Lesnik Charitable Foundation
The Lesnik Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported 11 grants totaling $133,667 to charitable organizations, with recipients in Illinois and four other states. The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Lesnik Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Lesnik Charitable Foundation gave $134K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $133,667
- -5.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -26.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,152
- +29.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $872,955
- +43.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (74% 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 Lesnik Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 500 Skokie Blvd 444, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 480-4862
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lesnik Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Evans Scholars Foundation ($42K). Together the top 10 received $132K.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 81 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining shares were reported for Rhode Island (15%), Florida (6%), Hawaii (4%), and New York (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lesnik Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 82% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 376% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $111K (2020) to $227K (2023). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $134K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Evans Scholars Foundation Glenview, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $41,667 |
| The First Tee of Chicago Chicago, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $25,000 |
| American Psychological Association Division of Independent Practice Warwick, RI | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $20,000 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $20,000 |
| Jupiter Medical Center Foundation Jupiter, FL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $7,500 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu Honolulu, HI | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $5,000 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $5,000 |
| Chicago Police Foundation Chicago, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $2,500 |
| Crohns & Colitis Foundation New York, NY | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $2,500 |
| Old Elm Scholarship Foundation Highland Park, IL | Support General Charitable Operations of the Organization | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Lesnik Charitable 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 | $872,955 | $404,337 | $138,476 | $133,667 | 11 | $133,667 | $48,370 | $35,536 |
| 2024 | $607,094 | $24,551 | $147,626 | $141,166 | 15 | $141,166 | $20,971 | $37,766 |
| 2023 | $730,169 | $105,988 | $241,239 | $227,217 | 19 | $239,950 | $18,257 | $38,707 |
| 2022 | $865,420 | $969,313 | $149,848 | $147,250 | 19 | $147,250 | $6,849 | $24,871 |
| 2021 | $45,955 | $135,009 | $160,475 | $158,000 | 17 | $158,015 | $9 | $5,974 |
| 2020 | $71,421 | $125,005 | $112,906 | $110,534 | 22 | — | $5 | $3,300 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lesnik Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated missions include providing scholarships and educational opportunities for caddies (Evans Scholars Foundation), supporting food, refuge, health care, education, and emergency assistance (Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago), and advancing clinical excellence and quality of care (Jupiter Medical Center Foundation). Other 2025 grantees describe missions involving higher education, research and support for people affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, scholarships, and public safety.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 11 grants totaling $133,667. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $41,667, with a median grant of $5,000. The largest awards were $41,667 to Evans Scholars Foundation, $25,000 to The First Tee of Chicago, and $20,000 each to the American Psychological Association Division of Independent Practice and Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. Each grant was listed for support of the recipient organization’s general charitable operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Madeline S Lesnik and Steven H Lesnik as trustees.
Lesnik Charitable Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Madeline S. Lesnik
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven H. Lesnik
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Lesnik Charitable Foundation
How much does Lesnik Charitable Foundation give each year?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation gave $134K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $141K across 15 grants.
What is Lesnik Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,152, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lesnik Charitable Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Lesnik Charitable Foundation give grants?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Rhode Island (15%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants).
Does Lesnik Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lesnik Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lesnik Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Evans Scholars Foundation ($41,667), The First Tee of Chicago ($25,000) and American Psychological Association Division of Independent Practice ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lesnik Charitable Foundation?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation reported $873K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $134K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lesnik Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lesnik Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and 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 Lesnik Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Lesnik Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7293339. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lesnik Charitable 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lesnik Charitable Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lesnik Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lesnik Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lesnik-charitable-foundation-morg_0c912d4d30724835b57f0f1076ed6e3f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_367293339_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lesnik Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lesnik-charitable-foundation-morg_0c912d4d30724835b57f0f1076ed6e3f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Lesnik Charitable 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.
Lesnik Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?