Handelsman Family Foundation
The Handelsman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Glencoe, Illinois. It reported 11 grants totaling $28,979 in 2025, supporting charitable organizations including local cultural, health, educational, and animal-welfare organizations.
Handelsman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Handelsman Family Foundation gave $29K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,979
- +44.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,634
- +57.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $649
- Total assets
- $13,388
- -40.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Handelsman Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 823 Greenleaf Ave, Glencoe, IL 60022-1323
Phone: (847) 835-1440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Handelsman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Botanic Garden ($11K). Together the top 10 received $29K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 70 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Illinois 98%, Wisconsin 2%, and New York 1%. The grants included 10 Illinois recipients, one Wisconsin recipient, and one New York recipient?
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Handelsman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $600 repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2024) to $141K (2019). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $29K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL | General Fund | $11,000 |
| NorthShore Hospitals Foundation Evanston, IL | General Fund | $10,000 |
| Am Shalom Glencoe, IL | General Fund | $3,600 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Fund | $1,100 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation Glenview, IL | General Fund | $750 |
| Friends of Glencoe Public Library Glencoe, IL | General Fund | $649 |
| Orphans of the Storm Deerfield, IL | General Fund | $600 |
| International Crane Foundation Baraboo, WI | General Fund | $500 |
| PAWS Chicago Chicago, IL | General Fund | $300 |
| The Glencoe Historical Society Glencoe, IL | General Fund | $300 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13,388 | $20,011 | $28,989 | $28,979 | 11 | $28,979 | $11 | $1,078 |
| 2024 | $22,366 | $130 | $20,065 | $20,030 | 12 | $20,030 | $130 | $1,576 |
| 2023 | $42,301 | $60,112 | $21,554 | $21,539 | 13 | $21,539 | $112 | $1,296 |
| 2022 | $3,743 | $20,013 | $21,466 | $21,415 | 15 | $21,415 | $13 | $494 |
| 2021 | $5,196 | $35,001 | $35,560 | $33,935 | 19 | $35,375 | — | $642 |
| 2020 | $5,755 | $37,504 | $26,200 | $24,585 | 15 | — | — | $668 |
| 2019 | — | $140,049 | $142,560 | $141,025 | 19 | — | — | $1,285 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Handelsman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes cultural institutions, health care, education, animal welfare, and conservation. For example, Evans Scholars Foundation describes its work as providing scholarships and educational opportunities for caddies; Orphans of the Storm describes its work as animal shelter operations and pet adoption; and the International Crane Foundation says it is committed to a world where cranes, people, and natural heritage thrive together. PAWS Chicago describes itself as a no-kill animal welfare organization providing spay/neuter, medical, and adoption programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $28,979 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $180 to $11,000, with a median grant of $649. Its largest grants were $11,000 to Chicago Botanic Garden and $10,000 to NorthShore Hospitals Foundation, both for general funds. Other grants included $3,600 to Am Shalom, $1,100 to the Art Institute of Chicago, and $750 to Evans Scholars Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists:
- Harold S Handelsman — President, Treasurer, Secretary
- Catherine S Handelsman — Vice President
- Neil E Cass co Harold Handelsman — Assistant
- Alexandra Zoric co Harold Handelsma — Director
Handelsman Family Foundation is led by Harold S Handelsman, President, Treasurer & Secrtry on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Harold S Handelsman
President, Treasurer & Secrtry
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Zoric co Harold Handelsma
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Catherine S Handelsman
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neil E Cass co Harold Handelsman
Assistant
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Handelsman Family Foundation
How much does Handelsman Family Foundation give each year?
Handelsman Family Foundation gave $29K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $20K across 12 grants.
What is Handelsman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Handelsman Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $649, and its average grant was $2,634, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Handelsman Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Handelsman Family Foundation give grants?
Handelsman Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Glencoe, IL (4 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Handelsman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Handelsman Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Handelsman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Handelsman Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Botanic Garden ($11,000), NorthShore Hospitals Foundation ($10,000) and Am Shalom ($3,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 85% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Handelsman Family Foundation?
Handelsman Family Foundation reported $13K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $29K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Handelsman Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work includes cultural institutions, health care, education, animal welfare, and conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Handelsman Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Handelsman Family Foundation's EIN?
Handelsman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4450484. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Handelsman Family 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 4, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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