Eleven Eleven Foundation
Eleven Eleven Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. It collaborates with strategic partners to address pressing issues and describes its purpose as empowering communities through education, advancing health through research, championing justice, and driving action on climate change for a sustainable future.
Eleven Eleven Foundation at a glance
In short: Eleven Eleven Foundation gave $27.6M across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $512K), top state Illinois. 37% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $27,647,357
- -40.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $511,988
- -34.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $539,798,770
- -0.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 37% first-time grantees (20 of 54, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Eleven Eleven Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 833 Central Avenue PO Box 640, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 529-3876
Website: https://eleveneleven.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Eleven Eleven Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Friends of Royal Foundation ($7.5M). Together the top 10 received $24.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
276 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 173 grants of 276 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 33% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 20% to recipients in Washington, DC, 10% to recipients in California, and 5% to recipients in New York. The filing also lists a 28% share for an unidentified recipient-state category.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Eleven Eleven Foundation open to new grantees?
37%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 54 grantees (37%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $433K; repeat grants $558K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 39% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 1187% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 142% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 $2.0M (2020) to $46.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $27.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends of Royal Foundation | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $7,547,796 |
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $6,600,000 |
| Climate Reality Project Washington, DC | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000,000 |
| University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,150,000 |
| Clinton Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,000,000 |
| Farmlink Project-CA Pacific Palisades, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,000,000 |
| The Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,000,000 |
| University of Chicago - Law School Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $500,000 |
| Top Box FOODS Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $500,000 |
| Conservation International Foundation Arlington, VA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $500,000 |
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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 | $539,798,770 | $29,173,809 | $31,206,257 | $27,647,357 | 54 | $30,457,297 | $26,371,214 | $21,516,518 |
| 2023 | $541,826,488 | $21,977,319 | $49,487,069 | $46,568,165 | 60 | $47,233,632 | $20,019,431 | $27,448,094 |
| 2022 | $569,326,745 | $9,299,988 | $7,901,734 | $5,556,606 | 68 | $6,023,894 | $7,595,056 | $29,671,352 |
| 2021 | $567,925,414 | $553,106,146 | $2,281,160 | $2,148,002 | 55 | $2,148,002 | $1,002,988 | $2,406,933 |
| 2020 | $17,094,171 | $4,406,538 | $2,073,506 | $1,962,011 | 39 | — | $3,838,945 | $1,019,954 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eleven Eleven Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it is dedicated to a healthier, more sustainable world. Its website highlights sustainability work that fosters activism, spotlights innovators, and empowers future leaders to take climate action.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in several areas. For example, Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. Conservation International Foundation says it works to spotlight and secure the benefits nature provides to humanity. Top Box Foods describes itself as a hunger-relief organization providing access to affordable, healthy food in food deserts and underserved communities. AltaSea says it advances scientific collaboration, a blue economy, and opportunities for the next generation.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 54 grants totaling $27,647,357 in 2024. The grants ranged from $1,000 to $7,547,796, with a median of $50,000. The largest 2024 grants included $7,547,796 to American Friends of Royal Foundation, $6,600,000 to Northwestern University, and $5,000,000 to the Climate Reality Project. Other notable grants were $1,150,000 to the University of Southern California; $1,000,000 each to the Clinton Foundation, Farmlink Project-CA, and the Obama Foundation; and $500,000 each to the University of Chicago Law School, Top Box Foods, and Conservation International Foundation.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James D. Abrams and Wendy D. Abrams as co-presidents, Terry L. Robbins as a director, and Megan Scarsella as executive director.
Eleven Eleven Foundation is led by Megan Scarsella, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Megan Scarsella
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
$300K (2022) → $325K (2024)
James D. Abrams
Co-President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendy D. Abrams
Co-President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Terry L. Robbins
Director
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Laura Knudson (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $325K, to Megan Scarsella (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Eleven Eleven Foundation
How much does Eleven Eleven Foundation give each year?
Eleven Eleven Foundation gave $27.6M across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $46.6M across 60 grants.
What is Eleven Eleven Foundation's typical grant size?
Eleven Eleven Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $511,988, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Eleven Eleven Foundation that year got $433K on average.
Where does Eleven Eleven Foundation give grants?
Eleven Eleven Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (20%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), Los Angeles, CA (6 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Eleven Eleven Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Eleven Eleven Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Eleven Eleven Foundation's largest grantees?
Eleven Eleven Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Friends of Royal Foundation ($7,547,796), Northwestern University ($6,600,000) and Climate Reality Project ($5,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Eleven Eleven Foundation?
Eleven Eleven Foundation reported $539.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $21.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Eleven Eleven Foundation fund?
The foundation says it is dedicated to a healthier, more sustainable world. Its website highlights sustainability work that fosters activism, spotlights innovators, and empowers future leaders to take climate action. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Eleven Eleven Foundation?
The foundation 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 Eleven Eleven Foundation's EIN?
Eleven Eleven Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1463656. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Eleven Eleven 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Eleven Eleven Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/eleven-eleven-foundation-morg_db88e2974fef4249b8524c6f4be18da1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461463656_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Eleven Eleven Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/eleven-eleven-foundation-morg_db88e2974fef4249b8524c6f4be18da1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Eleven Eleven 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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