Eugene and Janet Lerner Family
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports 43 grants totaling $1,179,461 to charitable organizations.
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family at a glance
In short: Eugene and Janet Lerner Family gave $1.2M across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Illinois. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,179,461
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- -4.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,429
- +8.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $13,537,451
- +37.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (4 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (58% 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 Eugene and Janet Lerner Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1205 W Sherwin Ave 815, Chicago, IL 60626
Phone: (847) 337-6891
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Eugene and Janet Lerner Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish United Fund ($275K). Together the top 10 received $869K.
Grant Size Distribution
223 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 191 grants of 223 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 11% each to recipients in New York and California, 5% to Pennsylvania, and 4% to Wisconsin. The remaining share went to recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Eugene and Janet Lerner Family open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 43 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 84% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 153% 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 $1.1M (2022) to $1.2M (2024). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Charity | $275,000 |
| Keshet Northbrook, IL | Charity | $112,500 |
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | Charity | $100,000 |
| Friends of Elnet Skokie, IL | Charity | $100,000 |
| Anra (Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Assn) Philadelphia, PA | Charity | $60,000 |
| Israel Cancer Research Fund Northfield, IL | Charity | $51,000 |
| Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute Camp Oconomowoc, WI | Charity | $50,000 |
| Opendormedia Sunrise, FL | Charity | $50,000 |
| New Israel Fund San Francisco, CA | Charity | $40,000 |
| St Baldricks Foundation Monrovia, CA | Charity | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Eugene and Janet Lerner Family?
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 | $13,537,451 | $7,009,183 | $1,359,559 | $1,179,461 | 43 | $1,185,667 | $988,020 | $774,088 |
| 2023 | $9,884,084 | $576,121 | $1,301,773 | $1,133,480 | 45 | $1,138,538 | $437,679 | $609,811 |
| 2022 | $11,290,373 | $1,258,596 | $1,294,367 | $1,058,816 | 43 | $1,064,466 | $803,641 | $654,773 |
| 2021 | $11,769,478 | $1,282,745 | $1,343,902 | $1,125,236 | 47 | $1,130,621 | $1,000,198 | $713,637 |
| 2020 | $11,977,147 | $1,460,869 | $1,269,195 | $1,092,130 | 45 | — | $1,175,311 | $573,242 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, Keshet says it helps people with disabilities participate in activities and milestones from childhood through adulthood. Friends of ELNET says its mission is to educate U.S. and European leaders and citizens about Israel and promote exchanges with Israelis. Birthright Israel Foundation says it raises funds to support educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults.
Other 2024 recipients include St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which describes its work as supporting research into cures for childhood cancers, and Central Texas Food Bank, which says it works to increase food access in Central Texas.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 43 grants totaling $1,179,461. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $275,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Its largest reported grants included $275,000 to Jewish United Fund, $112,500 to Keshet, $100,000 each to Birthright Israel Foundation and Friends of ELNET, and $60,000 to ANRA (Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Assn).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Laura Lerner as president, Susan Cohn as secretary, Aaron Cohn as treasurer, and Lee Cohn and Dean Lerner as directors.
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family is led by Laura Lerner, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Laura Lerner
President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Dean Lerner
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Cohn
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Cohn
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Cohn
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $5K, to Laura Lerner (President).
Frequently asked questions about Eugene and Janet Lerner Family
How much does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family give each year?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family gave $1.2M across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 45 grants.
What is Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's typical grant size?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $27,429, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Eugene and Janet Lerner Family that year got $4K on average.
Where does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family give grants?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family gives mostly in Illinois: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (11%) and California (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Northbrook, IL (3 grants) and Skokie, IL (3 grants).
Does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charity" (43 grants).
Who are Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's largest grantees?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish United Fund ($275,000), Keshet ($112,500) and Birthright Israel Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Eugene and Janet Lerner Family?
Eugene and Janet Lerner Family reported $13.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $774K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, Keshet says it helps people with disabilities participate in activities and milestones from childhood through adulthood. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Eugene and Janet Lerner Family?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 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.
Does Eugene and Janet Lerner Family 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Eugene and Janet Lerner Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/eugene-and-janet-lerner-family-morg_388453ac218047cdb6b54fcafc106556
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363674212_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Eugene and Janet Lerner Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/eugene-and-janet-lerner-family-morg_388453ac218047cdb6b54fcafc106556},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Eugene and Janet Lerner Family'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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