Charles and Frances Kempler
Charles and Frances Kempler is a private foundation based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported 15 grants totaling $31,635 and stated that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Charles and Frances Kempler at a glance
In short: Charles and Frances Kempler gave $32K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $31,635
- +8.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,109
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $486,954
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (3 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (86% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Charles and Frances Kempler
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2323 Touhy Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Phone: (847) 640-8600
Website: https://kempler.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Charles and Frances Kempler funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($8K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 85 grants of 85 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 13% to recipients in New York, and 2% to recipients in Michigan. These percentages are reported as provided.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Charles and Frances Kempler open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 15 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $583; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2022) to $32K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $32K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Evanston, IL | General Support | $7,750 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $5,535 |
| Ann & Robert Lurie Childrens Hospit Chicago, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children Chicago, IL | General Support | $4,000 |
| IDF New York, NY | General Purpose | $2,500 |
| NAMI Chicago, IL | General Support | $2,000 |
| NW University Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $1,000 |
| The Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NY | General Support | $1,000 |
| ACLU of Illinois Chicago, IL | General Support | $500 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA New York, NY | General Support | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $486,954 | $43,548 | $35,179 | $31,635 | 15 | $31,635 | $40,004 | $34,201 |
| 2024 | $478,585 | $32,832 | $32,324 | $29,150 | 16 | $29,275 | $29,783 | $31,789 |
| 2023 | $478,077 | $16,202 | $30,414 | $27,850 | 20 | $27,875 | $13,663 | $29,188 |
| 2022 | $492,289 | $19,281 | $27,013 | $24,475 | 18 | $24,500 | $16,768 | $28,382 |
| 2021 | $500,021 | $21,120 | $31,677 | $29,050 | 16 | $29,091 | $18,534 | $24,247 |
| 2020 | $510,578 | $15,555 | $30,942 | $28,686 | 15 | — | $13,327 | $28,798 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles and Frances Kempler reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including hospitals, medical and health organizations, and civil-rights groups. The Center for Reproductive Rights describes its work as using law to advance reproductive rights as fundamental human rights around the world. Operation Walk Chicago says it seeks to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged patients through joint replacement and rehabilitation. Special Olympics Illinois describes its mission as providing year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $31,635. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $7,750, with a median of $1,000. Its largest reported grants included $7,750 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, $5,535 to the Alzheimer’s Association, $5,000 to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, $4,000 to Shriners Hospitals for Children, and $2,500 to IDF.
Other reported 2025 grants included $2,000 to NAMI; $1,000 each to Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Center for Reproductive Rights; $500 each to ACLU of Illinois, Doctors Without Borders USA, Operation Walk Chicago, and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights; and $350 to Special Olympics Illinois.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Howard L. Kempler as secretary and Lawrence J. Kempler as president.
Charles and Frances Kempler is led by Lawrence J. Kempler, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lawrence J. Kempler
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Howard L. Kempler
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 Charles and Frances Kempler
How much does Charles and Frances Kempler give each year?
Charles and Frances Kempler gave $32K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $29K across 16 grants.
What is Charles and Frances Kempler's typical grant size?
Charles and Frances Kempler's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,109, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Charles and Frances Kempler that year got $583 on average.
Where does Charles and Frances Kempler give grants?
Charles and Frances Kempler gives mostly in Illinois: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Charles and Frances Kempler give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Charles and Frances Kempler's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Charles and Frances Kempler's largest grantees?
Charles and Frances Kempler's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($7,750), Alzheimer's Association ($5,535) and Ann & Robert Lurie Childrens Hospit ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Charles and Frances Kempler?
Charles and Frances Kempler reported $487K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Charles and Frances Kempler fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including hospitals, medical and health organizations, and civil-rights groups. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Charles and Frances Kempler?
The foundation states that it contributes 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 Charles and Frances Kempler's EIN?
Charles and Frances Kempler's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6138250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Charles and Frances Kempler 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Charles and Frances Kempler'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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