Meyer and Raena Hammerman
Meyer and Raena Hammerman is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants to charitable organizations, with grant purposes reported as operating programs.
Meyer and Raena Hammerman at a glance
In short: Meyer and Raena Hammerman gave $68K across 116 grants in 2025 (avg $586.207), mostly in Illinois. 4% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $68,000
- +0.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 116
- -10.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $586
- +12.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $378,336
- +6.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (5 of 116, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (51% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Meyer and Raena Hammerman
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5431 N Glenwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (773) 574-8353
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Meyer and Raena Hammerman funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Foundation Fighting Blindness ($4K). Together the top 10 received $22K.
Grant Size Distribution
535 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 535 grants of 535 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois received 51% of grant dollars, followed by the District of Columbia at 12%, New York at 9%, Maryland at 8%, and California at 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 116 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Meyer and Raena Hammerman open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 116 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $410; repeat grants $594. How we count
Medians: $300 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 240% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 265% 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 $20K (2022) to $80K (2021). In 2025 it made 116 grants totaling $68K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Fighting Blindness Columbia, MD | Operating Programs | $3,834 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $3,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $3,000 |
| Penny Possible Foundation Northbrook, IL | Operating Programs | $2,833 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | Operating Programs | $2,166 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $1,689 |
| Americares Stamford, CT | Operating Programs | $1,667 |
| Harvard Club of Chicago Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $1,500 |
| Cancer Research Foundation Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $1,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | Operating Programs | $1,000 |
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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 | $378,336 | $112,574 | $90,348 | $68,000 | 116 | $77,557 | $101,934 | $29,245 |
| 2024 | $356,110 | $164,077 | $88,852 | $67,500 | 129 | $77,001 | $152,430 | $30,874 |
| 2023 | $275,415 | $49,199 | $37,506 | $20,000 | 102 | $27,959 | $39,852 | $30,648 |
| 2022 | $263,722 | $19,186 | $40,098 | $20,000 | 93 | $29,123 | $8,807 | $29,242 |
| 2021 | $284,634 | $45,023 | $87,226 | $79,920 | 95 | — | $31,104 | $29,271 |
| 2020 | $326,702 | $30,858 | $26,108 | $20,070 | 66 | — | $17,810 | $26,671 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Meyer and Raena Hammerman reported a distributable amount of $29K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. The grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Foundation Fighting Blindness says its mission is to accelerate the translation of retinal research into clinical trials and patient therapies. Northern Illinois Food Bank says it provides meals and access to nutritious food through a network of pantries and programs, while Planned Parenthood of Illinois describes its work as providing and promoting reproductive health care, education, and rights.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 116 grants totaling $68,000. Grant amounts ranged from $40 to $3,834, with a median of $500. Notable grants included $3,834 to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, $3,000 each to the Art Institute of Chicago and Planned Parenthood of Illinois, and $2,833 to Penny Possible Foundation. Other grants included $2,166 to Northern Illinois Food Bank and $1,689 to Greater Chicago Food Depository.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Hammerman as president, treasurer, and director; Thomas N Hammerman as assistant secretary and director; Myrna L Hammerman as director; and Marlene E Libs as secretary.
Meyer and Raena Hammerman is led by Michael Hammerman, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Hammerman
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$13K (2022) → $13K (2025)
Myrna L. Hammerman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas N. Hammerman
Assistant Secretary & Director
Director → Assistant Secretary & Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marlene E. Libs
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Alan Hammerman (2020–2021) — President, Treasurer & Director
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $13K, to Michael Hammerman (President, Treasurer, Director).
Frequently asked questions about Meyer and Raena Hammerman
How much does Meyer and Raena Hammerman give each year?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman gave $68K across 116 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $68K across 129 grants.
What is Meyer and Raena Hammerman's typical grant size?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $586, across 116 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Meyer and Raena Hammerman that year got $410 on average.
Where does Meyer and Raena Hammerman give grants?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman gives mostly in Illinois: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (12%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (45 grants), Washington, DC (15 grants), New York, NY (12 grants) and Milwaukee, WI (3 grants).
Does Meyer and Raena Hammerman give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Meyer and Raena Hammerman's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (116 of 116) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Meyer and Raena Hammerman's largest grantees?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman's largest 2025 grantees include Foundation Fighting Blindness ($3,834), Art Institute of Chicago ($3,000) and Planned Parenthood of Illinois ($3,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Meyer and Raena Hammerman?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman reported $378K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $78K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $29K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Meyer and Raena Hammerman fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the Foundation Fighting Blindness says its mission is to accelerate the translation of retinal research into clinical trials and patient therapies. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Meyer and Raena Hammerman?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Meyer and Raena Hammerman's EIN?
Meyer and Raena Hammerman's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6085373. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Meyer and Raena Hammerman accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 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 October 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 18, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Meyer and Raena Hammerman funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/meyer-and-raena-hammerman-morg_5a031f74050f46f2abe442ccd55216ab
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366085373_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Meyer and Raena Hammerman funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/meyer-and-raena-hammerman-morg_5a031f74050f46f2abe442ccd55216ab},
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 Meyer and Raena Hammerman'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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