Caerus Foundation Inc
Caerus Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including conservation, humanitarian relief, education, health, and the arts.
Caerus Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Caerus Foundation Inc gave $15.1M across 134 grants in 2024 (avg $113K), top state Illinois. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,142,327
- +3.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 134
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $113,002
- +0.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,041
- Total assets
- $251,603,928
- +21.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (11 of 71, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (35% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Caerus Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3100 Sanders Road 500, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 559-2000
Website: https://www.caerusfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Caerus Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The HALO Trust USA Inc ($1.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
589 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 261 grants of 589 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were distributed as follows: Illinois, 35%; California, 20%; New York, 15%; Washington, DC, 11%; and Wisconsin, 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 134 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Caerus Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 71 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $139K; repeat grants $227K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $138K repeat.
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 152% 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $13.4M (2022) to $16.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 134 grants totaling $15.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The HALO Trust USA Inc Washington, DC | Transforming HALO's Global Impact through Crosscutting Investment | $1,205,000 |
| National Audubon Society New York, NY | Great Lakes Roles and Non-Personnel Support 2022-2025 | $1,000,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Inc New York, NY | Emergency Response | $600,000 |
| NEO Philanthropy - State Infrastructure Fund New York, NY | General Support in the state of WI | $500,000 |
| City Year Inc Chciago, IL | Program implementation at 2 Austin-based schools 2023-2024 | $425,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Bloomington, MN | Sustain Our Great Lakes Funding Collaboration | $400,000 |
| The United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | Environmental Priorities in Wisconsin in 2024-2026 | $400,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Memphis, TN | Wisconsin Conservation Priorities: RCPP, Advocacy, Restoration, and Land Protection | $330,000 |
| Global Strategies Albany, CA | Core programming | $300,000 |
| Global Strategies Albany, CA | Core programming and administrative support | $300,000 |
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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 | $251,603,928 | $58,925,585 | $19,387,572 | $15,142,327 | 134 | $16,053,035 | $20,018,290 | $10,547,757 |
| 2023 | $207,719,528 | $44,157,495 | $16,985,913 | $14,677,953 | 130 | $15,438,531 | $13,374,436 | $8,698,326 |
| 2022 | $176,948,986 | $35,166,672 | $12,710,743 | $13,369,030 | 110 | $14,041,157 | $4,002,590 | $7,736,049 |
| 2021 | $185,100,003 | $46,399,136 | $20,349,760 | $16,284,690 | 92 | $16,914,192 | $20,122,824 | $7,497,397 |
| 2020 | $162,760,046 | $41,723,995 | $10,480,277 | $13,999,121 | 123 | — | $11,103,104 | $5,983,030 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Caerus Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $10.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for conservation, conflict-related humanitarian work, education, health, and arts programming. The HALO Trust USA describes its mission as protecting lives and restoring livelihoods in communities affected by conflict. The National Audubon Society says it works toward a future where birds thrive across the Americas. Tutoring Chicago says it delivers education through one-to-one tutoring.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 134 grants totaling $15,142,327. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,205,000, with a median of $50,041. Notable grants included $1,205,000 to The HALO Trust USA for “Transforming HALO's Global Impact through Crosscutting Investment,” $1,000,000 to the National Audubon Society for Great Lakes support, and $600,000 to Doctors Without Borders USA for emergency response. Other grants included $425,000 to City Year for program implementation at two Austin schools, $300,000 to Tutoring Chicago for general operating support, and $250,000 to the Art Institute of Chicago for school field trips and expanded programming.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J. Thomas Hurvis as president and director; Sara H. Younkin as vice president and director; and Christina M. Hurvis as secretary and director. It also lists Connie Giampapa as assistant secretary, Cathy Wereda as treasurer, and Sarah Barry as assistant treasurer.
Caerus Foundation Inc is led by J. Thomas Hurvis, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. Thomas Hurvis
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina M. Hurvis
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara H. Younkin
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Wereda
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Connie Giampapa
Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Barry
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bryon Stanislaw (2020–2021) — Assistant Treasurer
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 Caerus Foundation Inc
How much does Caerus Foundation Inc give each year?
Caerus Foundation Inc gave $15.1M across 134 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $14.7M across 130 grants.
What is Caerus Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Caerus Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,041, and its average grant was $113,002, across 134 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Caerus Foundation Inc that year got $139K on average.
Where does Caerus Foundation Inc give grants?
Caerus Foundation Inc's top state is Illinois, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (20%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (64 grants), San Francisco, CA (25 grants), Madison, WI (8 grants) and New York, NY (5 grants).
Does Caerus Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Caerus Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 134) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "2024 Holiday Grant" (5 grants), "Holiday Programming 2024" (5 grants) and "People's Music School South Side Programs FY24-FY25" (3 grants).
Who are Caerus Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Caerus Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include The HALO Trust USA Inc ($1,455,000 across 2 grants), National Audubon Society ($1,075,000 across 2 grants) and Global Strategies ($825,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Caerus Foundation Inc?
Caerus Foundation Inc reported $251.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Caerus Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include support for conservation, conflict-related humanitarian work, education, health, and arts programming. The HALO Trust USA describes its mission as protecting lives and restoring livelihoods in communities affected by conflict. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Caerus Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 Caerus Foundation Inc's EIN?
Caerus Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-0935903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Caerus Foundation Inc 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 October 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Caerus Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/caerus-foundation-inc-morg_87a86f1e53c84b38abd85cb6e0b50e98
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_710935903_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Caerus Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/caerus-foundation-inc-morg_87a86f1e53c84b38abd85cb6e0b50e98},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Caerus 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.
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