Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation
The Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Established in 1987, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization classified as a private grantmaking foundation. The foundation maintains a modest asset base and distributes grants to charitable organizations across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$368K
-18.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$92K
+110.9% YoY
Grant Count
50
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+68.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports a diverse range of causes including education, human services, and Jewish philanthropic organizations. Primary funding areas include general charitable purposes, with particular emphasis on Jewish community organizations and educational initiatives.
Grantmaking
The Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity demonstrating consistent philanthropic engagement.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and California, with a concentration of grantmaking activity in the Illinois region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year Ending September 2024):
- Total Assets: $367,971
- Total Revenues: $60,465
- Total Expenses: $144,534
- Total Giving: $92,297
- Investment Income and Dividends: $20,485
Historical Context (Fiscal Year Ending September 2023):
- Total Assets: $454,000
- Total Revenues: $49,200
- Total Expenses: $82,100
The foundation maintains modest but stable assets and demonstrates consistent annual grantmaking activity. Investment income represents a significant portion of the foundation's revenue stream.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $367,971 | $453,604 | $493,805 |
| Revenue | $60,465 | $49,173 | $26,787 |
| Expenses | $144,534 | $82,103 | $79,238 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $125,933 | $68,828 | $69,742 |
| Net Investment Income | $43,424 | $36,963 | $17,431 |
| Distributable Amount | $51,807 | $51,648 | $54,426 |
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
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Israelnow ($20,700), Central Fund of Israel ($10,000), National Ms Society ($8,186).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZEIMERS ASSOC MILWAUKEE, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $137 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGAN DAVID ADOM NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $500 |
| BRIARWOOD SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION DEERFIELD, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $6,700 |
| CAMP KIDS ARE KIDS CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $283 |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN GLENCOE, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $463 |
| COLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNITIES RIVERWOODS, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $5,550 |
| EB RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $82 |
| FEED ISRAEL FOUNDATION TORRANCE, CA | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $500 |
| GRATITUDE GENERATION NICKISUTHERL IL DEERFIELD, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GIFT | $206 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TERI HEYDEN | DIRECTOR/TREASURER | 2 | $5,000 |
| LINDA ALLEN | ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT | 3 | $5,000 |
| TODD HEYDEN | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 3 | $5,000 |
| SHARON KAUFMAN | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAMIE ROBIN | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 3 | $5,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports a diverse range of causes including education, human services, and Jewish philanthropic organizations. Primary funding areas include general charitable purposes, with particular emphasis on Jewish community organizations and educational initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation?
The Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation is an active grantmaker with recent grant activity demonstrating consistent philanthropic engagement. **Grant Activity:** • In fiscal year 2024, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $92,297 • Typical grant awards range from $26 to $21,310 • Recent grantees include Central Fund of Israel ($10,000), College Bound Opportunities ($5,550), and Jet-Jewish Education Team ($5,000) • The foundation also supports the Jewish United Fund and similar organizations **…
Where does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, New York, and California, with a concentration of grantmaking activity in the Illinois region.
What size grants does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation award?
In 2024, Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $92K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $52K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's EIN?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3480084. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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