Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation
The Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1983 as the Division Foundation, the organization operates as a grantmaking foundation with a focus on Jewish philanthropic causes and community initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.3M
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-21.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
+28.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$74K
-38.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish federated giving programs. Recent grant activity demonstrates support across Jewish community services, social services, education, and cultural institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations in Chicago and the metropolitan area, as well as international Jewish institutions and projects.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total assets: $14,768,437
- Total revenues: $738,549
- Total expenses: $2,001,775
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,329,716 | $14,768,437 | $15,900,869 |
| Revenue | $1,263,053 | $738,549 | $924,768 |
| Expenses | $1,647,392 | $2,001,775 | $1,467,838 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,337,556 | $1,692,545 | $1,092,562 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,026,826 | $497,441 | $622,567 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,209,559 | $1,162,148 | $1,218,835 |
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
81 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Council for Jewish Elderly ($300,000), University of Chicago ($250,000), Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | School of Social Service Administration | $250,000 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Fund for the Future-PJ Library | $100,000 |
| Council for Jewish Elderly Chicago, IL | Gidwitz Place | $300,000 |
| Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation Miami, FL | Neurodevelopmental Health Services | $25,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Annual Campaign | $200,000 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | Annual Campaign | $25,000 |
| Anti Defamation League Chicago, IL | Annual Campaign | $20,000 |
| DonorsChooseOrg New York, NY | General Use | $20,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | General Use | $50,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Israel Action Network | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees include Betsy Gidwitz, Kevin O'Keefe, and Richard Horwood.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BETSY GIDWITZ | President | — | — |
| RICHARD HORWOOD | Director | — | — |
| TERI GIDWITZ | Director | — | — |
| KEVIN O'KEEFE | Secretary | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 110 N Wacker Dr Ste 3300, Chicago, IL 60606-1513
Telephone: 312-541-7224
EIN: 36-3209007
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily to Jewish federated giving programs. Recent grant activity demonstrates support across Jewish community services, social services, education, and cultural institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation?
The foundation made 16 grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago: $500,000 (Israel Emergency Fund) • Council for Jewish Elderly (CJE): $290,000 (Gidwitz Place Renovation) • The University of Chicago: $250,000 (School of Social Service Administration) The foundation has also supported international Jewish cultural projects, including a $5-ton spinning granite sphere installation at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem, gifted through the Jewish Uni…
Where does Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations in Chicago and the metropolitan area, as well as international Jewish institutions and projects.
What size grants does Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation award?
In 2024, Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $74K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation's EIN?
Joseph L & Emily K Gidwitz Memorial Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3209007. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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