Norman & Elaine Polsky Family
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family is a private foundation based in Overland Park, Kansas. Its 2025 filing reports 37 grants totaling $170,000; its stated award restriction is that recipients must be tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family at a glance
In short: Norman & Elaine Polsky Family gave $170K across 37 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), top state Kansas. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $170,000
- -23.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 37
- -9.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,595
- -15.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $2,724,487
- +4.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (5 of 36, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (36% 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 Norman & Elaine Polsky Family
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its filing requests a brief letter describing the requesting organization’s general nature, goals, and purpose. The stated restriction is that the organization must be tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).
- Review Cycle
- Submit by December 31 for a request for funds for the next calendar year.
- Deadline
- Submit by December 31 for a request for funds for the next calendar year.
- Contact
Application contact: Renee Polsky Silver
Mailing address: 12222 Beverly Street, Overland Park, KS 66209
Phone: (913) 378-4411
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Norman & Elaine Polsky Family funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charities Aid Foundation of America ($47K). Together the top 10 received $105K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($11,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
180 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 180 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas (36%), Virginia (28%), California (19%), Missouri (10%), and Tennessee (2%). Its largest listed grant went to an organization in Virginia; several of its other largest grants went to organizations in Overland Park, Kansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Norman & Elaine Polsky Family open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 36 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 81% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $139K (2021) to $222K (2024). In 2025 it made 37 grants totaling $170K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Aid Foundation of America Alexandria, VA | Provide Grants to Charitable Organizations | $47,000 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City Overland Park, KS | Religious, educational and charitable purpose of tax exempt organizationreligious, educational and charitable purpose of tax exempt organization | $10,500 |
| Jewish Community Foundation Overland Park, KS | To promote the practice of tzedakah (charity) and the pursuit of tikkum olam (repairing the world) by serving as the advocate for planned giving and the central resource for personalized charitable funds for individuals, families and organizations in the community. | $10,000 |
| Congregation Beth Shalom Overland Park, KS | Religious, educational and charitable purpose of tax exempt organization | $9,500 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $11,000 |
| Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City Overland Park, KS | Jewish Chaplaincy Program and Food Pantry | $6,000 |
| Burns Recovered Support Group St. Louis, MO | Missouri Children's Burn Camp | $5,000 |
| Judaism Alivejewish Rock Radio Ballwin, MO | Public jewish radioreligious, educational and charitable purpose of tax exempt organization | $5,000 |
| Jordan Thomas Foundation Brentwood, TN | To provide children affected by limb loss with the prostheses they need throughout childhood and adolescence and serving as a caring resource, advocate and support system for these children and their parents | $4,000 |
| Oasis Legal Services Berkeley, CA | Provide quality legal immigration services to under-represented low-income groups with a focus on lgbtqia+ communities | $4,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Norman & Elaine Polsky Family?
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 | $2,724,487 | $314,234 | $200,253 | $170,000 | 37 | $170,000 | $285,531 | $209,122 |
| 2024 | $2,610,506 | $165,832 | $249,959 | $222,000 | 41 | $222,000 | $137,873 | $199,076 |
| 2023 | $2,694,633 | $4,713 | $168,986 | $145,000 | 31 | $145,000 | $48,329 | $174,683 |
| 2022 | $2,858,906 | $116,530 | $245,164 | $213,000 | 40 | $213,000 | $89,862 | $177,748 |
| 2021 | $2,992,540 | $332,401 | $165,320 | $139,000 | 31 | $139,000 | $304,582 | $198,562 |
| 2020 | $2,820,459 | $94,089 | $236,375 | $212,500 | 37 | — | $69,680 | $169,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Norman & Elaine Polsky Family reported a distributable amount of $209K 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 available filing information does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City describes its mission as sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world. An individual recipient Hebrew Academy describes itself as a K–12 community Jewish day school supporting students’ emotional, spiritual, academic, and physical growth.
Other 2025 grantees describe work beyond Jewish community services. Oasis Legal Services says it provides culturally responsive legal representation and social services to low-income LGBTQ+ immigrants who have survived violence or persecution. Burns Recovered Support Group says it assists burn survivors, supports medical facilities providing burn care in Missouri, and educates the public about burn awareness and prevention. The Jordan Thomas Foundation says it provides prostheses to children and adolescents and supports their families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 37 grants totaling $170,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $47,000, with a median of $3,000.
The largest 2025 grant listed was $47,000 to Charities Aid Foundation of America, for grants to charitable organizations. Other notable grants included $10,500 to Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, $10,000 to Jewish Community Foundation, $9,500 to Congregation Beth Shalom, and $8,000 to an individual recipient Hebrew Academy. The foundation also awarded $6,000 to Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City for its chaplaincy program and food pantry, and $5,000 each to Burns Recovered Support Group and Judaism Alive/Jewish Rock Radio.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists these co-trustees: Jennifer Polsky Salazar, Ellen Ginsburg Polsky, Karen Polsky Kent, Steven Polsky, Autumn Kent Desimone, Renee Polsky Silver, Joseph Polsky, Larry Silver, Mark Oliver, and Magnus Grimmett.
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's 2025 filing lists 10 officers; none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Autumn Kent Desimone
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Ginsburg Polsky
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Polsky Salazar
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Polsky
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Polsky Kent
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Larry Silver
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Magnus Grimmett
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Oliver
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee Polsky Silver
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Polsky
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Adrian Salazar (2020–2024) — Co-Trustee
- Former: Laurence Polsky (2020–2022) — Co-Trustee
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 Norman & Elaine Polsky Family
How much does Norman & Elaine Polsky Family give each year?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family gave $170K across 37 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $222K across 41 grants.
What is Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's typical grant size?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $4,595, across 37 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Norman & Elaine Polsky Family that year got $3K on average.
Where does Norman & Elaine Polsky Family give grants?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's top state is Kansas, with 36% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (28%) and California (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Overland Park, KS (11 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants), Berkeley, CA (2 grants) and Kansas City, MO (2 grants).
Does Norman & Elaine Polsky Family give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's largest grantees?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's largest 2025 grantees include Charities Aid Foundation of America ($47,000), Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City ($10,500) and Jewish Community Foundation ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($11,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Norman & Elaine Polsky Family?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $170K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $209K (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 Norman & Elaine Polsky Family fund?
The available filing information does not state a separate mission for the foundation. Its grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City describes its mission as sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Norman & Elaine Polsky Family?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's EIN?
Norman & Elaine Polsky Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1232337. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Norman & Elaine Polsky Family accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 March 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Norman & Elaine Polsky Family funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/norman-and-elaine-polsky-family-morg_e4fce7a63b874afd88c33f3b42dac9e2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_481232337_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Norman \& Elaine Polsky Family funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/norman-and-elaine-polsky-family-morg_e4fce7a63b874afd88c33f3b42dac9e2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Norman & Elaine Polsky Family'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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