George M Eisenberg Foundation
The George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities is a private foundation established in 1989 in Illinois, based in Arlington Heights. The foundation was created to continue the philanthropic legacy of George M. Eisenberg, who built a multimillion-dollar corporation while living modestly and donating millions annually to charity, typically anonymously. The foundation operates as an independent private foundation focused on supporting charitable causes aligned with Eisenberg's values.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$39.8M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+7.0% YoY
Grant Count
150
-2.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George M Eisenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on helping "the underprivileged sick, hungry and homeless in the Chicago metropolitan area." According to its stated purpose, the foundation provides giving primarily for:
- Medicine and health
- Education
- Physical, emotional, and social assistance for underprivileged youth and the elderly
- Medical research
- Support for underprivileged populations experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
to December payment
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's geographic focus includes:
- Chicago metropolitan area (Illinois)
- Rochester, Minnesota (particularly for Mayo Clinic support)
- Illinois, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania
The foundation is recognized as a Philanthropic Partner of Mayo Clinic and has committed to five additional years of breast cancer research support.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving:
- Total assets: $39.8 million to $46 million (varying by reporting year)
- Total annual giving: $3.7 to $4 million
- 2023 distributions: approximately $4 million
- 2023 revenue: negative $298,000
- 2023 expenses: $4.32 million
- 2023 total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $39,782,804 | $41,271,298 | $45,890,536 |
| Revenue | $3,103,608 | $-297,524 | $404,660 |
| Expenses | $4,592,102 | $4,321,714 | $4,524,016 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,288,684 | $4,021,254 | $4,143,949 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,781,016 | $1,095,452 | $849,680 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,376,651 | $2,263,626 | $2,442,391 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago ($530,000), Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois Inc ($30,000), 360 Youth Services ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 360 YOUTH SERVICES NAPERVILLE, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $25,000 |
| A JUST HARVEST CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $5,000 |
| A SAFE HAVEN FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $3,000 |
| ABOVE AND BEYOND CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $2,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION OAK PARK, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $3,000 |
| ALEXIAN BROTHERS AIDS MINISTRY CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $5,000 |
| ALEXIAN BROTHERS CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $4,000 |
| ALLICIAS HOUSE BEECHER, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $5,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY MIDWEST INC ROCHESTER, MN | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $15,000 |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | SOCIAL ASSISTANCE | $530,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Based on the most recent available information, the foundation's leadership includes:
- Sofia Bishop, President
- Dean Marousis, Vice President
- James Marousis, Treasurer
- Thomas Speslberg Jr., Secretary
- Katie Owens, Director
- Nancy Jourdan, Director
- Erin O'Brien-Cahill, Director
The foundation has 7 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEAN MAROUSIS | PRESIDENT | 13 | $50,000 |
| ERIN O'BRIEN-CAHILL | VICE PRESIDENT | 13 | $50,000 |
| THOMAS SPESLBERG JR | SECRETARY | 13 | $50,000 |
| JAMES MAROUSIS | TREASURER | 30 | $103,500 |
| SOFIA BISHOP | DIRECTOR | 13 | $50,000 |
| KATIE OWENS | DIRECTOR | 13 | $50,000 |
| NANCY JOURDAN | DIRECTOR | 13 | $50,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does George M Eisenberg Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on helping "the underprivileged sick, hungry and homeless in the Chicago metropolitan area." According to its stated purpose, the foundation provides giving primarily for: • Medicine and health • Education • Physical, emotional, and social assistance for underprivileged youth and the elderly • Medical research • Support for underprivileged populations experiencing poverty, hunger, and homelessness
How do I apply for a grant from George M Eisenberg Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 154 grants totaling approximately $3.7 million in 2023 • Made 162 awards in 2022 • Made 155 awards in 2021 **Grant Sizes:** • Grant range: $3,000 to $1,025,000 • Median grant amount: $5,000 **Application Process:** • Online grant request form available at the foundation's website • Decision timeline: 6-8 months from April deadline to December payment
Where does George M Eisenberg Foundation make grants?
The foundation's geographic focus includes: • Chicago metropolitan area (Illinois) • Rochester, Minnesota (particularly for Mayo Clinic support) • Illinois, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania The foundation is recognized as a Philanthropic Partner of Mayo Clinic and has committed to five additional years of breast cancer research support.
What size grants does George M Eisenberg Foundation award?
In 2024, George M Eisenberg Foundation awarded 150 grants totaling $4.0M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is George M Eisenberg Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, George M Eisenberg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is George M Eisenberg Foundation's EIN?
George M Eisenberg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3689650. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in George M Eisenberg Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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