Fund for Enlightment
Fund for Enlightment is a private foundation, based in Highland Park, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $883K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $38K. Net investment income was $28K.
Fund for Enlightment at a glance
In short: Fund for Enlightment gave $38K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $38,450
- +22.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,690
- +46.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $883,455
- -1.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
Who Fund for Enlightment funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish United Fund ($10K). Together the top 5 received $38K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Fund for Enlightment gives
- Giving fell 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 66% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $26K (2020) to $50K (2021). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $38K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Recipient Discretion | $10,000 |
| Communities in Schools Chicago, IL | Recipient Discretion | $10,000 |
| Solomon Schecter Day School Northbrook, IL | Recipient Discretion | $10,000 |
| HPHS Giants Club Highland Park, IL | Recipient Discretion | $5,000 |
| Am Shalom Glencoe, IL | Recipient Discretion | $3,450 |
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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 | $883,455 | $29,259 | $40,626 | $38,450 | 5 | $39,756 | $27,800 | $60,615 |
| 2023 | $894,822 | $19,992 | $33,156 | $31,400 | 6 | $32,454 | $18,421 | $51,785 |
| 2022 | $907,986 | $21,663 | $34,895 | $31,300 | 9 | $33,457 | $20,223 | $50,233 |
| 2021 | $921,218 | $88,504 | $52,314 | $49,725 | 14 | $51,279 | $87,466 | $58,076 |
| 2020 | $885,028 | $41,534 | $27,863 | $26,200 | 3 | — | $40,868 | $47,508 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fund for Enlightment reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fund for Enlightment is led by Dan Drexler, Chairman on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dan Drexler
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Drexler
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 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.
Frequently asked questions about Fund for Enlightment
How much does Fund for Enlightment give each year?
Fund for Enlightment gave $38K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $31K across 6 grants.
What is Fund for Enlightment's typical grant size?
Fund for Enlightment's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $7,690, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fund for Enlightment give grants?
Fund for Enlightment gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Fund for Enlightment give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Fund for Enlightment's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Recipient Discretion" (5 grants).
Who are Fund for Enlightment's largest grantees?
Fund for Enlightment's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish United Fund ($10,000), Communities in Schools ($10,000) and Solomon Schecter Day School ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Fund for Enlightment?
Fund for Enlightment reported $883K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $40K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (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 is Fund for Enlightment's EIN?
Fund for Enlightment's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6063973. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 July 26, 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 January 19, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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