Jentes Family Foundation
The Jentes Family Foundation is a private, non-operating foundation established in 1987 and based in Chicago, Illinois. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the foundation makes grants to charitable organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.0M
+3.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$398K
-36.4% YoY
Grant Count
19
-29.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-9.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jentes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $540K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, youth, health, and the arts. According to available information, the foundation's giving "tends to be broad and follows the Jentes' personal interests." The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not maintain a website.
Recent grantmaking demonstrates particular support for arts and cultural organizations, including the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, 826 National, Grant Park Orchestral Association, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Facets Multi-Media.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 25 grants in 2024. Recent grant awards include:
Grant Range
is approximately $15,200, with an average grant size of approximately $21,900.
Average Grant
of approximately $21,900.
How to Apply
** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,013,247
- Total Revenues: $365,449
- Total Expenses: $517,896
- Total Giving: $397,607
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5,820,000
- Total Revenues: $201,115
- Total Expenses: $731,785
The foundation's revenue is primarily derived from investment income and dividends, along with gains from the sale of non-inventory assets.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,013,247 | $5,820,948 | $6,049,882 |
| Revenue | $365,449 | $201,115 | $-11,683 |
| Expenses | $517,896 | $731,785 | $870,520 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $401,814 | $631,500 | $752,140 |
| Net Investment Income | $238,466 | $157,661 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $540,128 | $467,723 | $516,701 |
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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hyde Park Art Center ($101,152), Bryn Mawr College ($74,882), Metropolitan Peace Academy ($20,943).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 826 CHI CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,014 |
| 826 NATIONAL SAN FRANCISCO, CA | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,898 |
| BRYN MAWR COLLEGE BRYN MAWR, PA | TO FURTHER PROGREM SERVICES | $74,882 |
| CABINET OF CURIOSITY OAK PARK, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $20,000 |
| CHICAGO READER CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $11,239 |
| DEBORAH'S PLACE CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $9,634 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NEW YORK, NY | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $16,056 |
| GREATER FOOD CHICAGO DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $11,253 |
| HYDE PARK ART CENTER CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $101,152 |
| INSTITUTE FOR NONVIOLENCE CHICAGO, IL | TO FURTHER PROGRAM SERVICES | $4,788 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- William R. Jentes — President, Treasurer, and Director. William is a lawyer who served as a principal litigating partner at Kirkland & Ellis, LLP for approximately four decades, acting as lead trial and appellate counsel. He serves on the board of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
- Janet Jentes — Co-founder. Janet has served on the board of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Justine O. Jentes — Director
- Donald G. Kempf Jr. — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM R JENTES | PRESIDENT/TREASURER/DIRECT | 1 | — |
| JUSTINE O JENTES | DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 55 E Pearson St Unit 4102, Chicago, IL 60611-2632
Telephone: 312-642-0006
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jentes Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, youth, health, and the arts. According to available information, the foundation's giving "tends to be broad and follows the Jentes' personal interests." The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not maintain a website. Recent grantmaking demonstrates particular support for arts and cultural organizations, including the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, 826 National, Grant Park Orchestral Associati…
How do I apply for a grant from Jentes Family Foundation?
The foundation made 25 grants in 2024. Recent grant awards include: • Hyde Park Art Center: $101,152 • Bryn Mawr College: $74,882 • 826 National: $20,898 Typical grant awards range from $209 to $101,152. The median grant size is approximately $15,200, with an average grant size of approximately $21,900. **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Where does Jentes Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Jentes Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Jentes Family Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $398K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Jentes Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jentes Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $540K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Jentes Family Foundation's EIN?
Jentes Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3566107. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Jentes Family Foundation'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.
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