The Edlis-Neeson Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2007 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and maintains a low public profile while serving as a significant arts funder in the Chicago area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.0M
-5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-19.6% YoY
Grant Count
16
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
-29.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp reported a distributable amount of $697K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on arts and cultural organizations. The foundation does not appear to maintain a publicly stated mission statement.
Primary funding areas include:
- Contemporary art museums and institutions
- Opera and performing arts organizations
- Arts and cultural programming in the Chicago area
Grantmaking
The foundation is inaccessible and does not appear to accept unsolicited applications. Networking is identified as the primary pathway for funding consideration.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes the Chicago area for grantmaking. The founders' residency in both Aspen and Chicago is reflected in their giving patterns, with support extending to organizations in both locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $14,798,766
- Total Expenses: $1,757,944
- Total Revenues: -$94,895
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Investment Income and Dividends: $16,885
Tax-Exempt Status: Tax-exempt since July 2007
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,992,908 | $14,798,766 | $16,651,605 |
| Revenue | $620,570 | $-94,895 | $22,285 |
| Expenses | $1,426,428 | $1,757,944 | $1,083,387 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,400,550 | $1,741,850 | $1,060,200 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $791 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $697,014 | $750,326 | $830,391 |
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
74 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lyric Opera of Chicago ($600,000), Aspen Music Festival ($292,100), New Museum ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON RANCH ART CENTER SNOWMASS VILLAGE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ASPEN ART MUSEUM ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $29,650 |
| ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $292,100 |
| ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO OPERA THEATER CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $45,000 |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $600,000 |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $75,000 |
| NEW MUSEUM NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $250,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS DENVER, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and Directors:
- Heather Gael Neeson - President
- D Thomas Dunton - Director
- Rebecca Donelson - Director
Founders:
- Stefan Edlis (deceased 2019) - Founder, Apollo Plastics Corporation founder
- Gael Neeson - Co-founder and continuing legacy steward
Stefan Edlis was Jewish and his family fled Austria for the United States in 1941. Stefan and Gael were avid art collectors, particularly of Postwar and contemporary art, and appeared on ArtNews' Top 200 art collectors list multiple times.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEATHER GAEL NEESON | PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| D THOMAS DUNTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| REBECCA DONELSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2015, Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson donated 44 iconic works of contemporary art to the Art Institute of Chicago—the largest gift of art in the museum's history at that time. The collection, valued at approximately $400 million, includes works by Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, Cy Twombly, and Andy Warhol, among others. This gift addressed significant gaps in the Art Institute's postwar collection and established a continuous narrative from Abstract Expressionism through Pop Art and contemporary work.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on arts and cultural organizations. The foundation does not appear to maintain a publicly stated mission statement. **Primary funding areas include:** • Contemporary art museums and institutions • Opera and performing arts organizations • Arts and cultural programming in the Chicago area
How do I apply for a grant from Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp?
**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $1,741,850 • Number of grants: 13-14 grants • Median grant amount: $36,000 • Largest grant: $605,700 (New Museum of Contemporary Art) **Recent Grantees (2023):** • New Museum of Contemporary Art: $605,700 (unrestricted) • Lyric Opera of Chicago: $500,500 (unrestricted) • Aspen Music Festival and School: $181,800 (unrestricted) **Historical Grants:** • Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago: $10 million for the Edlis Neeson Theater • New Museum (New York Ci…
Where does Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp make grants?
The foundation prioritizes the Chicago area for grantmaking. The founders' residency in both Aspen and Chicago is reflected in their giving patterns, with support extending to organizations in both locations.
What size grants does Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp award?
In 2024, Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp awarded 16 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp reported a distributable amount of $697K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp's EIN?
Edlis - Neeson Foundation Nfp's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8986573. 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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