Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $98K. Net investment income was $227K.
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char at a glance
In short: Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char gave $98K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $97,994
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,665
- +8.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,928,583
- +6.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boy Scouts of America ($81K). Together the top 3 received $98K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 15 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 95% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $90K (2024) to $106K (2022). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $98K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boy Scouts of America Rockford, IL | Program Support | $81,000 |
| Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois Rockford, IL | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Winnebago County Animal Services Rockford, IL | Program Support | $6,994 |
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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 | $1,928,583 | $240,223 | $124,931 | $97,994 | 3 | $110,200 | $227,492 | $116,403 |
| 2024 | $1,813,412 | $148,180 | $114,876 | $90,117 | 3 | $100,777 | $136,900 | $108,654 |
| 2023 | $1,780,487 | $142,294 | $122,488 | $100,919 | 3 | $111,211 | $129,997 | $100,409 |
| 2022 | $1,762,148 | $68,833 | $132,787 | $105,953 | 3 | $117,638 | $57,047 | $112,604 |
| 2021 | $1,826,403 | $133,060 | $118,445 | $95,023 | 3 | — | $120,671 | $117,616 |
| 2020 | $1,811,810 | $23,108 | $117,776 | $95,981 | 3 | — | $31,747 | $105,322 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char reported a distributable amount of $116K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's only listed officer is BMO Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2024 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
BMO Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
$21K (2024) → $24K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: BMO Harris Bank N A (2020–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $24K, to BMO Bank N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char
How much does Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char give each year?
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char gave $98K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $90K across 3 grants.
What is Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's typical grant size?
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $32,665, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char give grants?
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rockford, IL (3 grants).
Does Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (3 grants).
How large is Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char?
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $116K (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 Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's EIN?
Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3655481. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Harry and Dorothy Espenscheid Char funds
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