Eugene and Janet Lerner Family
The Eugene and Janet Lerner Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1990 and based in Chicago, Illinois. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is designated as a private foundation. The foundation was created by Eugene and Janet Lerner, both of whom have since passed away—Janet in 2015 and Eugene in February 2020.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.5M
+37.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
+8.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eugene and Janet Lerner Family reported a distributable amount of $774K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish agencies and organizations. Its grantmaking areas of interest include:
- Jewish causes
- Health and human services
- Education
- Environment and animals
- Chicago community initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is identified as key for obtaining the foundation's attention.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024)
- Total Assets: $13.5 million
- Revenue: $7.01 million
- Expenses: $1.36 million
- Net Income: $5.65 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Assets and Revenue (2023)
- Total Assets: $9.88 million
- Total Revenue: $576,121
- Total Expenses: $1.30 million
Revenue Composition (2024)
- Investment income and dividends: 83.7%
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: 6.5%
- Other sources: 9.4%
- Miscellaneous: 0.4%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,537,451 | $9,884,084 | $11,290,373 |
| Revenue | $7,009,183 | $576,121 | $1,258,596 |
| Expenses | $1,359,559 | $1,301,773 | $1,294,367 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,185,667 | $1,138,538 | $1,064,466 |
| Net Investment Income | $988,020 | $437,679 | $803,641 |
| Distributable Amount | $774,088 | $609,811 | $654,773 |
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
223 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jewish United Fund ($275,000), Keshet ($112,500), Birthright Israel Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANRA (ADVANCES IN NEUROBLASTOMA RESEARCH ASSN) PHILADELPHIA, PA | CHARITY | $60,000 |
| BAYIT BRIGADE CHICAGO, IL | CHARITY | $5,000 |
| BET TZEDEK LOS ANGELES, CA | CHARITY | $5,000 |
| BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITY | $100,000 |
| BLUES FOUNDATION MEMPHIS, TN | CHARITY | $5,000 |
| CAL POLY FOUNDATION SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | CHARITY | $15,000 |
| CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK AUSTIN, TX | CHARITY | $10,000 |
| CONQUER CANCER FOUNDATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | CHARITY | $15,000 |
| DESERT LABRADOR RETRIEVER RESCUE GLENDALE, AZ | CHARITY | $5,000 |
| DIGESTIVE HEALTH CENTER LAKE FOREST, IL | CHARITY | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation continues under the leadership of the Lerners' children: Laura, Susan, and Dean. Eugene Lerner served as the foundation's president until his death in February 2020.
Founder Background
Eugene Lerner held a B.A. and M.A. in economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago. He held teaching positions at Northwestern University and NYU, served as Director of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and headed the Lerner Group at HighTower Advisors. He founded Disciplined Investment Advisors in the early 1970s and was a professor at the Kellogg School of Management.
Janet Lerner was an educator and pioneer in the field of learning disabilities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURA LERNER | PRESIDENT | 15 | $5,000 |
| SUSAN COHN | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| AARON COHN | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| LEE COHN | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| DEAN LERNER | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1205 W Sherwin Ave Apt 815, Chicago, IL 60626-2258
Telephone: 847-337-6891
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family fund?
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish agencies and organizations. Its grantmaking areas of interest include: • Jewish causes • Health and human services • Education • Environment and animals • Chicago community initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Eugene and Janet Lerner Family?
The foundation maintains a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking is identified as key for obtaining the foundation's attention. Recent grants documented include: • Israel Parasport Center (AFISCD): $100,000 (2023) • Friends of Elnet: $70,000 (2023) • Birthright Israel Foundation: $60,000 (2023) The foundation awarded approximately $1.25 million in grants in 2017. In 2023, the foundation made 27 grants totaling approximately $576,121 in revenue. While the fo…
What size grants does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family award?
In 2024, Eugene and Janet Lerner Family awarded 43 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Eugene and Janet Lerner Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Eugene and Janet Lerner Family reported a distributable amount of $774K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's EIN?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3674212. 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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