Invest for Kids Inc is a Chicago-based public charity that raises funds through an annual investment conference and awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving Chicago-area youth in low-income circumstances. The organization was formed in 2009.
Key facts about Invest for Kids Inc
In short: Invest for Kids Inc gave $1.7M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $135K), mostly in Illinois. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 27-0826182
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,749,100
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- Average grant
- $134,546
- Median grant
- $200,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (7 of 13, 2024)
- Total assets
- $719,279
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Next open deadline
- February 26, 2027 (Invest for Kids General Grant Program)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$719K
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
+4.2% YoY
Grant Count
13
-7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$135K
+12.2% YoY
Is Invest for Kids Inc open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 13 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $173K; repeat grants $90K. How we count
Medians: $200K first-time, $55K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds to benefit Chicago-area children’s charities through an annual conference featuring investment managers.
Its stated focus areas are education, mentoring, enrichment, college access and career readiness, health and physical fitness, and social services. It targets smaller Chicago-area nonprofits serving youth in low-income circumstances, generally with budgets of $1 million to $5 million.
Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the types of organizations supported. Camp for All Kids says it promotes racial and ethnic diversity by supporting youth from underrepresented backgrounds to attend overnight summer camp. Legal Prep Charter Academies says it prepares Chicago youth for college and life through a rigorous curriculum and high expectations. Great Lakes Academy says it prepares students for high school, college, and careers. Atlas Fellows says it opens access to finance careers for under-resourced young people. CareerSpring Foundation says it supports first-generation college students’ employment potential through career information, social capital, and job placement services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Invest for Kids reported 13 grants totaling $1,749,100. The reported grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $200,000, with a median of $200,000. The organization describes its average grant as $200,000.
Average Grant
as $200,000.
Review Cycle
of February 26, 2027.
How to Apply
includes initial screening, interviews with organization leadership, occasional site visits, and reference and fact checking. Applicants must serve Chicago-area youth in low-income circumstances, generally have had a budget of $1 million to $5 million in the last fiscal year, have existed for at least three years, and qualify as a 501(c)(3) charity. Charter schools authorized by the Chicago Board of Education or the State of Illinois may apply regardless of annual budget size. Prior grantees may apply again after a one-year waiting period. The website says the 2026 application cycle is closed; it states that 2026 grantees are to be announced in August and checks distributed in December. A grant-program listing gives a deadline of February 26, 2027.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Invest for Kids Inc
Ready to take the next step with Invest for Kids Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s stated focus is Chicago-area youth. In filing year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 1% to recipients in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2021) to $1.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Atlas Fellows Inc ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 37 grants of 76 (49%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Fellows Inc Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Camp For All Kids Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Chicago Eco HouseNehemiahGrp Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| College Possible Chicago Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Great Lakes Academy Inc Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Ingenuity Incorporated Chicag Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Legal Prep Charter Academies Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Metro Squash Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $200,000 |
| Chicago Scholars Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $73,600 |
| IL Network of Charter Schools Chicago, IL | To aid their exempt purpose | $35,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $719,279 | $2,186,831 | $2,169,325 | $1,749,100 (13 grants) |
| 2023 | $701,773 | $2,123,711 | $2,013,626 | $1,678,500 (14 grants) |
| 2022 | $591,688 | $2,013,591 | $2,271,396 | $1,935,500 (18 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $719,279 | $701,773 | $591,688 |
| Revenue | $2,186,831 | $2,123,711 | $2,013,591 |
| Expenses | $2,169,325 | $2,013,626 | $2,271,396 |
| Net Investment Income | $67,064 | $52,543 | $9,413 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 4, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Benjamin Kovler as CEO, treasurer, and secretary; Ronald S. Levin as president and director; and Brian T. Burke as CFO and director.
Invest for Kids Inc is led by Benjamin Kovler, CEO, Tr & Secretary since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Benjamin Kovler
CEO, Tr & Secretary
Executive Director, CEO, Tr & Secretary → CEO, Tr & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald S Levin
President & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian T Burke
CFO & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 875 N Michigan Ave Suite 3400, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 664-5050
Website: https://investforkidschicago.org
Frequently asked questions about Invest for Kids Inc
How much does Invest for Kids Inc give each year?
Invest for Kids Inc gave $1.7M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.7M across 14 grants.
What is Invest for Kids Inc's typical grant size?
Invest for Kids Inc's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $134,546, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Invest for Kids Inc that year got $173K on average.
Where does Invest for Kids Inc give grants?
Invest for Kids Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (12 grants).
Who are Invest for Kids Inc's largest grantees?
Invest for Kids Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Atlas Fellows Inc ($200,000), Camp For All Kids ($200,000) and Chicago Eco HouseNehemiahGrp ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Invest for Kids Inc?
Invest for Kids Inc reported $719K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does Invest for Kids Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to raise funds to benefit Chicago-area children’s charities through an annual conference featuring investment managers. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Invest for Kids Inc?
Invest for Kids Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check investforkidschicago.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Invest for Kids Inc's EIN?
Invest for Kids Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0826182. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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