Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Arlington Heights, IL EIN: 36-3795280

The Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation is a private foundation based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its 2025 filing records grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Illinois.

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation at a glance

In short: Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation gave $300K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$300,000
+0.0% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
15
+0.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$20,000
+0.0% vs 2024
Median grant
$22,000
Total assets
$7,885,314
-2.0% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Illinois (89% 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 Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Contact

Mailing address: 3405 N Kennicott Ave C-3, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: (623) 223-0371

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

A Safe Haven Foundation: $22KA Safe Haven Foundation$22KAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital: $22KAnn & Robert H LurieChildren's Hospital$22KChristian Appalachian Project: $22KChristian Appalachian Project$22KElim Christian Services: $22KElim Christian Services$22KHephzibah Children's Association: $22KHephzibah Children'sAssociation$22KKeshet: $22KKeshet$22KLambs Farm: $22KLambs Farm$22KMisericordia Heart of Mercy: $22KMisericordia Heart of Mercy$22KThe Ark of Chicago: $22KThe Ark of Chicago$22KThe Cradle Foundation: $22KThe Cradle Foundation$22K

The largest 2025 recipient was A Safe Haven Foundation ($22K). Together the top 10 received $220K.

Grant Size Distribution

83 grants across all recorded years

83<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 7% to Kentucky, and 4% to New York.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoEvanstonGurneeHagerhillLibertyvilleNew YorkNorthbrookOak ParkPalos HeightsMemphisPhoenix

Is Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation open to new grantees?

0%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count

  • 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−11%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K19 grants2020 19 grants2021 19 grants2022 15 grants2023 15 grants2024 15 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $270K (2023) to $338K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $300K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
A Safe Haven Foundation Chicago, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital Chicago, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Christian Appalachian Project Hagerhill, KYUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Elim Christian Services Palos Heights, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Hephzibah Children's Association Oak Park, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Keshet Northbrook, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Lambs Farm Libertyville, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
Misericordia Heart of Mercy Chicago, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
The Ark of Chicago Chicago, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
The Cradle Foundation Evanston, ILUnrestricted Contribution$22,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$7,885,314$437,054$590,742$300,00015$474,774$321,087$500,702
2024$8,042,547$450,514$595,086$300,00015$477,037$332,467$463,680
2023$8,189,077$436,534$584,012$270,00015$452,331$316,968$441,220
2022$8,359,164$748,117$646,236$338,00019$524,890$626,771$493,363
2021$8,278,843$406,249$625,114$318,20119$498,883$287,155$503,507
2020$8,495,576$804,253$600,188$300,00019—$685,856$484,811

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $501K 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

The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose own descriptions cover services for children and families, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and people in Appalachia. For example, Hephzibah Children’s Association describes its work as child welfare services, including group home care, foster care, and daycare; Keshet describes programs for people with disabilities; and A Safe Haven describes support for people transitioning from homelessness to self-sufficiency. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $300,000. Grant amounts ranged from $12,000 to $22,000, with a median of $22,000. The listed grants were designated as unrestricted contributions. Recipients of $22,000 grants included A Safe Haven Foundation, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Christian Appalachian Project, Elim Christian Services, Hephzibah Children’s Association, Keshet, Lambs Farm, Misericordia Heart of Mercy, The Ark of Chicago, The Cradle Foundation, and Zacharias Center. Marillac St. Vincent Family Services and Second Sense received $17,000 each.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Floyd D. Perkins and Brian Burns as directors, Glen Berman as treasurer/secretary, and Sheila Burns as executive director.

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation is led by Sheila Burns, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Sheila Burns

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    29 hrs/week

    $88K (2020) → $120K (2025)

  • Brian Burns

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    $15K (2020) → $20K (2025)

  • Floyd D. Perkins

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    4 hrs/week

    $10K (2020) → $5K (2025)

  • Glen Berman

    Treasurer & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    8 hrs/week

    $62K (2020) → $60K (2025)

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Sheila Burns — Executive Director: $120KSheila BurnsExecutive Director$120KGlen Berman — Treasurer/Secretary: $60KGlen BermanTreasurer/Secretary$60KBrian Burns — Director: $20KBrian BurnsDirector$20KFloyd D Perkins — Director: $5KFloyd D PerkinsDirector$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Sheila Burns (Executive Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation

How much does Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation give each year?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation gave $300K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $300K across 15 grants.

What is Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's typical grant size?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,000, and its average grant was $20,000, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation give grants?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).

Does Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's largest grantees?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include A Safe Haven Foundation ($22,000), Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital ($22,000) and Christian Appalachian Project ($22,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation reported $7.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $475K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $501K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation fund?

The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose own descriptions cover services for children and families, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and people in Appalachia. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds 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 Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's EIN?

Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3795280. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Does Marvin and Kay Lichtman 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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 24, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 26, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/marvin-and-kay-lichtman-foundation-morg_34b82ae97f4b49eeaacee50d162d4e79

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363795280_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Marvin and Kay Lichtman Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/marvin-and-kay-lichtman-foundation-morg_34b82ae97f4b49eeaacee50d162d4e79},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Marvin and Kay Lichtman 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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