinois, Florida, and Washington, DC. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $5,400. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$442K
Grants
18
Total Given
$144K
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Barbara and Jerry Pearlman Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?