Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006
The Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2025, it made 61 grants totaling $446,814 to organizations including arts and cultural institutions, public media, and nonprofits working in areas such as health, education, civil liberties, and conservation.
Key facts about Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006
In short: Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 gave $447K across 61 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in New York. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 23-6286763
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $446,814
- Grants made (2025)
- 61
- Average grant
- $7,325
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 61, 2025)
- Total assets
- $6,720,644
- Primary geography
- New York (58% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The filing states there is no formal application; send a letter explaining the reason for the requested grant. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.7M
+0.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$447K
+15.5% YoY
Grant Count
61
-1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+17.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 reported a distributable amount of $493K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 61 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 95% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include recipients in several fields. For example, the Metropolitan Opera Association, Carnegie Hall Society, and the Public Theater are arts organizations; WNET, WNYC, and WGBH are public media organizations. Other recipients include Planned Parenthood of New York City, the Central Park Conservancy, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Grantee-provided descriptions offer more context about the kinds of organizations supported. WGBH Educational Foundation says it provides programs and services intended to educate, inspire, and entertain. The 300 Committee Land Trust says its mission is to preserve land in Falmouth, Massachusetts, and raise awareness of open space. The ACLU describes its mission as maintaining and advancing civil liberties, while Habitat for Humanity describes building affordable homes in partnership with lower-income households.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 61 grants totaling $446,814. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest were $50,000 to WNETChannel 13, $47,814 to National Philanthropic Trust, $30,000 to WNYC, and $27,500 to The Falmouth Service Center. It also gave $25,000 each to the Metropolitan Opera Association and Planned Parenthood of New York City.
Review Cycle
and award restrictions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (58%), Massachusetts (22%), and Pennsylvania (11%). Smaller reported shares went to recipients in Washington, DC (2%) and Virginia (1%). Listed 2025 recipients also included organizations in Ohio and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 61 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $387K (2024) to $447K (2025). In 2025 it made 61 grants totaling $447K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Wnetchannel 13 ($50K). Together the top 10 received $265K.
Grant Size Distribution
333 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 327 grants of 333 (98%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wnetchannel 13 New York, NY | General | $50,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust Jenkintown, PA | General | $47,814 |
| Wnyc New York, NY | General | $30,000 |
| The Falmouth Service Center Falmouth, MA | General | $27,500 |
| Metropolitan Opera Assn Inc New York, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of New York City New York, NY | General | $25,000 |
| Central Park Conservancy Inc New York, NY | General | $20,000 |
| Carnegie Hall Society Inc New York, NY | General | $20,000 |
| WGBH Educational Foundation Boston, MA | General | $10,000 |
| The Public Theater New York, NY | General | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,720,644 | $531,754 | $503,576 | $446,814 | 61 |
| 2024 | $6,665,188 | $351,498 | $437,250 | $386,936 | 62 |
| 2023 | $6,785,021 | $310,061 | $446,523 | $398,559 | 66 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,720,644 | $6,665,188 | $6,785,021 |
| Revenue | $531,754 | $351,498 | $310,061 |
| Expenses | $503,576 | $437,250 | $446,523 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $474,719 | $411,114 | $414,652 |
| Net Investment Income | $508,472 | $329,156 | $244,758 |
| Distributable Amount | $492,517 | $443,492 | $403,029 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bonnie Ward Simon as trustee.
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 is led by Bonnie Ward Simon, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bonnie Ward Simon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $16K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: JP Morgan Chase Bank N A (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 $16K, to Bonnie Ward Simon (Trustee).
Contact
Application contact: Bonnie W Simon Co Jpmorgan Chase B
Mailing address: 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 464-2765
Email: n/a
Frequently asked questions about Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006
How much does Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 give each year?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 gave $447K across 61 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $387K across 62 grants.
What is Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's typical grant size?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,325, across 61 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 that year got $10K on average.
Where does Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 give grants?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 gives mostly in New York: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (22%) and Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (29 grants), Woods Hole, MA (5 grants), Falmouth, MA (4 grants) and Boston, MA (3 grants).
Does Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (61 of 61) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's largest grantees?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's largest 2025 grantees include Wnetchannel 13 ($50,000), National Philanthropic Trust ($47,814) and Wnyc ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 reported $6.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $475K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $493K (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 Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006 fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include recipients in several fields. For example, the Metropolitan Opera Association, Carnegie Hall Society, and the Public Theater are arts organizations; WNET, WNYC, and WGBH are public media organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006?
The filing states there is no formal application; send a letter explaining the reason for the requested grant. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's EIN?
Esther Simon 1952 Charitable Trust XXXXX8006's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6286763. 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. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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