Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker CHICAGO, IL EIN: 83-1467844

The Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc is a private foundation that provides philanthropic support to charitable organizations. The foundation has been identified as a grantmaker to educational and scholarship-focused nonprofits.

Key facts about Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc

EIN
83-1467844
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$164,089
Grants made (2024)
60
Average grant
$2,735
Median grant
$500
New grantees (estimate)
45% first-time grantees (27 of 60, 2024)
Total assets
$693,502
Primary geography
Illinois (81% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc's 60 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (81%), New York (11%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (20 grants), New York, NY (6 grants), Highland Park, IL (5 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants). None of its 60 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (20 grants), "Medical" (18 grants) and "Civic" (16 grants).

Is Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

45%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 27 of 60 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $500 repeat.

  • 43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 54% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 384% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$694K

-18.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$164K

-3.2% YoY

Grant Count

60

+17.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$3K

-17.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $43K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Grantmaking

The foundation has made grants to educational institutions and scholarship programs. Documented grant activity includes:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Illinois, with grants made to organizations located in the state.

Grant Distribution by State

20states

Share of all 60 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoHighland ParkNew YorkWashingtonEvanstonGlencoeNorthbrookDes PlainesInglesideNew York CityNormalBedfordMadisonMonroviaSkokieBethesdaBostonGlenviewLos AngelesNorth Barrington

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$414K$828K$1M$2M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$693,502$853,745$1,040,099
Revenue$39,273$17,879$37,358
Expenses$199,516$204,233$236,852
Qualifying Distributions$164,089$169,536$199,369
Net Investment Income$17,035$5,661$11,392
Distributable Amount$42,741$47,048$56,259

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$91K$181K$272K$362K37 grants202045 grants202146 grants202251 grants202360 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Am Shalom: $41KAm Shalom$41KJewish United Fund: $17KJewish United Fund$17KBayit Brigade America: $15KBayit Brigade America$15KAmerican Jewish Committe - Jacob Blaustein Building: $12KAmerican Jewish Committe -Jacob Blaustein Building$12KHope Chicago: $10KHope Chicago$10KUs Holocaust Memorial Museum: $10KUs Holocaust Memorial Museum$10KThe Art Center of Highland Park: $8KThe Art Center of HighlandPark$8KClearbrook: $7KClearbrook$7KArts of Life: $5KArts of Life$5KNorthwestern University - Pritzker School of Law: $5KNorthwestern University -Pritzker School of Law$5K

Grant Size Distribution

239 grants across all recorded years

234<$50K4$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Am Shalom ($41,311), Jewish United Fund ($16,500), Bayit Brigade America ($15,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
AM SHALOM GLENCOE, ILRELIGIOUS$41,311
JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO, ILCIVIC$16,500
BAYIT BRIGADE AMERICA CHICAGO, ILCIVIC$15,000
AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTE - JACOB BLAUSTEIN BUILDING NEW YORK, NYRELIGIOUS$12,000
HOPE CHICAGO CHICAGO, ILEDUCATIONAL$10,000
US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DCEDUCATIONAL$9,500
THE ART CENTER OF HIGHLAND PARK HIGHLAND PARK, ILEDUCATIONAL$7,957
CLEARBROOK ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, ILCIVIC$6,600
ARTS OF LIFE CHICAGO, ILEDUCATIONAL$5,000
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY - PRITZKER SCHOOL OF LAW CHICAGO, ILEDUCATIONAL$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Gary I LevensteinDirector, Chair, Secretary. Treasurer2.5—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for a grant from Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc?

The foundation has made grants to educational institutions and scholarship programs. Documented grant activity includes: • A grant to Biltmore Country Club Scholarship Foundation (North Barrington, Illinois) for general purpose support The foundation appears to support organizations focused on scholarships and student financial aid services.

Where does Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation has demonstrated funding activity in Illinois, with grants made to organizations located in the state.

What size grants does Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc awarded 60 grants totaling $164K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $43K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc's EIN?

Jerrold Ruskin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1467844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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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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