Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust
The Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Evanston, Illinois. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2025 filing says it contributes only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust gave $71K across 81 grants in 2025 (avg $874.074), mostly in Illinois. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $70,800
- +10.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 81
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $874
- +14.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $452,783
- -3.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (22 of 79, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (78% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 601 Linden Place 400, Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: (847) 492-8208
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was CNPA ($10K). Together the top 10 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
402 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 402 grants of 402 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois recipients received 78% of grant dollars. Other reported recipient-state shares were New York, 6%; Colorado, 4%; and the District of Columbia and Maryland, 2% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 22 of 79 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $829. How we count
Medians: $415 first-time, $250 repeat.
- 43% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2021) to $98K (2020). In 2025 it made 81 grants totaling $71K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CNPA Chicago, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| CNPA Foundation Chicago, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Bounce Childrens Foundation Deerfield, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $7,500 |
| Chicago Sinai Chicago, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $4,070 |
| Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Assoc Evanston, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $4,000 |
| Field Museum Womens Board Chicago, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $2,250 |
| National Jewish Health Aspen, CO | General Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| Trees That Feed Foundation Winnetka, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| Lighthouse Preservation Fund Evanston, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
| McCormick Foundation Communities Match Chicago, IL | General Charitable Purpose | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust?
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 | $452,783 | $88,141 | $102,427 | $70,800 | 81 | $72,150 | $58,354 | $67,316 |
| 2024 | $467,069 | $66,370 | $92,924 | $64,090 | 84 | $65,090 | $39,351 | $63,265 |
| 2023 | $493,623 | $49,451 | $93,331 | $69,220 | 72 | $70,325 | $27,280 | $59,653 |
| 2022 | $537,503 | $51,236 | $82,518 | $59,560 | 72 | $60,700 | $26,190 | $60,708 |
| 2021 | $579,591 | $31,274 | $90,045 | $58,869 | 93 | $61,034 | $113 | $57,521 |
| 2020 | $632,639 | $289,154 | $120,221 | $98,080 | 93 | — | $267,028 | $50,670 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $67K for 2025 — 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 trust is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions involve children with chronic illnesses, community arts, youth employment, health care, and planting fruit trees in developing countries. For example, Bounce Children’s Foundation says it works to help chronically ill children and their loved ones thrive; Evanston Art Center says it enriches community life through arts education, appreciation, creation, and exhibition; and Youth Job Center says it connects young people ages 14–25 with careers through training, coaching, and employer partnerships.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust reported 81 grants totaling $70,800. Grants ranged from $50 to $10,000, with a median of $250. The largest listed awards were $10,000 each to CNPA and CNPA Foundation, both in Chicago, for general charitable purposes; $7,500 to Bounce Children’s Foundation in Deerfield; and $4,070 to Chicago Sinai. Other listed grants included $4,000 to Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association and $2,250 to Field Museum Women’s Board.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Peter Marks, Paul Marks, and Daniel Marks as trustees.
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Marks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Marks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Marks
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust
How much does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust give each year?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust gave $71K across 81 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $64K across 84 grants.
What is Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $250, and its average grant was $874, across 81 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust that year got $1K on average.
Where does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust give grants?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (24 grants), New York, NY (8 grants), Washington, DC (7 grants) and Evanston, IL (6 grants).
Does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (81 of 81) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include CNPA ($10,000), CNPA Foundation ($10,000) and Bounce Childrens Foundation ($7,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust reported $453K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose stated missions involve children with chronic illnesses, community arts, youth employment, health care, and planting fruit trees in developing countries. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust?
The trust does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's EIN?
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3620787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
The Allstate Foundation
Northbrook, IL
The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.
Assets
$89.3M
Grants
2,010
Total Given
$38.0M
Elks National Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL
The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$954.1M
Grants
1,536
Total Given
$36.5M
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL
The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.
Assets
$9.3B
Grants
1,086
Total Given
$356.1M
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
896
Total Given
$166.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ira-and-janina-marks-charitable-trust-morg_baab3621e9e549fa8f51b15b77dbf59f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363620787_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ira-and-janina-marks-charitable-trust-morg_baab3621e9e549fa8f51b15b77dbf59f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust'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.
Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?