Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust
The Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1988 and based in Evanston, Illinois. As a family foundation, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with no employees. The trust functions as a grantmaking entity focused on general charitable purposes.
Key facts about Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust
- EIN
- 36-3620787
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $64,090
- Grants made (2024)
- 84
- Average grant
- $763
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $467,069
- Primary geography
- Illinois (78% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's 84 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (78%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (32 grants), Washington, DC (11 grants), New York, NY (8 grants) and Evanston, IL (5 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$467K
-5.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$64K
-7.4% YoY
Grant Count
84
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$762.976
-20.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust primarily funds general charitable purposes. Based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations working in Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The trust maintains an active grantmaking program. In 2024, the foundation made 93 grants totaling $64,090 in giving. Typical grant awards range from $25 to $15,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust's grantmaking extends across Illinois, the District of Columbia, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 84 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $467,069
- Total Revenues: $66,370
- Total Expenses: $92,924
- Total Giving: $64,090
The foundation maintains modest but consistent financial resources to support its grantmaking activities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $467,069 | $493,623 | $537,503 |
| Revenue | $66,370 | $49,451 | $51,236 |
| Expenses | $92,924 | $93,331 | $82,518 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $65,090 | $70,325 | $60,700 |
| Net Investment Income | $39,351 | $27,280 | $26,190 |
| Distributable Amount | $63,265 | $59,653 | $60,708 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
414 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Cnpa Foundation ($10,000), Bounce Childrens Foundation ($7,500), John O'brien Family Foundation ($6,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CNPA FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| BOUNCE CHILDRENS FOUNDATION DEERFIELD, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $7,500 |
| JOHN O'BRIEN FAMILY FOUNDATION SKOKIE, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $6,000 |
| CHICAGO SINAI CONGREGATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $3,875 |
| FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,600 |
| MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,500 |
| LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION FUND EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,500 |
| EVANSTON ART CENTER EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,500 |
| YOUTH JOB CENTER EVANSTON, IL | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Peter Marks is listed as the contact person for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER MARKS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PAUL MARKS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DANIEL MARKS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust fund?
The trust primarily funds general charitable purposes. Based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports organizations working in Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust?
The trust maintains an active grantmaking program. In 2024, the foundation made 93 grants totaling $64,090 in giving. Typical grant awards range from $25 to $15,000. Recent grantees have included: • CNPA Foundation ($10,000) • The John W O'Brien Family Foundation ($6,000) • Field Museum of Natural History ($2,600) The foundation also supports other charitable foundations, including the Janina Marks Charitable Foundation.
Where does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust's grantmaking extends across Illinois, the District of Columbia, and New York.
What size grants does Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust awarded 84 grants totaling $64K — an average of about $762.976 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $63K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ira and Janina Marks Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.