Bednyak Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 82-2471114

The Bednyak Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it reported 38 grants totaling $352,048 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, health, youth development, and community services.

Key facts about Bednyak Family Foundation

In short: Bednyak Family Foundation gave $352K across 38 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), mostly in Illinois. 39% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
82-2471114
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$352,048
Grants made (2024)
38
Average grant
$9,264
Median grant
$2,500
New grantees (estimate)
39% first-time grantees (15 of 38, 2024)
Total assets
$4,723,934
Primary geography
Illinois (58% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$4.7M

+13.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$352K

-27.9% YoY

Grant Count

38

+26.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-43.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bednyak Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $248K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Bednyak Family Foundation open to new grantees?

39%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 15 of 38 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $12K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 348% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 142% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied activities. For example, Urban Initiatives describes its work as sports-based youth development programs addressing equity gaps for Chicago students. The Ark says it helps Chicagoland Jews facing adversity navigate toward self-reliance, while Communities in Schools of Chicago connects social, health, and enrichment services to public school students. Other 2024 grantees include organizations whose stated missions include breast cancer research, diaper access for families, and social and mental health services.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 38 grants totaling $352,048. Grant amounts ranged from $56 to $70,000, with a median of $2,500. Among its largest grants were $70,000 to Jewish United Fund of Chicago, $50,000 to American Israel Education Foundation, $50,000 to American Friends of Israel Navy, $30,000 to Jewish Community Centers, and $25,000 to Childrens Oncology Group.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 17% to recipients in Washington, DC, 15% to recipients in New York, 7% to recipients in California, and 1% to recipients in Iowa.

Grant Distribution by State

14states

Share of all 38 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoGlencoeNew YorkWashingtonWinnetkaIowa CityMonroviaNorthbrookBozemanEugeneLake ForestSkokieArlingtonAuroraDes MoinesGlencoGlenviewHaverstrawHighland ParkJoliet

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K18 grants202019 grants202127 grants202230 grants202338 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $78K (2020) to $493K (2022). In 2024 it made 38 grants totaling $352K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Jewish United Fund of Chicago: $70KJewish United Fund of Chicago$70KAmerican Israel Education Foundation: $50KAmerican Israel EducationFoundation$50KAmerican Friends of Israel Navy: $50KAmerican Friends of IsraelNavy$50KJewish Community Centers: $30KJewish Community Centers$30KChildrens Oncology Group: $25KChildrens Oncology Group$25KChildrens Hospital of: $20KChildrens Hospital of$20KUS Holocaust Museum: $11KUS Holocaust Museum$11KChicago Botanical Garden: $10KChicago Botanical Garden$10KTreshholds Chicago: $10KTreshholds Chicago$10KUrban Initiatives Inc: $10KUrban Initiatives Inc$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish United Fund of Chicago ($70K). Together the top 10 received $286K.

Grant Size Distribution

132 grants across all recorded years

123<$50K5$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 123 grants of 132 (93%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Jewish United Fund of Chicago Chicago, ILContribution$70,000
American Israel Education Foundation Washington, DCContribuiton$50,000
American Friends of Israel Navy New York, NYContribution$50,000
Jewish Community Centers Northbrook, ILContribution$30,000
Childrens Oncology Group Monrovia, CAContribution$25,000
Childrens Hospital of Chicago, ILContribution$20,000
US Holocaust Museum Washington, DCContribution$11,392
Chicago Botanical Garden Glencoe, ILContribution$10,000
Treshholds Chicago Chicago, ILContribution$10,000
Urban Initiatives Inc Chicago, ILContribution$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants Grant count
2024 $4,723,934 $207,184 $379,066 $352,048 38
2023 $4,149,684 $14,889 $511,587 $488,335 30
2022 $5,431,038 $129,781 $524,463 $493,097 27
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$4,723,934$4,149,684$5,431,038
Revenue$207,184$14,889$129,781
Expenses$379,066$511,587$524,463
Qualifying Distributions$352,048$488,335$493,097
Net Investment Income$203,463$144,067$128,310
Distributable Amount$247,819$234,920$242,461

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Jerry Bednyak as president, Alexis Bednyak as secretary, and Eric Vassilatos and Daniel Bednyak as directors.

Bednyak Family Foundation is led by Jerry Bednyak, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Jerry Bednyak

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Daniel Bednyak

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Vassilatos

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Alexis Bednyak

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    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.

Contact

Mailing address: 27 N Wacker Dr Suite 433, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (874) 762-3250

Frequently asked questions about Bednyak Family Foundation

How much does Bednyak Family Foundation give each year?

Bednyak Family Foundation gave $352K across 38 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $488K across 30 grants.

What is Bednyak Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Bednyak Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $9,264, across 38 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bednyak Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Bednyak Family Foundation give grants?

Bednyak Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (17%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (16 grants), Glencoe, IL (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Does Bednyak Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 38 grants with a stated purpose on Bednyak Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (37 grants).

Who are Bednyak Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Bednyak Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish United Fund of Chicago ($70,000), American Israel Education Foundation ($50,000) and American Friends of Israel Navy ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Bednyak Family Foundation?

Bednyak Family Foundation reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $352K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $248K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Bednyak Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied activities. For example, Urban Initiatives describes its work as sports-based youth development programs addressing equity gaps for Chicago students. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Bednyak Family Foundation?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Bednyak Family Foundation's EIN?

Bednyak Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2471114. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Bednyak Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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