Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation
The Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1999 in Florida, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.6M
-2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$164K
+24.9% YoY
Grant Count
31
+19.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+4.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation reported a distributable amount of $151K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general support to various organizations. Its grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $15,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Florida, Virginia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $2,707,572 (as of fiscal year ending May 2024)
Total Giving: $164,250
Total Revenues: $40,043 (FYE 05/2024)
Total Expenses: $167,062 (FYE 05/2024)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,638,132 | $2,707,572 | $2,835,322 |
| Revenue | $134,077 | $40,043 | $105,945 |
| Expenses | $203,592 | $167,062 | $184,644 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $192,668 | $155,359 | $170,884 |
| Net Investment Income | $123,153 | $95,680 | $96,000 |
| Distributable Amount | $151,482 | $143,810 | $140,697 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include University of Miami ($10,000), Trinity Lutheran Church ($10,000), Handy Inc ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIREWALL CENTERS INC COOPER CITY, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,250 |
| TRUSTBRIDGE HOSPICE FOUNDATION WEST PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| SALVATION ARMY ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| THE LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION INC MIAMI, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| FLORIDA HOUSE WASHINGTON DC INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BROWARD CHILDREN'S CENTER POMPANO BEACH, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF BROWARD COUNTY FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAQL GABLES, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| JACK & JILL CHILDREN'S CENTER FT LAUDERDALE, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Northern Trust Company serves as Vice President with compensation of $30,125 (as of October 2024).
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY | TRUSTEE | 40 | $37,291 |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 803878, Chicago, IL 60680-3878
Telephone: 312-630-6000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds general support to various organizations. Its grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation?
**Grant Size:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $15,000 **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 25 grants in 2024, including: • Broward Performing Arts Foundation — $10,000 (General Support) • Jack and Jill Children's Center — $8,000 (General) • Museum of Discovery and Science — $7,500 (General)
Where does Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Florida, Virginia, and New York.
What size grants does Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation award?
In 2025, Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $164K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation reported a distributable amount of $151K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation's EIN?
Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-6303071. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Charles F and Esther M Frye Foundation'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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