Eleanor Foster Foundation
Eleanor Foster Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Wilmette, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $856K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $56K. Net investment income was $67K.
Eleanor Foster Foundation at a glance
In short: Eleanor Foster Foundation gave $56K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $56K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,325
- +12.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,325
- +12.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $56,325
- Total assets
- $855,887
- -1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Eleanor Foster Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Art Institute of Chicago ($56K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 4 grants of 5 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Eleanor Foster Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2020) to $56K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $56K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Scholarships for young women to attend the school of art institute school of art institute | $56,325 |
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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 | $855,887 | $49,945 | $91,066 | $56,325 | 1 | $80,340 | $66,609 | $79,565 |
| 2024 | $869,618 | $45,672 | $74,759 | $50,161 | 1 | $67,526 | $38,597 | $73,690 |
| 2023 | $898,647 | $34,691 | $82,778 | $53,160 | 1 | $71,430 | $57,683 | $68,494 |
| 2022 | $915,410 | $36,155 | $83,738 | $53,498 | 1 | $75,345 | $91,409 | $74,944 |
| 2021 | $900,596 | $32,153 | $71,749 | $47,585 | 1 | — | $27,682 | $71,887 |
| 2020 | $940,188 | $38,607 | $65,145 | $42,837 | 1 | — | $40,006 | $64,868 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eleanor Foster Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Eleanor Foster Foundation is led by Ilona A. Hartman, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ilona A. Hartman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$16K (2020) → $22K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $22K, to Ilona a Hartman (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Eleanor Foster Foundation
How much does Eleanor Foster Foundation give each year?
Eleanor Foster Foundation gave $56K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $50K across 1 grant.
How large is Eleanor Foster Foundation?
Eleanor Foster Foundation reported $856K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $80K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Eleanor Foster Foundation?
Eleanor Foster Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Wilmette, IL. It holds $856K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Eleanor Foster Foundation operate?
Eleanor Foster Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Eleanor Foster Foundation's EIN?
Eleanor Foster Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7362746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Eleanor Foster Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Eleanor Foster Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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