Chern Family Foundation
Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. In 2025, it reported 15 grants totaling $1,110,337 to charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as education, poverty reduction, health, and international aid.
Chern Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Chern Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $74K), top state District of Columbia. 53% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,110,337
- -2.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +36.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $74,022
- -28.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $843,796
- +4.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (8 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (41% 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 Chern Family Foundation
- 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: 3824 Sunset Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 819-4315
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chern Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Autism Speaks ($328K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 54 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Northbrook, Illinois. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Washington, DC (41%), New York (31%), and Illinois (28%); Massachusetts accounted for 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Chern Family Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 15 grantees (53%) 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 $50K; repeat grants $101K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $101K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 125% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $343K (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Speaks New York, NY | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $327,670 |
| Third Way Institute Washington, DC | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $250,899 |
| A Better Chicago Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $126,690 |
| American Israel Education Foundation Washington, DC | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $102,698 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $102,292 |
| Finca International Inc Washington, DC | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $100,621 |
| Camp Out for Kids Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $25,000 |
| Childrens Hospital Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Donation Towards Exempt Purpose | $10,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Chern Family Foundation?
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 | $843,796 | $1,053,162 | $1,113,928 | $1,110,337 | 15 | $1,112,132 | $10,638 | $47,292 |
| 2024 | $804,855 | $15,594 | $1,149,545 | $1,142,760 | 11 | $1,146,152 | $12,201 | $63,543 |
| 2023 | $1,135,192 | $535,105 | $347,095 | $343,284 | 11 | $345,189 | $14,866 | $39,738 |
| 2022 | $777,789 | $1,130,471 | $507,570 | $493,011 | 12 | $493,183 | $517,003 | $24,254 |
| 2021 | $19,527 | $589,527 | $570,000 | $570,000 | 5 | $570,000 | $435,543 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K 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 with varied purposes. For example, Third Way Institute says it supports charitable and educational activities advancing centrist solutions to major policy issues, while A Better Chicago says it invests in ideas that create opportunities for Chicago youth as part of its work to address poverty. The Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago describes its work as improving the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection. FINCA International says it works to end poverty through sustainable and scalable solutions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $1,110,337. Grants ranged from $3,604 to $327,670, with a median grant of $20,000.
The largest reported grants included $327,670 to Autism Speaks, $250,899 to Third Way Institute, $126,690 to A Better Chicago, $102,698 to American Israel Education Foundation, $102,292 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, and $100,621 to FINCA International. Other reported grants included $25,000 to Camp Out for Kids, $20,000 to Children’s Hospital Chicago Foundation, and $15,000 to the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.
Camp Out for Kids says it enriches the lives of children in underserved communities by providing summer-camp experiences. American Friends of Magen David Adom, which received $10,000, describes itself as the U.S. fundraising and advocacy organization supporting Magen David Adom’s lifesaving efforts in Israel. Israel Cancer Research Fund, which received $5,500, says it supports cancer research in Israel.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Eric Chern as president, Laura Chern as secretary/treasurer, and Allen Shulman as director.
Chern Family Foundation is led by Eric Chern, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric Chern
President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allen Shulman
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Laura Chern
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Chern Family Foundation
How much does Chern Family Foundation give each year?
Chern Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 11 grants.
What is Chern Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Chern Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $74,022, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chern Family Foundation that year got $50K on average.
Where does Chern Family Foundation give grants?
Chern Family Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (31%) and Illinois (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Who are Chern Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Chern Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Autism Speaks ($327,670), Third Way Institute ($250,899) and A Better Chicago ($126,690), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chern Family Foundation?
Chern Family Foundation reported $844K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $47K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Chern Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chern Family Foundation?
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 Chern Family Foundation's EIN?
Chern Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3202211. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Chern Family Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Chern Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chern Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chern Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chern-family-foundation-morg_34ebdbd598fb45ac86263c2794774664
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873202211_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chern Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chern-family-foundation-morg_34ebdbd598fb45ac86263c2794774664},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Chern Family Foundation'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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