David and Etta Jonas Family Foundation
The David and Etta Jonas Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois, established in 2015. The foundation is structured as a 501(c)(3) organization with trustee David N. Jonas. The foundation operates with a focus on supporting Jewish communities, Israel, and advancing medical research and healthcare innovation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$54.2M
+25.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.4M
+19.4% YoY
Grant Count
18
+63.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$136K
-27.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support the State of Israel and the Jewish community by investing in programs that instill and preserve Jewish history, identity, and values and by advancing medical research and healthcare innovation that deliver a broad and lasting societal impact.
The foundation operates across four key areas of philanthropy:
- Education: Supporting programs that unlock opportunity, strengthen Jewish identity, and cultivate future leaders
- Medical Research and Healthcare: Funding medical research, scientific discovery, and compassionate care initiatives aimed at finding new treatments and transforming lives
- Advancing International Relations with Israel: Strengthening ties with Israel through education, experience, and policy dialogue
- Community Support: Cultivating Jewish communities that are inclusive, resilient, and grounded in timeless values
Grantmaking
The foundation is invite-only and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$100,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $54,170,626
- Total revenues: $6,841,550
- Total expenses: $2,482,720
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $4,195,830
- Investment income and dividends: $879,782
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,765,938
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $43,100,000
- Total revenues: $7,070,000
- Total expenses: $2,080,000
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $6,312,862
- Investment income and dividends: $716,608
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $54,170,626 | $43,110,934 | $31,277,731 |
| Revenue | $6,841,550 | $7,069,991 | $3,074,395 |
| Expenses | $2,482,720 | $2,081,913 | $1,849,001 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,439,800 | $2,042,959 | $1,830,400 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,516,591 | $730,085 | $495,453 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,494,443 | $1,873,486 | $1,586,912 |
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
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
David N. Jonas - Founder and trustee of the foundation. Jonas was born on Kibbutz Maoz Haim in the Jordan Valley and served four years in the Israel Defense Forces. He later attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois, and Roosevelt University in Chicago. Throughout his career, he was actively involved in philanthropic initiatives and organizations including ELNET, Foundation For Defense of Democracies (FDD), StandWithUs, Stand Strong, and Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF). He also founded the AIBEX initiative in partnership with the American Israel Chamber of Commerce to promote trade between Israel and the United States.
Etta Jonas - The foundation is named in honor of Etta Jonas of Glencoe, who passed away in October 2017 at age 74. She was the mother of three Solomon Schechter Day School graduates and grandmother to three current students. A $1 million gift from her family established the Etta Jonas Scholarship Fund at Solomon Schechter Day School to provide scholarships in perpetuity.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Y Jonas | President | — | — |
| Orete Harkavy | Co-Trustee | — | — |
| Ann Schneiderman | Co-Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made grants supporting doctoral nursing education programs, including awards to the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies and Thomas Jefferson University's nursing program to fund doctoral nursing students.
School of Nursing and Health Studies Awarded Grant From Jonas PhilanthropiesThe foundation has also supported healthcare initiatives focused on vulnerable populations, including a $250,000 grant to Children's Health Fund's Terra Firma program, which provides healthcare and justice support for immigrant children.
School of Nursing and Health Studies Awarded Grant From Jonas PhilanthropiesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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