Hecktman Family Foundation
The Hecktman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations, including organizations working in areas such as children’s cancer care, music therapy, cardiac care, and Jewish community life.
Hecktman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Hecktman Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in Illinois. 59% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,074,749
- -24.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -15.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $63,221
- -11.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $508,758
- -60.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (10 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (86% 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 Hecktman Family 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: 5 Revere Drive Suite 430, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (312) 357-9400
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hecktman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Community Centers of Chicago ($467K). Together the top 10 received $1.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 86 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 6% to Massachusetts, 5% to New York, 1% to Washington, DC, and 1% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Hecktman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 17 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $122K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 137% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $454K (2021) to $1.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Centers of Chicago Lake Zurich, IL | General support day camp for children in treatment for cancer and their siblings at no cost to families | $466,986 |
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Music Therapy Program | $166,263 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support JUF Annual Campaign | $101,900 |
| Lurie Children's Foundation Chicago, IL | Cardiac Fetal Intervention Fund | $95,000 |
| Good Causes Albany, NY | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Harold Grinspoon Foundation Agawam, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT 4th and final installment of 200,000 pledge | $50,000 |
| Friends of Jewish La Paz Chicago, IL | General Support | $46,200 |
| Yuth Guidance Chicago, IL | General support youth guidance 2024 bright futures gala 25,000 less good and services of $200 | $24,800 |
| Impact Israel FKA Friends of Yemine Order Needham, MA | General Support | $15,000 |
| US Holocaust Museum Washington, DC | General Support | $15,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $508,758 | $294,075 | $1,083,020 | $1,074,749 | 17 | $1,077,174 | $290,229 | $52,410 |
| 2023 | $1,297,783 | $73,172 | $1,444,278 | $1,426,316 | 20 | $1,427,143 | $53,024 | $133,781 |
| 2022 | $2,717,821 | $1,125,357 | $1,163,323 | $1,141,750 | 20 | $1,156,462 | $644,329 | $139,274 |
| 2021 | $2,701,328 | $820,211 | $476,923 | $453,875 | 15 | $453,885 | $170,437 | $128,961 |
| 2020 | $2,356,402 | $952,777 | $601,554 | $588,274 | 14 | — | $352,557 | $82,599 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hecktman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a day camp for children in cancer treatment and their siblings, a music therapy program, a cardiac fetal intervention fund, and several Jewish organizations and causes.
Among its grantees, JCC Chicago describes its mission as “building community, supporting individuals and families, and growing hope through Jewish connections for everyone.” The Harold Grinspoon Foundation says it helps people connect to Jewish values, faith, traditions, and culture and build vibrant Jewish communities. Good Causes Inc describes itself as a nonprofit administration support agency providing payroll, benefits, and insurance management. These are grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $1,074,749. Grants ranged from $1,800 to $466,986, with a median of $15,000.
The largest 2024 grants included $466,986 to Jewish Community Centers of Chicago for general support of a no-cost day camp for children in cancer treatment and their siblings; $166,263 to the University of Chicago for a music therapy program; $101,900 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago for general support of its annual campaign; and $95,000 to Lurie Children’s Foundation for a cardiac fetal intervention fund. Other grants included $50,000 each to Good Causes and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, $46,200 to Friends of Jewish La Paz, $24,800 to Youth Guidance, and $15,000 each to Impact Israel and the US Holocaust Museum. The foundation also gave $12,000 to the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center and $10,000 to the Sholl-Freede Foundation for a restricted gift for the defense of democracies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jeffrey Hecktman as executive chairman of the board; Penny Hecktman as president and director; Candace Arnold as vice president, assistant secretary, and director; Hillary Behar as executive director, vice president, and secretary; Valerie Hecktman as vice president, assistant secretary, and director; Daniel Arnold and Alex Behar as assistant treasurers and directors; and Steven Spector as treasurer.
Hecktman Family Foundation is led by Hillary Behar, Executive Director, Vice President & Secretary since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Hillary Behar
Executive Director, Vice President & Secretary
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Executive Director, Vice President & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Penny Hecktman
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Hecktman
Executive Chairman of Board
Executive Board Chairman & Director → Executive Chairman of Board, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Behar
Assistant Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Candace Arnold
Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Arnold
Assistant Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Hecktman
Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director
Vice President, Secretary & Director → Vice President, Assistant Secretary & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Spector
Treasurer
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 Hecktman Family Foundation
How much does Hecktman Family Foundation give each year?
Hecktman Family Foundation gave $1.1M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.4M across 20 grants.
What is Hecktman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Hecktman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $63,221, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hecktman Family Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Hecktman Family Foundation give grants?
Hecktman Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 86% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (6%) and New York (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (6 grants) and Skokie, IL (2 grants).
Does Hecktman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Hecktman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Hecktman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Hecktman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Community Centers of Chicago ($466,986), The University of Chicago ($166,263) and Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($101,900), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hecktman Family Foundation?
Hecktman Family Foundation reported $509K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $52K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hecktman Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for a day camp for children in cancer treatment and their siblings, a music therapy program, a cardiac fetal intervention fund, and several Jewish organizations and causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hecktman Family 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 Hecktman Family Foundation's EIN?
Hecktman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0715390. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Hecktman 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Hecktman Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hecktman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hecktman-family-foundation-morg_0e420cc775564fbcb7ca177b61cceb80
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_870715390_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hecktman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hecktman-family-foundation-morg_0e420cc775564fbcb7ca177b61cceb80},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 Hecktman Family 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.
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