Coleman Foundation

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA EIN: 23-6214964 Website

The Coleman Foundation, Inc. is a private, independent grantmaking foundation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1951, the organization invests in community-based organizations and local institutions to preserve and strengthen the physical health and economic and emotional well-being of people in the greater Chicago region.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

-100.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$283K

+38.0% YoY

Grant Count

+120.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$9K

-37.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Coleman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Coleman Foundation invests in ideas and initiatives improving the lives of people in the Chicago area. Primary funding focuses include:

Health and rehabilitation services
Cancer care
Community-based organizations and local institutions

Grantmaking

The Coleman Foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with regular grant announcements. The foundation issues grants on a quarterly basis, with documented grant announcements for periods including fourth quarter 2018, first quarter 2022, and June 2023.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in the greater Chicago region.

Grant Distribution by State

Massachusetts $275K (37%)

Pennsylvania $186K (25%)

District of Columbia $137K (18%)

New York $80K (11%)

California $42K (6%)

Maine $8K (1%)

Virginia $8K (1%)

Georgia $4K (0%)

+3 more states

States

California Connecticut District of Columbia Georgia Massachusetts Maryland Maine New Hampshire New York Pennsylvania Virginia

Cities

AlexandriaAmericusArlingtonBaltimoreBelfastBeverly HillsBostonBoylstonCambridgeE FalmouthEastonFrederickIthacaLos AngelesNew YorkOaklandPhiladelphiaSan FranciscoSan RafaelSaugus

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Annual Revenue: $10.0 million
Employees: 9 staff members

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	—	$291,704	$467,824
Revenue	$7,142	$45,031	$72,413
Expenses	$298,846	$221,151	$98,880
Qualifying Distributions	$285,662	$207,094	$83,586
Net Investment Income	—	$31,774	$57,519
Distributable Amount	$6,775	$52,299	$27,386

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 2024

Grant Size Distribution

138 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include 3rd Street Alliance ($31,904), Boston Area Gleaners ($25,000), Hopewell Fund ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
3RD STREET ALLIANCE EASTON, PA	UNRESTRICTED	$31,904
BOSTON AREA GLEANERS WALTHAM, MA	HNR OF DR MARGARET COLEMAN	$25,000
BOSTON HARBOR NOW BOSTON, MA	UNRESTRICTED	$20,000
BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$2,000
CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WILLOW GROVE, PA	UNRESTRICTED	$15,000
CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL WALLINGFORD, CT	UNRESTRICTED	$1,000
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY ITHACA, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$12,000
DOCTORS FOR AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC	UNRESTRICTED	$2,500
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY	UNRESTRICTED	$1,000
EDDIE'S RANCH SAUGUS, MA	UNRESTRICTED	$8,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Nora Garcia - Executive Director
Peter Handler - Interim CEO
Laura Lane Taylor - Director
Walter Abrego - Board Member
Esther Barron - Board Member

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
WILLIAM S COLEMAN	TRUSTEE	—	—
DEBORAH COLEMAN	TRUSTEE	—	—
BARRY GROSSBACH	TRUSTEE	—	—
SAMUEL COLEMAN	TRUSTEE	—	—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The Coleman Foundation has announced grants in multiple quarters, including:

The Coleman Foundation Announces Fourth Quarter 2018 Cancer Care and Health

2018

Fourth Quarter 2018 Cancer Care and Health Rehabilitation Services Grants

The Coleman Foundation Announces Fourth Quarter 2018 Cancer Care and Health

2022

First Quarter 2022 Grants

First Quarter 2022 Grants - The Coleman Foundation

2023

June 2023 Grantmaking focused on Health Rehabilitation

The foundation publishes "Turning Point Stories" documenting grantmaker experiences and maintains an active grant announcements archive.

Turning Point Stories: A Grantmaker''s Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Coleman Foundation fund?

The Coleman Foundation invests in ideas and initiatives improving the lives of people in the Chicago area. Primary funding focuses include: • Health and rehabilitation services • Cancer care • Community-based organizations and local institutions

How do I apply for a grant from Coleman Foundation?

Where does Coleman Foundation make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in the greater Chicago region.

What size grants does Coleman Foundation award?

In 2024, Coleman Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $283K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Coleman Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Coleman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.