Dolores Kohl Education Foundation
The Dolores Kohl Education Foundation is a private, operating foundation established in 1972 and based in Highland Park, Illinois. The foundation enhances children's learning through experiential, innovative programming and creates and directs its own educational initiatives rather than primarily making grants to other organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.4M
+8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-25.8% YoY
Grant Count
26
+13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$47K
-34.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on enhancing children's learning through the support of exemplary teaching and exposing young children from low-income neighborhoods to literature and the benefits of literacy skills.
Current Program Areas:
- America's Children's Museum on Wheels: StoryBus — A mobile classroom designed to expose young children from low-income neighborhoods to literature and literacy skills
- Animal Orchestra on Tour — An exhibit using anthropomorphic animals to engage children in classical music
- Van Gogh For All — A touring exhibit at art museums and children's museums that engages children in artistic expression
- Many Colors of Us — An educational program for children
- Kohl Education Prize — Recognition for educational excellence
Past Programs:
- Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Awards
- Kohl McCormick Academy of Outstanding Educators
- Kohl International Teaching Awards
- Kohl Children's Museum (Glenview, Illinois)
- Kohl Teachers' Centers (Illinois and Israel)
Grantmaking
While the foundation primarily operates its own programs, it also makes grants to other organizations that support its mission. In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants to other organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's work is primarily concentrated in Illinois, with some international reach. Grant-making has been documented in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,409,368 |
| Total Giving | $1,210,579 |
| Total Revenues | $2,113,469 |
| Total Expenses | $1,439,598 |
Tax-Exempt Status: September 1972
EIN: 23-7206116
Address: 2070 Green Bay Rd Ste 197, Highland Park, IL 60035-2412
Contact: 847-433-8601 | DKEF.ORG
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,409,368 | $7,733,034 | $8,843,420 |
| Revenue | $2,113,469 | $746,313 | $1,708,105 |
| Expenses | $1,439,598 | $1,857,199 | $1,213,858 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,384,018 | $1,818,811 | $1,168,468 |
| Net Investment Income | $198,922 | $707,781 | $1,579,874 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
126 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ravinia Festival Association ($410,100), Dolores Kohl Education Foundation - Animal Orchestra Exhibit ($337,731), Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago ($166,667).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES AND ALUMNI WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HIGHLAND PARK, IL | CHARITABLE | $250 |
| DOLORES KOHL EDUCATION FOUNDATION - ANIMAL ORCHESTRA EXHIBIT HIGHLAND PARK, IL | THE ANIMAL ORCHESTRA EXHIBIT WILL USE ANTHROPOMORPHIC ANIMALS TO ENGAGE CHILDREN IN CLASSICAL MUSIC. | $337,731 |
| DOLORES KOHL EDUCATION FOUNDATION - KOHL EDUCATION PRIZE HIGHLAND PARK, IL | COSTS FOR RECOGNIZING A LEADER IN THE EDUCATION FIELD THAT HELPS BROADCAST THAT LEADERS MESSAGE BOTH LOCALLY & NATIONALLY | $4,000 |
| DOLORES KOHL EDUCATION FOUNDATION - RACE EXHIBIT HIGHLAND PARK, IL | CHARITABLE | $87,322 |
| DOLORES KOHL EDUCATION FOUNDATION - STORY BUS PROGRAM HIGHLAND PARK, IL | EXPENSES TO RUN MOBIL STORY BUS | $58,589 |
| DOLORES KOHL EDUCATION FOUNDATION - VAN GOGH HIGHLAND PARK, IL | EXPENSES TO DEVELOP THE VAN GOGH ART EXHIBIT THAT WILL TRAVEL TO CHILDRENS MUSEUMS | $108,605 |
| HIGHLAND PARK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION HIGHLAND PARK, IL | CHARITABLE | $52 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| KOHL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF GREATER CHICAGO GLENVIEW, IL | CHARITABLE | $166,667 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dolores Kohl — Founder, President and CEO. Her work focuses on early childhood education with current emphasis on literacy efforts for low-income urban families. She has published works including Gladly We Teach, Ideas in Social Studies, Ideas in Math, Teacher Centers in the '80s, Language Arts, and Teaching Soviet Children.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLEN KOHL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DOLORES KOHL | PRESIDENT | 25 | — |
| HERBERT KOHL | SECRETARY | — | — |
| JONATHAN SOLOVY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARK TILTON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STACY FISHER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| STEPHEN KOHL | TREASURER | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dolores Kohl Education Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on enhancing children's learning through the support of exemplary teaching and exposing young children from low-income neighborhoods to literature and the benefits of literacy skills. **Current Program Areas:** • **America's Children's Museum on Wheels: StoryBus** — A mobile classroom designed to expose young children from low-income neighborhoods to literature and literacy skills • **Animal Orchestra on Tour** — An exhibit using anthropomorphic animals to engag…
How do I apply for a grant from Dolores Kohl Education Foundation?
While the foundation primarily operates its own programs, it also makes grants to other organizations that support its mission. In 2024, the foundation made 23 grants to other organizations. **Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $50 to $410,100. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Ravinia Festival Association: $410,100 • Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago (amount listed in source but not fully visible)
Where does Dolores Kohl Education Foundation make grants?
The foundation's work is primarily concentrated in Illinois, with some international reach. Grant-making has been documented in Illinois, the District of Columbia, and California.
What size grants does Dolores Kohl Education Foundation award?
In 2024, Dolores Kohl Education Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $47K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Dolores Kohl Education Foundation's EIN?
Dolores Kohl Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7206116. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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