The Kaufman Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Kenilworth, Illinois. Established in 2018, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.9M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$624K
-15.5% YoY
Grant Count
34
+17.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-27.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kaufman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $262K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Arts and Creative Writing
- Historic Buildings
- Journalism
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Kaufman Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- New York
- Montana
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,876,456 |
| Total Revenue | $715,000 |
| Total Expenses | $663,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
| Total Giving | $624,000 |
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and consistent annual giving activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,876,456 | $4,824,791 | $4,144,036 |
| Revenue | $714,549 | $1,479,911 | $1,404,247 |
| Expenses | $662,884 | $799,156 | $244,102 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $627,175 | $738,100 | $232,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $465,643 | $1,237,533 | $1,273,274 |
| Distributable Amount | $262,267 | $203,740 | $176,133 |
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
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Old Town School of Folk Music ($160,000), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($120,000), The University of Chicago ($70,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ATHENAEUM CENTER CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $37,500 |
| CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $120,000 |
| GLENCOE PTO GLENCOE, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| HOWARD AREA AND EVANSTON COMMUNITY CENTER CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND (JUF) CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| MONTANA LAND RELIACE HELENA, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| NATIONAL PUBLIC HOUSING MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON GILL, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by family members:
- Kenneth Kaufman – President and Director (founder; chair and managing director of Kaufman Hall, a health care consulting firm)
- Barbara Kaufman – Director, Vice President & Treasurer
- Rebecca Kaufman – Director, Secretary
- Sara Kaufman Elsasser – Director, Assistant Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH KAUFMAN | DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| BARBARA KAUFMAN | DIRECTOR, VP & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| REBECCA KAUFMAN | DIRECTOR, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| SARA KAUFMAN ELSASSER | DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kaufman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Creative Writing • Historic Buildings • Journalism
How do I apply for a grant from Kaufman Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $624,000 (2024) • Typical award range: $1,000–$160,000 • The foundation distributes grants primarily to nonprofit organizations aligned with its focus areas **Financial Position:** • Total assets: $4,876,456 (2024) • Total expenses: $663,000 (2024) • Total revenue: $715,000 (2024)
Where does Kaufman Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • New York • Montana
What size grants does Kaufman Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Kaufman Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $624K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Kaufman Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Kaufman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $262K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Kaufman Family Foundation's EIN?
Kaufman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-4077901. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kaufman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
RHS Foundation
MOLINE, IL
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
37
Total Given
$342K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Kaufman Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Kaufman Family Foundation to a real strategy.