Kovler Family Foundation
The Kovler Family Foundation is a private foundation established in November 1967 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status, making grants to nonprofit organizations primarily in the Chicago area.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.6M
-4.0% YoY
Grant Count
191
-1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$29K
-3.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's stated purpose is to support giving primarily for:
- Arts and cultural affairs
- Education
- Medical research, particularly diabetes research
- Children and youth services
- Health and medical research
- Social services
- Jewish organizations
- Civic affairs
Grantmaking
The foundation made 178 grants in 2023. Types of support include general operating support and project support.
Review Cycle
are mid-November to be considered for the current year.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Chicago, Illinois area.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $34.6 million
- Revenue: $4.66 million
- Expenses: $6.78 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $35,325,473
- Total Revenues: $1,939,888
- Total Expenses: $6,980,589
The foundation has zero employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | $38,195,342 |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Invest For Kids Inc ($175,000), US Holocaust Memorial Museum ($55,500), Joffrey Ballet ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Wynnewood, PA | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $28,000 |
| After School Matters Chicago, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $2,000 |
| DayOne PACT Lisle, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $1,000 |
| Big Brothers - Big Sisters of Metro Chicago, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $2,500 |
| Boys Girls Club of Chicago Chicago, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $2,000 |
| Camp of Dreams Chicago, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $5,000 |
| Camp Penuel Ironton, MO | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $2,000 |
| Challenge Aspen Snowmass Village, CO | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $1,000 |
| Chicago Children's Advocacy Center Chicago, IL | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $10,000 |
| Dragonfly Foundation Chicago Cincinnati, OH | Children's Welfare-To aid in achieving the exempt purpose of the various donee organizations. | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The trustees of the Kovler Family Foundation are:
- Jonathan Kovler
- Benjamin Kovler
- Sally M Kovler
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Kovler | Pres/CB/Dir | 35 | $129,000 |
| Benjamin Kovler | Tr/Mng/Dir | 15 | $20,000 |
| Sally M Kovler | Secretary/Dir | 5 | — |
| Molly B Kovler | Ast Secretary | 35 | $100 |
| Casey Benjamin | Ast Secretary | 35 | $100 |
Contact Information
Address: 875 N Michigan Ave Ste 3400, Chicago, IL 60611-1958
Telephone: 312-664-5050
EIN: 36-6152744
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Kovler Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's stated purpose is to support giving primarily for: • Arts and cultural affairs • Education • Medical research, particularly diabetes research • Children and youth services • Health and medical research • Social services • Jewish organizations • Civic affairs
How do I apply for a grant from Kovler Family Foundation?
The foundation made 178 grants in 2023. Types of support include general operating support and project support. **Recent Grant Activity (2023):** • Chicago Parks Foundation: $1,500,000 (including donation of Berkshire Hathaway stock) • The University of Chicago: $1,087,277 (including donation of Berkshire Hathaway stock) • Prostate Cancer Foundation: $225,000 **Application Process:** Application submission deadlines are mid-November to be considered for the current year.
Where does Kovler Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations in the Chicago, Illinois area.
What size grants does Kovler Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Kovler Family Foundation awarded 191 grants totaling $5.6M — an average of about $29K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Kovler Family Foundation's EIN?
Kovler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6152744. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kovler 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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