Chern Family Foundation

NORTHBROOK, IL EIN: 87-3202211

Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NORTHBROOK, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $805K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $12K.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$805K

-29.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+232.9% YoY

Grant Count

11

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$104K

+232.9% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $64K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Chern Family Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NORTHBROOK, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $805K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 11 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $12K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Cities

AtlantaBostonCedarhurstChampaignChicagoEvanstonMinneapolisNew YorkNorthbrookNorthfieldPlainviewPrincetonSkokieWashington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$316K$632K$948K$1M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$804,855$1,135,192$777,789
Revenue$15,594$535,105$1,130,471
Expenses$1,149,545$347,095$507,570
Qualifying Distributions$1,146,152$345,189$493,183
Net Investment Income$12,201$14,866$517,003
Distributable Amount$63,543$39,738$24,254

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$286K$571K$857K$1M5 grants202112 grants202211 grants202311 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

AUTISM SPEAKS$748KFINCA INTERNATIONAL INC$148KA BETTER CHICAGO$104KAMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATIO…$50KCAMP OUT FOR KIDS$25KCENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL$25KEPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF G…$15KAMERICAN RED MAGEN DAVID$10KJEWISH UNITED FUND$10KUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS F…$6K

Grant Size Distribution

39 grants across all recorded years

25<$50K2$50–100K10$100–250K1$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Autism Speaks ($747,985), Finca International Inc ($148,452), A Better Chicago ($104,151).

RecipientPurposeAmount
A BETTER CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$104,151
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DCDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$50,172
AMERICAN RED MAGEN DAVID NEW YORK, NYDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$10,000
AUTISM SPEAKS PRINCETON, NJDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$747,985
CAMP OUT FOR KIDS CHICAGO, ILDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$25,000
EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF GREATER CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$15,000
JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO, ILDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$10,000
ANTICRUELTY SOCIETY CHICAGO, ILDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$1,000
CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NYDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$25,000
FINCA INTERNATIONAL INC WASHINGTON, DCDONATION TOWARDS EXEMPT PURPOSE$148,452

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
ERIC CHERNPRESIDENT2
LAURA CHERNSECRETARY/TREASURER
ALLEN SHULMANDIRECTOR

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chern Family Foundation?

Chern Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NORTHBROOK, IL. It holds $805K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Chern Family Foundation?

As of 2024, Chern Family Foundation holds $805K in total assets with $16K in annual revenue. It awarded 11 grants totaling $1.1M in 2024.

Where does Chern Family Foundation operate?

Chern Family Foundation has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York.

What size grants does Chern Family Foundation award?

In 2024, Chern Family Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $104K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Chern Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Chern Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $64K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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 2021–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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