Caerus Foundation Inc is a private foundation established in 2003 and based in Northbrook, Illinois. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$251.6M
+21.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.1M
+3.2% YoY
Grant Count
134
+3.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$113K
+0.1% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation creates opportunities for advancement in the arts, education, the environment, and global health. Primary funding interests include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services, with particular emphasis on landmine and cluster munition clearance, technology and innovation activities, and emergency response efforts.
Grantmaking
The foundation has supported 63 unique organizations with grants totaling $26.7 million according to available records.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,500,000
Average Grant
amount: $122,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, California, and Wisconsin. Grant activity reaches organizations across 10 states, with Illinois, California, and the District of Columbia accounting for 83% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $251,603,928
- Total Giving: $15,142,327
- Annual Income: $216,200,000
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $5.8 million in 2011 to $251.6 million in 2024
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $44,157,495
- Total Expenses: $16,985,913
- Total Assets: $207,719,528
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $251,603,928 | $207,719,528 | $176,948,986 |
| Revenue | $58,925,585 | $44,157,495 | $35,166,672 |
| Expenses | $19,387,572 | $16,985,913 | $12,710,743 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $16,053,035 | $15,438,531 | $14,041,157 |
| Net Investment Income | $20,018,290 | $13,374,436 | $4,002,590 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,547,757 | $8,698,326 | $7,736,049 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Doctors Without Borders USA Inc ($600,000), City Year Inc ($425,000), Ducks Unlimited ($330,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 Valencia San Francisco, CA | Mission and Tenderloin Programs 2023-2024 | $200,000 |
| 826 Valencia San Francisco, CA | Mission and Tenderloin Programs 2023-2024 | $74,451 |
| 826 Valencia San Francisco, CA | 2024 Holiday Grant | $10,000 |
| Albany Park Theater Project Chicago, IL | APTP@School 2024-2026 | $75,000 |
| America SCORES Bay Area San Francisco, CA | SCORES Core Programming + Field of Dreams in San Francisco 2024-2026 | $50,000 |
| America SCORES Chicago Chicago, IL | Literacy in Action 2023-2025 | $40,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | CPS Field Trips on Wednesdays and Expanded School Programming | $250,000 |
| Ascend Justice Chicago, IL | Holiday Programming 2024 | $5,000 |
| Audubon Great Lakes Chicago, IL | Wild Indigo Nature Explorations | $60,000 |
| Automotive Mentoring Group Chicago, IL | General Operating Support 2024-2025 | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Officers:
- J. Thomas Hurvis — President and Director
- Sara H. Younkin — Vice President and Director
- Christina M. Hurvis — Secretary and Director
- Connie Giampapa — Assistant Secretary
- Cathy Wereda — Treasurer
- Sarah Barry — Assistant Treasurer
- April Kainer — Associate Director
The foundation operates with limited paid staffing, relying primarily on board members who serve on a part-time basis.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant grants to educational and humanitarian organizations, including multi-year commitments. Notable recent grants include support for One Million Degrees (up to $1.5 million) and Ensemble Español at Northeastern Illinois University (up to $1.5 million).
One Million Degrees Receives Up to $1.5 Million in Grants from Caerus FoundationThe foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with recent activity in emergency response efforts, including Ukraine emergency response support, and continued investment in landmine clearance initiatives globally.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Caerus Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation creates opportunities for advancement in the arts, education, the environment, and global health. Primary funding interests include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, and human services, with particular emphasis on landmine and cluster munition clearance, technology and innovation activities, and emergency response efforts.
How do I apply for a grant from Caerus Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant range: $5,000 to $1,500,000 • Median grant amount: $50,000 • Average grant amount: $122,000 • Recent grant activity shows 134 grants awarded in the most recent filing period **Recent Grant Examples:** • The HALO Trust: $1,295,000 for transforming global impact through crosscutting investment • Mines Advisory Group America (MAG): $500,000 for landmine clearance and life-saving lessons in Cambodia • The Energy Foundation: $500,000 for environmental prior…
Where does Caerus Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, California, and Wisconsin. Grant activity reaches organizations across 10 states, with Illinois, California, and the District of Columbia accounting for 83% of all grants.
What size grants does Caerus Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Caerus Foundation Inc awarded 134 grants totaling $15.1M — an average of about $113K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Caerus Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Caerus Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $10.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Caerus Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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