Donald Learner Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 36-4234622

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.

Key facts about Donald Learner Family Foundation

In short: Donald Learner Family Foundation gave $15K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-4234622
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$15,300
Grants made (2025)
8
Average grant
$1,913
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$39,409
Primary geography
Illinois (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$39K

-25.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$15K

+77.9% YoY

Grant Count

8

+14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

+55.7% YoY

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.

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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoDedhamSummit

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5K$10K$15K$20K0 grants2021 6 grants2022 7 grants2023 7 grants2024 8 grants2025

From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2022) to $15K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $15K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2025

Care for Real: $3KCare for Real$3KArgo Higher Education Foundation: $2KArgo Higher EducationFoundation$2KChicago Coalition to End Homelessness: $2KChicago Coalition to EndHomelessness$2KFriends of Israels Environment: $2KFriends of Israels Environment$2KLegal Aid Chicago: $2KLegal Aid Chicago$2KJewish Council on Urban Affairs: $2KJewish Council on UrbanAffairs$2KUptown Peoples Law Center: $2KUptown Peoples Law Center$2KWBEZ Chicago: $2KWBEZ Chicago$2K

The largest 2025 recipient was Care for Real ($3K). Together the top 8 received $15K.

Grant Size Distribution

28 grants across all recorded years

28<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 28 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Care for Real Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$2,500
Argo Higher Education Foundation Summit, ILFor Donald Learner Student-Athlete College Scholarship Support$2,000
Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$2,000
Friends of Israels Environment Dedham, MAGeneral Operating Support$2,000
Legal Aid Chicago Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$2,000
Jewish Council on Urban Affairs Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$1,800
Uptown Peoples Law Center Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$1,500
WBEZ Chicago Chicago, ILGeneral Operating Support$1,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20K$40K$60K$80K2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$39,409$52,971$50,735
Revenue$1,331$1,400$2,093
Expenses$15,519$8,824$13,178
Qualifying Distributions$15,519$8,824$13,178
Net Investment Income$1,112$1,400$1,915
Distributable Amount$2,260$2,535$2,519

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 11, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 1, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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.

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