Michael and Pamela Gordon Family
The Michael and Pamela Gordon Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and has been tax-exempt since May 2008.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$132K
-20.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$46K
-55.2% YoY
Grant Count
9
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-40.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Michael and Pamela Gordon Family reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Typical grant awards range from $150 to $50,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its funding to organizations in Illinois and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent available financial data:
- Total Assets: $132,438 (as of 2024)
- Total Giving: $46,367 (as of 2024)
- Total Assets: $167,000 (as of 2023)
- Total Expenses: $104,000 (as of 2023)
- Total Liabilities: $0 (as of 2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $132,438 | $167,398 | $281,028 |
| Revenue | $11,520 | $-10,017 | $16,852 |
| Expenses | $46,480 | $103,613 | $116,462 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $46,367 | $103,500 | $111,675 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,407 | $5,086 | $12,065 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,400 | $11,068 | $15,547 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include High Jump ($15,000), Horatio Alger Association of Canada ($8,367), Broadway Housing Communities ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| START EARLY CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO AREA RUNNERS ASSOCIATION CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $2,000 |
| TEMPLE SHOLOM OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $4,000 |
| HORATIO ALGER ASSOCIATION OF CANADA | UNRESTRICTED | $8,367 |
| BROADWAY HOUSING COMMUNITIES NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| AMERICA RED CROSS CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| HIGH JUMP CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAMELA FRANKSTON | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL A GORDON | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| BARBARA FRANKSTON | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: One South Dearborn, Sidley Austin, Chicago, IL 60603-2302
Telephone: 312-853-2217
EIN: 26-2291101
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Michael and Pamela Gordon Family?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. Typical grant awards range from $150 to $50,000. Recent grant activity includes a $2,000 unrestricted grant to the Chicago Area Runners Association in 2024.
Where does Michael and Pamela Gordon Family make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its funding to organizations in Illinois and New York.
What size grants does Michael and Pamela Gordon Family award?
In 2024, Michael and Pamela Gordon Family awarded 9 grants totaling $46K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Michael and Pamela Gordon Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Michael and Pamela Gordon Family reported a distributable amount of $8K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Michael and Pamela Gordon Family's EIN?
Michael and Pamela Gordon Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-2291101. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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