Donald Learner Family Foundation
Donald Learner Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $39K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $15K. Net investment income was $1K.
Donald Learner Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Donald Learner Family Foundation gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,300
- +77.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,913
- +55.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $39,409
- -25.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Donald Learner Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Care for Real ($3K). Together the top 8 received $15K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 28 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Donald Learner Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 155% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 687% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $6K (2022) to $15K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Care for Real Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $2,500 |
| Argo Higher Education Foundation Summit, IL | For Donald Learner Student-Athlete College Scholarship Support | $2,000 |
| Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
| Friends of Israels Environment Dedham, MA | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
| Legal Aid Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $2,000 |
| Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $1,800 |
| Uptown Peoples Law Center Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
| WBEZ Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $1,500 |
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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 | $39,409 | $1,331 | $15,519 | $15,300 | 8 | $15,519 | $1,112 | $2,260 |
| 2024 | $52,971 | $1,400 | $8,824 | $8,600 | 7 | $8,824 | $1,400 | $2,535 |
| 2023 | $50,735 | $2,093 | $13,178 | $13,000 | 7 | $13,178 | $1,915 | $2,519 |
| 2022 | $52,656 | $291 | $6,305 | $6,000 | 6 | $6,305 | — | $2,896 |
| 2021 | $64,935 | $60,035 | $279 | — | — | — | — | $798 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donald Learner Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Donald Learner Family Foundation is led by Howard Learner, President Treasurer-Secy on every filing since 2021; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Howard Learner
President Treasurer-Secy
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Rosenthal
Assistant Treasurer-Secy Not Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Robert Learner
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Learner Barr
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Donald Learner Family Foundation
How much does Donald Learner Family Foundation give each year?
Donald Learner Family Foundation gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 7 grants.
What is Donald Learner Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Donald Learner Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $1,913, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Donald Learner Family Foundation give grants?
Donald Learner Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants).
Does Donald Learner Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Donald Learner Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Donald Learner Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Donald Learner Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Care for Real ($2,500), Argo Higher Education Foundation ($2,000) and Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Donald Learner Family Foundation?
Donald Learner Family Foundation reported $39K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Donald Learner Family Foundation's EIN?
Donald Learner Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4234622. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 1, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Donald Learner Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Funding Request Due October 31, 2026
- Women's Health Fund Grants Circle of Friends: Up to $2,000; Women's Giving Circle: In excess of $2,000 · Due October 31, 2026
- Besse Johnson & George Blanton Allen Memorial Foundation Grant Average grant $1,000–$5,000 · Due October 31, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donald Learner Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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