Chern Medal Foundation
Chern Medal Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $68K.
Chern Medal Foundation at a glance
In short: Chern Medal Foundation gave $68K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $68,249
- -98.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $68,249
- -98.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $68,249
- Total assets
- $1,040,773
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Chern Medal Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Institute for Advanced Studies ($68K).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 3 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Chern Medal Foundation gives
- Giving fell 88% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 5% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $68K (2025) to $5.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $68K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for Advanced Studies Princeton, NJ | Fund Chern Medal & Chern Professorship | $68,249 |
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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 | $1,040,773 | $10,679 | $79,547 | $68,249 | 1 | $2,544 | — | $47,720 |
| 2024 | $991,811 | $4,699 | $5,046,282 | $5,046,282 | 1 | — | $624,676 | $245,560 |
| 2023 | $5,045,566 | $35,488 | $1,267 | — | — | $1,267 | $92,022 | $225,074 |
| 2022 | $4,201,411 | $38,659 | $551,314 | $550,000 | 1 | $551,314 | $104,136 | $218,655 |
| 2021 | $5,261,496 | $36,439 | $1,267 | — | — | $1,267 | $35,172 | $236,889 |
| 2020 | $4,525,138 | $-136,510 | $1,496 | — | — | — | — | $209,874 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chern Medal Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chern Medal Foundation is led by May Chu, Trustee, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
May Chu
Trustee, President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Albert Chu
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Simons
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert Bryant
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marilyn Simons
Trustee
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James H Simons (2020–2023) — Trustee
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 Chern Medal Foundation
How much does Chern Medal Foundation give each year?
Chern Medal Foundation gave $68K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.0M across 1 grant.
How large is Chern Medal Foundation?
Chern Medal Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48K (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 is Chern Medal Foundation?
Chern Medal Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Houston, TX. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Chern Medal Foundation operate?
Chern Medal Foundation has awarded grants in New Jersey, Rhode Island.
What is Chern Medal Foundation's EIN?
Chern Medal Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0907270. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 October 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 31, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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