Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation
The Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2025, it gave $273,600 through 15 grants to organizations including universities, hospitals, cultural organizations, and charitable organizations.
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation at a glance
In short: Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation gave $274K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Illinois. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $273,600
- +39.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,240
- +11.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,024,876
- -6.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (4 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 303 East Wacker Drive 1675, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 606-3237
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern University ($75K). Together the top 10 received $265K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 59 grants of 62 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 11% to recipients in Maryland, and 1% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 15 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $15K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 189% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2019) to $274K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $274K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | General Operations | $75,000 |
| Northwestern Memorial Fund Chicago, IL | General Operations | $50,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders Hagerstown, MD | General Operations | $30,000 |
| UNICEF Chicago, IL | General Operations | $30,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Operations | $30,000 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, IL | General Operations | $25,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Lyric Opera Chicago, IL | General Operations | $10,000 |
| Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Northfield, IL | General Operations | $2,500 |
| Sweetwater Spectrum Sonoma, CA | General Operations | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation?
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 | $4,024,876 | $37,023 | $309,656 | $273,600 | 15 | $282,400 | $100,313 | $303,571 |
| 2024 | $4,286,037 | $86,733 | $242,047 | $196,300 | 12 | $202,700 | $85,637 | $287,349 |
| 2023 | $4,459,849 | $138,409 | $277,503 | $236,000 | 16 | $242,400 | $101,925 | $266,285 |
| 2022 | $4,642,378 | $107,022 | $141,300 | $94,600 | 13 | $101,900 | $104,669 | $271,356 |
| 2021 | $4,656,561 | $341,544 | $191,813 | $150,000 | 6 | $156,400 | $286,386 | $285,276 |
| 2020 | $4,511,479 | $-25,435 | $284,184 | $245,000 | 7 | — | $106,384 | $257,969 |
| 2019 | $4,829,829 | $260,824 | $104,729 | $69,599 | 11 | — | $225,759 | $251,393 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $304K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association says it aims to enrich, inspire, and transform lives through music, community engagement, and education. Sweetwater Spectrum says it provides community-based, long-term housing for adults with autism or similar intellectual or developmental disabilities. Music of the Baroque describes itself as a professional orchestra and chorus that performs early music and provides a singing program for Chicago public school students.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $273,600. Grants ranged from $1,100 to $75,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest listed grants were $75,000 to Northwestern University, $50,000 to Northwestern Memorial Fund, and $30,000 each to Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and the University of Chicago. The listed grants were for general operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Petra Rissman, Benjamin Rissman, and Patrick McKenna as directors.
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin Rissman
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patrick McKenna
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Petra Rissman
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation
How much does Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation give each year?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation gave $274K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $196K across 12 grants.
What is Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's typical grant size?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,240, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation give grants?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants).
Does Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's largest grantees?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University ($75,000), Northwestern Memorial Fund ($50,000) and Doctors Without Borders ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation reported $4.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $282K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $304K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's EIN?
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4266297. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Zell Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Zell Family Foundation funds education, arts, health care, and other charitable organizations, with 88% of its 2024 grant dollars going to Illinois. Its 54 grants ranged from $5,000 to $25 million, with a median of about $156,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$119.6M
Grants
54
Total Given
$65.0M
Motorola Solutions Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Motorola Solutions Foundation funds first-responder programs and technology and engineering education, especially for under-resourced communities; its 2025 grants had a median of $35,000. It supports organizations worldwide, with priority for communities where Motorola Solutions operates, and accepts unsolicited requests through an annual letter-of-inquiry process, with full applications by invitation.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
213
Total Given
$12.6M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
The Sidley Austin Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Sidley Austin Foundation supports civil legal aid, higher education, community development, and children’s play spaces, with 2025 grants concentrated in Illinois, New York, California, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Its 2025 grants ranged from $100 to $517,408, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.9M
Grants
293
Total Given
$4.0M
The Irving Harris Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Irving Harris Foundation funds reproductive health and justice, infant and early childhood mental health and development, Jewish values, and arts and culture, with grantmaking focused largely in Illinois and also reaching other states. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$143.4M
Grants
337
Total Given
$22.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dr-petra-and-owen-rissman-foundation-morg_3c143a70e1404840b0f6ad1b334520ca
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364266297_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dr-petra-and-owen-rissman-foundation-morg_3c143a70e1404840b0f6ad1b334520ca},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Dr Petra and Owen Rissman Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?