Ed Uihlein Family Foundation
The Ed Uihlein Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. It states that its sole purpose is making cash contributions to qualifying public charities and that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Ed Uihlein Family Foundation gave $7.4M across 105 grants in 2024 (avg $70K), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,400,467
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 105
- -0.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $70,481
- -4.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $11,948,429
- -2.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (20% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Ed Uihlein Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 736 N Western Avenue 339, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (847) 473-3000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ed Uihlein Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Communio ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $5.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
214 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 156 grants of 214 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to Illinois (20%), Virginia (15%), Pennsylvania (14%), Florida (14%), and Wisconsin (8%). The listed grants also included recipients in North Dakota, Utah, Ohio, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 105 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Ed Uihlein Family Foundation gives
- 94% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 60% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.5M (2022) to $18.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 105 grants totaling $7.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Communio Alexandria, VA | General | $1,000,000 |
| Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Dundee, IL | General | $1,000,000 |
| The Jack Miller Center Bala Cynwyd, PA | General | $1,000,000 |
| Chokoloskee Church of God Chokoloskee, FL | General | $697,117 |
| Delta Waterfowl Foundation Bismark, ND | General | $500,000 |
| University of Utah Special Depository Salt Lake City, UT | General | $500,000 |
| Ashbrook Center Ashland, OH | General | $300,000 |
| Jim Ryun Ministries Tampa, FL | General | $200,000 |
| St Anastasia Waukegan, IL | General | $200,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited Memphis, TN | General | $150,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $11,948,429 | $7,243,140 | $7,539,688 | $7,400,467 | 105 | $7,426,751 | $278,386 | $653,103 |
| 2023 | $12,244,964 | $7,204,315 | $7,940,561 | $7,816,654 | 106 | $7,836,759 | $274,831 | $573,846 |
| 2022 | $13,101,209 | $11,631,029 | $5,653,809 | $5,529,698 | 1 | $5,551,343 | $153,034 | $575,704 |
| 2021 | $7,123,989 | $4,757,675 | $18,566,859 | $18,432,560 | 1 | $18,524,921 | $146,455 | $627,928 |
| 2020 | $20,933,173 | $17,054,170 | $17,769,673 | $17,584,583 | 1 | — | $116,655 | $532,892 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ed Uihlein Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $653K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its purpose is to make cash contributions to qualifying public charities. Its 2024 grants include organizations whose own stated missions address wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, religious and educational activities, health care, free speech, and legal and civic issues. For example, Delta Waterfowl Foundation says its mission is to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting; Fellow Mortals describes providing rehabilitative care for wild birds and mammals and educational programs; and the Institute for Free Speech says it works to promote and defend First Amendment political rights.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 105 grants totaling $7,400,467. Grants ranged from $250 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest grants included $1,000,000 each to Communio, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, and The Jack Miller Center; $697,117 to Chokoloskee Church of God; and $500,000 each to Delta Waterfowl Foundation and University of Utah Special Depository. Other notable grants included $300,000 to Ashbrook Center and $200,000 each to Jim Ryun Ministries and St Anastasia.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard E Uihlein as director and president, Lucia Uihlein Higgins as director and secretary, and Fredericka Anne Goldenberg as director and treasurer.
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation is led by Richard E. Uihlein, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard E. Uihlein
Director & President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Fredericka Anne Goldenberg
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lucia Uihlein Higgins
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Ed Uihlein Family Foundation
How much does Ed Uihlein Family Foundation give each year?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation gave $7.4M across 105 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.8M across 106 grants.
What is Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $70,481, across 105 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ed Uihlein Family Foundation give grants?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and Pennsylvania (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington DC, DC (11 grants), Chicago, IL (10 grants), Lake Forest, IL (8 grants) and Kenosha, WI (5 grants).
Does Ed Uihlein Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (105 of 105) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Communio ($1,000,000), Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation ($1,000,000) and The Jack Miller Center ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Ed Uihlein Family Foundation?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation reported $11.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $653K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ed Uihlein Family Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its purpose is to make cash contributions to qualifying public charities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ed Uihlein Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's EIN?
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5723621. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Ed Uihlein Family 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ed Uihlein Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ed Uihlein Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ed Uihlein Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ed-uihlein-family-foundation-morg_7bc23009609f4643b244c39c6c4d2598
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205723621_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ed Uihlein Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ed-uihlein-family-foundation-morg_7bc23009609f4643b244c39c6c4d2598},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ed Uihlein Family 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.
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