Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation logo

Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-6857384 Website

The Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1986 and located in Chicago, Illinois. It holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and operates as an independent grantmaking foundation.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

Annual Giving

$397K

+10.9% YoY

Grant Count

58

+9.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$7K

+1.3% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation primarily funds unrestricted charitable gifts and supports several specific initiatives including:

  • Women's board education department
  • Women's board scholarship
  • Bowen Scholarship Fund
  • Summer of a Lifetime program

Grantmaking

The foundation provides both unrestricted charitable gifts and support for specific programs and scholarships.

Grant Range

approximately $6,200

Average Grant

approximately $6,200

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AmericusArlingtonAtlantaBerkeleyBooneBoulderBozemanBrattleboroCHICAGOCaledoniaChciagoChicagoClaremontDenverEVANSTONEvanstonGlencoeGlenviewKenilworthLittle Rock

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Data (2024):

  • Total assets: $4,877,210
  • Total giving: $396,500
  • Revenue: $225,000
  • Expenses: $458,000
  • Total liabilities: $0

Prior Year Data (2023):

  • Total assets: $5,110,023
  • Total revenues: $118,120
  • Total expenses: $410,196
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$99K$198K$297K$397K50 grants202051 grants202156 grants202253 grants202358 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Greater Chicago Food Dep…$24KGiffords Law Center to P…$15KGreater Chicago Food Dep…$15KKenilworth Union Church$15KSarah's Circle$15KShirley Ryan AbilityLab …$15KArt Institute of Chicago$10KChicago Symphony Orchestra$10KFRIENDS OF KAFIKA HOUSE$10KHabitat for Humanity Int…$10K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

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

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Greater Chicago Food Depository ($24,000), Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violen ($15,000), Greater Chicago Food Depository ($15,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Alzheimer's Association Chicago, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$1,500
American Red Cross Boone, IAUnrestricted Charitable Gift$5,000
Angelic Organics Learning Center Inc Caledonia, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$3,000
Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, ILWomen's Board Education Department$10,000
Bay City News Foundation Berkeley, CAUnrestricted Charitable Gift$3,000
Bozeman Public School Foundation Bozeman, MTUnrestricted Charitable Gift$3,000
C J Jung Center Evanston, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$5,000
Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$1,500
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Chicago, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$5,000
Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago, ILUnrestricted Charitable Gift$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Katherine L Olson - Trustee (Part-Time)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KATHERINE L OLSONTRUSTEE- PART-TIME

Contact Information

  • Address: Robbins, 180 N Stetson Ave Ste 2550, Chicago, IL 60601
  • Phone: 312-609-1100
  • EIN: 36-6857384
  • Tax-exempt since: June 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation fund?

The foundation primarily funds unrestricted charitable gifts and supports several specific initiatives including: • Women's board education department • Women's board scholarship • Bowen Scholarship Fund • Summer of a Lifetime program

How do I apply for a grant from Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Made 50 grants in 2023, totaling $231,500 • Made 56 grants in another recent year, totaling $346,800 • Average grant size: approximately $6,200 • Median grant size: $5,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • Kenilworth Union Church ($15,000) • Giffords Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence ($15,000) • Shirley Ryan AbilityLab ($15,000) • Sarah's Circle The foundation provides both unrestricted charitable gifts and support for specific programs and scholarships.

What size grants does Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation award?

In 2024, Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $397K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation's EIN?

Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6857384. 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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