Chern Family Foundation
Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Northbrook, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $844K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 15 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $11K.
Key facts about Chern Family Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 87-3202211
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,110,337
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $74,022
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (8 of 15, 2025)
- Total assets
- $843,796
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$844K
+4.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
15
+36.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$74K
-28.7% YoY
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.
Is Chern Family Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 15 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. 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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 15 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
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
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $843,796 | $804,855 | $1,135,192 |
| Revenue | $1,053,162 | $15,594 | $535,105 |
| Expenses | $1,113,928 | $1,149,545 | $347,095 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,112,132 | $1,146,152 | $345,189 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,638 | $12,201 | $14,866 |
| Distributable Amount | $47,292 | $63,543 | $39,738 |
Data update history
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)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- 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
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
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 is Chern Family Foundation?
Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Northbrook, IL. It holds $844K in total assets as of 2025.
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Chern Family Foundation by hand.
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