Gianaras Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Deerfield, IL EIN: 36-3283901

Gianaras Foundation is a private foundation based in Deerfield, Illinois. In 2024, it made grants to charitable organizations, including organizations focused on disability services, Greek history and culture, education, and community support.

Gianaras Foundation at a glance

In short: Gianaras Foundation gave $138K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Illinois. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$138,350
-54.0% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
26
-10.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$5,321
-48.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$1,428,627
+7.2% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2024)
Primary geography
Illinois (67% 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 Gianaras Foundation

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: 1730 Lake Eleanor Court, Deerfield, IL 60015
Phone: (847) 401-1827

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Gianaras Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Little City Foundation: $17KLittle City Foundation$17KNational Hellenic Museum: $15KNational Hellenic Museum$15KArchbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund: $14KArchbishop Iakovos Leadership100 Fund$14KAlpha 4TH of July: $10KAlpha 4TH of July$10KIllinois State University: $10KIllinois State University$10KOrder of St Andrew the Apostle: $9KOrder of St Andrew the Apostle$9KAscension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church: $7KAscension of Our Lord GreekOrthodox Church$7KSt Andrews Greek Orthodox Church: $6KSt Andrews Greek OrthodoxChurch$6KCrystal Falls Contemporary Center: $5KCrystal Falls ContemporaryCenter$5KGreek American Rehabilitation & Care Center: $5KGreek American Rehabilitation& Care Center$5K

The largest 2024 recipient was Little City Foundation ($17K). Together the top 10 received $98K.

Grant Size Distribution

105 grants across all recorded years

99<$50K3$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 105 (94%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 18% to New York, 11% to Michigan, 4% to North Dakota, and 1% to Wisconsin.

Grant Distribution by State

11states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoPalatineNew YorkWheelingLincolnshireNorthbrookDeerfieldLombardGlenviewGunnisonKansasvilleNormalAlphaAshevilleBig BayCrystal FallsElmhurstGrayslakeAuroraBrookfield

Is Gianaras Foundation open to new grantees?

27%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 26 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $6K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 111% 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K13 grants2020 15 grants2021 22 grants2022 29 grants2023 26 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2021) to $301K (2023). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $138K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Little City Foundation Palatine, ILCharitable$16,700
National Hellenic Museum Chicago, ILCharitable$15,200
Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund New York, NYCharitable$14,000
Alpha 4TH of July Alpha, MICharitable$10,000
Illinois State University Normal, ILCharitable$10,000
Order of St Andrew the Apostle New York, NYCharitable$9,400
Ascension of Our Lord Greek Orthodox Church Lincolnshire, ILCharitable$6,500
St Andrews Greek Orthodox Church Chicago, ILCharitable$6,000
Crystal Falls Contemporary Center Crystal Falls, MICharitable$5,000
Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Center Wheeling, ILCharitable$5,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Gianaras Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$1,428,627$250,816$154,643$138,35026$142,408$238,581$127,730
2023$1,332,454$81,877$314,557$300,55029$302,531$69,913$123,132
2022$1,565,134$136,082$301,049$280,00022$288,274$123,319$129,647
2021$1,730,101$183,421$122,305$106,35015$108,952$170,068$139,306
2020$1,668,985$127,754$175,440$161,10013—$116,701$117,000

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gianaras Foundation reported a distributable amount of $128K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. Little City Foundation describes its mission as providing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with opportunities to live safely, work, learn, create, and play. The National Hellenic Museum says its educational programs use exhibitions to encourage experiential learning and new ways of thinking about Greek history and culture. Other grantees include a college foundation that supports scholarships and student and faculty development, and the Panhellenic Scholarship Foundation, which says it furthers the education of students of Hellenic descent.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $138,350. Awards ranged from $500 to $16,700, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest were $16,700 to Little City Foundation, $15,200 to the National Hellenic Museum, and $14,000 to the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund. Each grant’s stated purpose was charitable.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Alexander A. Gianaras as president and Katherine A. Starck as secretary/treasurer.

Gianaras Foundation is led by Alexander A. Gianaras, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Alexander A. Gianaras

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Katherine A. Starck

    Secretary & Treasurer

    Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    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 Gianaras Foundation

How much does Gianaras Foundation give each year?

Gianaras Foundation gave $138K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $301K across 29 grants.

What is Gianaras Foundation's typical grant size?

Gianaras Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,321, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gianaras Foundation that year got $5K on average.

Where does Gianaras Foundation give grants?

Gianaras Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 67% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Michigan (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Palatine, IL (2 grants) and Wheeling, IL (2 grants).

Does Gianaras Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Gianaras Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (26 grants).

Who are Gianaras Foundation's largest grantees?

Gianaras Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Little City Foundation ($16,700), National Hellenic Museum ($15,200) and Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund ($14,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Gianaras Foundation?

Gianaras Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $142K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $128K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Gianaras Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supported. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Gianaras Foundation?

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 Gianaras Foundation's EIN?

Gianaras Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3283901. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Gianaras Foundation 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 September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Gianaras Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Buhler Kapsalis Family Foundation

Pleasant Prairie, WI

The foundation supports Greek Orthodox religious institutions, Hellenic education and heritage, Greek American programs, and community services, primarily in Illinois, with grants also reported in New York and elsewhere. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $64,812, with a median of $2,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$572K

Grants

24

Total Given

$189K

Vranas Family Foundation

Lincolnwood, IL

The Vranas Family Foundation supports churches and Greek cultural and educational organizations, as well as other charitable and humanitarian causes. In 2025, its 16 grants ranged from $500 to $60,000, with a median of $5,000; most funding went to organizations in California and Illinois. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$907K

Grants

16

Total Given

$128K

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.

Assets

$594.3M

Grants

1

Total Given

$101.4M

Hellenic Foundation

Chicago, IL

The Hellenic Foundation funds nonprofit programs and projects benefiting Greek American and Orthodox Christian organizations, especially those preserving Greek language, culture, heritage, and religion in the Chicagoland area. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,092 to $64,153, with a median of $9,934. It accepts applications through an online form; the stated annual deadline is July 1, and the 2026 application period has ended.

Assets

$23.6M

Grants

29

Total Given

$400K

The John P Calamos Foundation

Naperville, IL

The foundation supports a varied range of charitable organizations, including cultural, educational, humanitarian, and Greek Orthodox organizations. In 2025, it made 13 grants totaling $999,600; the median award was $10,000, with grants ranging from $100 to $650,000. Most funding went to Illinois, followed by New York and Washington, D.C.; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$56.5M

Grants

13

Total Given

$1000K

The Catranis Family Charitable

Mobile, AL

The Catranis Family Charitable supports Alabama organizations working in areas including health, food assistance, education, and community services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $50,000, with a median of $10,000; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.6M

Grants

14

Total Given

$225K

More similar funders

More Funders in Illinois

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Gianaras Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gianaras-foundation-morg_b536956a3d104578b1a83298097dad45

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363283901_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Gianaras Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/gianaras-foundation-morg_b536956a3d104578b1a83298097dad45},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Gianaras Foundation'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.

Gianaras Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?