Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation
The Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 46 grants totaling $89,566. Listed recipients include Jewish community organizations, educational organizations, and organizations working in areas such as health, cancer prevention, and scholarships.
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation at a glance
In short: Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation gave $90K across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Illinois. 70% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $89,566
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- -8.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,947
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $475
- Total assets
- $279,557
- -24.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (32 of 46, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2056 Windy Hill Lane, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 452-5646
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($27K). Together the top 10 received $73K.
Grant Size Distribution
209 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 209 grants of 209 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 8% to recipients in New York, and 4% to recipients in Washington, DC. Smaller shares went to recipients in Texas and California, at 2% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 32 of 46 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $397 repeat.
- 22% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 76% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 214% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2021) to $103K (2020). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $90K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $27,458 |
| Jet - Jewish Education Team Inc Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,500 |
| National Multiple Sclerosis Society Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $7,855 |
| Briarwood Scholarship Foundation Deerfield, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $6,650 |
| Central Fund of Israel Cedarhurst, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington, DC | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,500 |
| JCC of Chicago Northbrook, IL | Women's Board | $3,370 |
| Lake Forest Country Day School Lake Forest, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,187 |
| College Bound Opportunities Riverwoods, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,900 |
| North Shore Congregation Israel Glencoe, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,165 |
Ready to take the next step with Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $279,557 | $42,859 | $134,213 | $89,566 | 46 | $119,199 | $28,705 | $55,587 |
| 2024 | $367,971 | $60,465 | $144,534 | $92,297 | 50 | $125,933 | $43,424 | $51,807 |
| 2023 | $453,604 | $49,173 | $82,103 | $43,767 | 40 | $68,828 | $36,963 | $51,648 |
| 2022 | $493,805 | $26,787 | $79,238 | $51,004 | 27 | $69,742 | $17,431 | $54,426 |
| 2021 | $544,073 | $20,794 | $78,647 | $42,254 | 46 | — | $10,090 | $54,668 |
| 2020 | $620,983 | $104,226 | $144,486 | $103,468 | 39 | — | $98,524 | $48,763 |
| 2019 | $655,319 | $73,942 | $100,846 | $42,401 | 42 | — | $59,696 | $49,787 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. For example, Jewish Education Team Inc. describes its mission as providing educational, social, and travel programs for Jewish college students and young professionals. Briarwood Scholarship Foundation says it provides need- and merit-based educational scholarships to caddies, employees, and employees’ children. College Bound Opportunities says it mentors and supports low-income, first-generation scholars working to graduate from college.
Other recipients describe work in health and research. Prep4Gold says it works to improve the cancer journey for children and families through prevention, research, education, and programs. The American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science says it raises funds for scientific research addressing areas including cancer, health, the environment, technology, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 46 grants totaling $89,566. Grants ranged from $77 to $27,458, with a median grant of $475.
The largest reported grants included $27,458 to Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, $10,500 to Jewish Education Team Inc., $7,855 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and $6,650 to Briarwood Scholarship Foundation. Other recipients included Central Fund of Israel, which received $5,000, and College Bound Opportunities, which received $2,900.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Teri Heyden as director and treasurer; Linda Allen as assistant vice president; Todd Heyden as vice president and director; Sharon Kaufman as vice president and director; and Jamie Robin as vice president and director.
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jamie Robin
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Teri Heyden
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Todd Heyden
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Sharon Kaufman
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Allen
Assistant Vice President
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$5K (2019) → $5K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Teri Heyden (Director/Treasurer). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation
How much does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation give each year?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation gave $90K across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $92K across 50 grants.
What is Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's typical grant size?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $475, and its average grant was $1,947, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation give grants?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Deerfield, IL (4 grants) and Northbrook, IL (4 grants).
Does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's largest grantees?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($27,458), Jet - Jewish Education Team Inc ($10,500) and National Multiple Sclerosis Society ($7,855), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation?
Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation reported $280K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $119K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation fund?
No formal mission statement is provided in the available information. The 2025 grants show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/leon-and-sharon-kaufman-foundation-morg_f8334d7984db41f198b55aca62bc0419
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363480084_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/leon-and-sharon-kaufman-foundation-morg_f8334d7984db41f198b55aca62bc0419},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Leon and Sharon Kaufman Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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