Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation
The Howard and Raina Ruskin Family is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Illinois. It reported making 17 grants totaling $57,455 in 2024, supporting organizations and scholarships in areas including community and civic affairs, education, and the arts.
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation gave $57K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $57,455
- -29.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- -22.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $3,380
- -8.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,800
- Total assets
- $1,666,405
- +9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (79% 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 Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1360 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 828-3209
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish United Fund ($20K). Together the top 10 received $51K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 120 grants of 120 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Other recipient states were Florida (7%), Pennsylvania (4%), Ohio (4%), and California (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) 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 $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $640 first-time, $3K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 72% 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 (2020–2024). 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 $57K (2024) to $105K (2020). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $57K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Community Organizations and Civic Affairs | $20,000 |
| Ravinia Highland Park, IL | Community Organizations and Civic Affairs | $7,500 |
| Briarwood Scholarship Foundation Deerfield, IL | Education | $6,525 |
| University of Illinois-Chicago-Sama Chicago, IL | Education - Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Muhlenberg College-X Cruz Allentown, PA | Education - Scholarships | $2,500 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $2,500 |
| Oberlin College-K Williams Oberlin, OH | Education - Scholarships | $2,500 |
| Soka University of America-A Medina Aliso Viejo, CA | Education - Scholarships | $2,500 |
| Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | Community Organizations and Civic Affairs | $1,800 |
| University of Illinois-Chicago-M Pa Champaign, IL | Education - Scholarships | $1,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation?
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 | $1,666,405 | $15,760 | $61,296 | $57,455 | 17 | $57,455 | $58,449 | $79,525 |
| 2023 | $1,526,849 | $94,209 | $82,564 | $81,530 | 22 | $81,530 | $59,209 | $69,995 |
| 2022 | $1,349,030 | $78,021 | $96,505 | $96,475 | 24 | $96,475 | $78,021 | $68,476 |
| 2021 | $1,475,746 | $78,144 | $79,897 | $77,420 | 25 | $77,420 | $78,144 | $67,915 |
| 2020 | $1,351,654 | $79,375 | $108,589 | $105,350 | 32 | — | $79,375 | $1,685 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $80K 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 grants included support for community organizations and civic affairs, education and scholarships, and opera. The Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, which received $20,000, says it provides food, refuge, health care, education, and emergency assistance through a network of agencies, schools, and programs. Palm Beach Opera, which received $1,000, says it produces live opera, offers educational programs, and trains opera performers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $57,455. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $20,000, with a median of $1,800.
Notable 2024 grants included $20,000 to Jewish United Fund in Chicago; $7,500 to Ravinia in an individual recipient; $6,525 to Briarwood Scholarship Foundation in Deerfield; and $5,000 to the University of Illinois-Chicago-Sama for scholarships. Other scholarship grants included $2,500 each to Muhlenberg College-X Cruz, North Park College-Yesenia Patino, Oberlin College-K Williams, and Soka University of America-A Medina.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Raina Ruskin as president and Julie Schultz and Paula Gorelik as directors.
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation is led by Raina Ruskin, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Raina Ruskin
President
Vice President-Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Julie Schultz
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paula Gorelik
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Howard Ruskin (2020–2023) — President
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 Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation
How much does Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation give each year?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation gave $57K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $82K across 22 grants.
What is Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,800, and its average grant was $3,380, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation give grants?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants), West Palm Beach, FL (3 grants), Deerfield, IL (2 grants) and Champaign, IL (2 grants).
Does Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education - Scholarships" (7 grants) and "Community Organizations and Civic Affairs" (6 grants).
Who are Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish United Fund ($20,000), Ravinia ($7,500) and Briarwood Scholarship Foundation ($6,525), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($2,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $57K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $80K (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 Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for community organizations and civic affairs, education and scholarships, and opera. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's EIN?
Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4455356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Howard and Raina Ruskin 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 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 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/howard-and-raina-ruskin-family-foundation-morg_9cf3e3cb75a24f819fe25c5ab8a981f3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364455356_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Howard and Raina Ruskin Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/howard-and-raina-ruskin-family-foundation-morg_9cf3e3cb75a24f819fe25c5ab8a981f3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Howard and Raina Ruskin 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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