Harper Court Arts Council Inc
Harper Court Arts Council Inc is a Chicago, Illinois funder that filed Form 990-PF (a private foundation). Its 2023 filing reports 20 grants totaling $119,000, all to recipients in Illinois.
Key facts about Harper Court Arts Council Inc
In short: Harper Court Arts Council Inc gave $119K across 20 grants in 2023 (avg $6K), mostly in Illinois. 50% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-3689943
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023
- Annual giving (2023)
- $119,000
- Grants made (2023)
- 20
- Average grant
- $5,950
- Median grant
- $3,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (10 of 20, 2023; small sample)
- Total assets
- $3,103,884
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The filing directs applicants to see the organization’s website for submission deadlines.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2023 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
+4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$119K
-25.6% YoY
Grant Count
20
+81.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-59.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harper Court Arts Council Inc reported a distributable amount of $148K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Harper Court Arts Council Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 10 of 20 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2020 to 2023 (−17%). Method
- In 2023 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants support organizations working in arts, cultural, youth, and neighborhood programs. For example, Hyde Park Art Center says its purpose is to sustain visual arts in Chicago, while Hyde Park School of Dance says it provides dance study, performance, and creation opportunities for students of all ages. Hyde Park Neighborhood Club describes its work as providing enriching activities and community for families and schools. The Experimental Station says it fosters innovative educational and cultural initiatives.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $119,000. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $10,000, with a median of $3,750.
Among the 2023 grants were $10,000 each to Court Theatre Fund for a high school theatre program; Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange for recycled materials for arts education programs; Hyde Park Art Center for its programs; Hyde Park Jazz Festival for the neighborhood festival; Hyde Park Neighborhood Club for youth programs; Hyde Park School of Dance for its neighborhood dance program; and The Experimental Station to support connections across diverse and historically divided neighborhoods. Hyde Park Youth Symphony received $9,500 for its youth music program, and South East Chicago Commission received $5,000 for neighborhood economic and community development.
Review Cycle
The filing directs applicants to see the organization’s website for submission deadlines.
How to Apply
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It requires a written proposal of no more than five pages describing the organization’s history, purpose, activities, need for support, the Hyde Park/Kenwood Park population served, and—if applicable—how the project will promote economic development. The proposal must also explain how the project will address the stated need. Required attachments are a grant application cover sheet; a uniform organizational operating and project budget; a list of current and projected funders of the organization and project; a board-member list with affiliations; the organization’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter; its most recent audit and Form 990; and a staff list with qualifications. The filing excludes requests to influence legislation or support a candidate for public office, purchases of dinner or raffle tickets or event-program advertising, and grants to individuals.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2023 grant dollars went to Illinois recipients. The listed 2023 grantees are based in Chicago, except Definition Theatre Company, which is listed in Skokie, Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $119K (2023) to $160K (2022). In 2023 it made 20 grants totaling $119K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Court Theatre Fund ($10K). Together the top 10 received $89K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Court Theatre Fund Chicago, IL | Support high school theatre program | $10,000 |
| Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange Chicago, IL | Provides free and low cost recycled materials to arts education programs | $10,000 |
| Hyde Park Art Center Chicago, IL | Support Art Center programs | $10,000 |
| Hyde Park Jazz Festival Chicago, IL | Support neighborhood Jazz Fest | $10,000 |
| Hyde Park Neighborhood Club Chicago, IL | Support neighborhood youth programs | $10,000 |
| Hyde Park School of Dance Chicago, IL | Support neighborhood dance program | $10,000 |
| The Experimental Station Chicago, IL | Support bridge of diverse and historically divided neighborhoods | $10,000 |
| Hyde Park Youth Symphony Chicago, IL | Support youth music program | $9,500 |
| South East Chicago Commission Chicago, IL | Support neighborhood economic and community development | $5,000 |
| Nichols Park Advisory Chicago, IL | Support Parks | $4,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3,103,884 | $158,441 | $182,349 | $119,000 (20) |
| 2022 | $2,968,798 | $239,470 | $217,941 | $160,000 (11) |
| 2021 | $3,548,329 | $223,536 | $209,328 | $160,000 (11) |
| Metric | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,103,884 | $2,968,798 | $3,548,329 |
| Revenue | $158,441 | $239,470 | $223,536 |
| Expenses | $182,349 | $217,941 | $209,328 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $146,365 | $201,030 | $176,806 |
| Net Investment Income | $141,758 | $223,557 | $203,607 |
| Distributable Amount | $147,570 | $157,377 | $169,618 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2023 filing lists Addison D Braendel as President; Barbara Koenen as Secretary; Jacob Rosenbacher, Marlies Carruth, Nathan Decety, Nika Levando, and Paula Jones as Directors; Kenneth Grant as Vice President; and Mary Anton as Treasurer.
Harper Court Arts Council Inc is led by Addison D Braendel, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
Addison D Braendel
President
Vice President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marlies Carruth
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paula R Jones
Director
Acting President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Rosenbacher
Director
New on the 2023 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nathan Decety
Director
New on the 2023 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nika Levando
Director
New on the 2023 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Anton
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $0 (2023)
Barbara Koenen
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Grant
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Georgene Pavelac (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Katherine Collins (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rian Walker (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Charles Thurow (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $1K, to Mary Anton (Treasurer).
Contact
Application contact: Paula Jones President
Mailing address: 1525 E 53Rd Street, Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: (773) 363-8282
Website: https://www.harpercourt.com
Frequently asked questions about Harper Court Arts Council Inc
How much does Harper Court Arts Council Inc give each year?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc gave $119K across 20 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $160K across 11 grants.
What is Harper Court Arts Council Inc's typical grant size?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc's median grant in 2023 was $3,750, and its average grant was $5,950, across 20 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harper Court Arts Council Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does Harper Court Arts Council Inc give grants?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (20 grants).
Does Harper Court Arts Council Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Harper Court Arts Council Inc's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support neighborhood economic and community development" (7 grants).
Who are Harper Court Arts Council Inc's largest grantees?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc's largest 2023 grantees include Court Theatre Fund ($10,000), Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange ($10,000) and Hyde Park Art Center ($10,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
How large is Harper Court Arts Council Inc?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $146K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $148K (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 does Harper Court Arts Council Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2023 grants support organizations working in arts, cultural, youth, and neighborhood programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harper Court Arts Council Inc?
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harper Court Arts Council Inc's EIN?
Harper Court Arts Council Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3689943. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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