Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation

HIGHLAND PARK, IL EIN: 36-3480084

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

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

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

17states
+9 more states

Cities

AlbanyAstoriaBostonBrooklynCathedral CityCedarhurstChicagoDallasDearbornDeerfieldDelray BeachEvanstonFrazier ParkGlencoeGlenviewHigh PoiintHighland ParkHinesIrvingKankakee

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$40K$79K$119K$159K201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$26K$52K$78K$103K42 grants201939 grants202046 grants202127 grants202240 grants202350 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ISRAELNOW$21KCENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL$10KNATIONAL MS SOCIETY$8KBRIARWOOD SCHOLARSHIP FO…$7KCOLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNIT…$6KJET - JEWISH EDUCATION T…$5KISRAELNOW EDUCATION FOUN…$4KJCC CHICAGO$4KJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS…$4KNORTH SHORE CONGREGATION$3K

Grant Size Distribution

202 grants across all recorded years

201<$50K1$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

TERI HEYDENDIRECTOR/TREASURER$5KLINDA ALLENASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT$5KTODD HEYDENVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR$5KJAMIE ROBINVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR$5K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
TERI HEYDENDIRECTOR/TREASURER2$5,000
LINDA ALLENASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT3$5,000
TODD HEYDENVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR3$5,000
SHARON KAUFMANVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR2
JAMIE ROBINVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR3$5,000

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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