Paul Liebman Family Foundation
The Paul Liebman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois (EIN 81-4563334). It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Paul Liebman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Paul Liebman Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 46 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), top state Oregon. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,595,000
- +11.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 46
- +24.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,674
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $46,934,350
- +19.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Oregon (40% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Paul Liebman Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 333 W Wacker Drive 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 156-7333
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Paul Liebman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Green Empowerment ($100K). Together the top 10 received $785K.
Grant Size Distribution
110 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 110 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in multiple states. The largest shares went to Oregon (40%), Minnesota (14%), New York (13%), Illinois (11%), and New Jersey (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 46 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Paul Liebman Family Foundation gives
- 52% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 1176% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 72% 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 (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 $57K (2021) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 46 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Green Empowerment Portland, OR | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Greenwood Project Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| National Regional Defense Council (NRDC) New York, NY | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| One Simple Wish Trenton, NJ | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| Save the Boundary Waters ELY, MN | General Purposes | $100,000 |
| CASA for Children Inc (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Portland, OR | General Purposes | $75,000 |
| Children's Healing Art Project Hillsboro, OR | General Purposes | $60,000 |
| Adirondack Mountain Club Lake Placid, NY | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Churches United in Ministry (Chum) Duluth, MN | General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Colorectal Cancer Alliance Washington, DC | General Purposes | $50,000 |
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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 | $46,934,350 | $9,820,238 | $2,175,210 | $1,595,000 | 46 | $1,672,714 | $2,298,638 | $2,332,248 |
| 2024 | $39,289,322 | $9,082,530 | $1,892,755 | $1,425,000 | 37 | $1,460,015 | $1,621,075 | $1,798,620 |
| 2023 | $32,099,547 | $20,890,310 | $565,127 | $390,000 | 11 | $396,000 | $398,137 | $1,043,563 |
| 2022 | $10,685,538 | $6,958,627 | $189,521 | $125,000 | 10 | $133,000 | $39,028 | $353,420 |
| 2021 | $3,916,432 | $298,842 | $117,202 | $57,000 | 6 | $57,015 | $238,655 | $221,249 |
| 2020 | $3,734,792 | $136,715 | $256,694 | $213,500 | 6 | — | $97,036 | $191,906 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Paul Liebman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.3M 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 filing does not state a mission. Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of activities: Green Empowerment says it works with local partners worldwide to deliver renewable energy and safe water; the Adirondack Mountain Club describes its work as conservation, preservation, and responsible recreation in New York’s forest preserve and other wild lands and waters. Greenwood Project says it creates financial-services career pathways for Black and Latino college students, while Reading Power describes a literacy tutoring program for elementary-school students.
Other 2025 grantees include One Simple Wish, which says it supports children impacted by foster care, abuse, and neglect; Path Home, which says it helps homeless families with children obtain and maintain housing; and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, which describes work in prevention, research, and cancer-care support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 46 grants totaling $1,595,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest grants included $100,000 each to Green Empowerment, Greenwood Project, NRDC, One Simple Wish, and Save the Boundary Waters. Other notable grants included $75,000 to CASA for Children Inc. and $60,000 to Children’s Healing Art Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Louis S. Harrison as president and director, and Peter Liebman as secretary and director. The directors listed are Katherine LeSueur, Henry LeSueur, Nicholas Chase Edgerton, Constance Edgerton, and Meredith Freshley.
Paul Liebman Family Foundation is led by Louis S. Harrison, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Louis S. Harrison
President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Liebman
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Constance Edgerton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Henry Lesueur
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Katherine Lesueur
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nicholas Chase Edgerton
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Meredith Freshley
Director
On filings since 2022
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.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Frequently asked questions about Paul Liebman Family Foundation
How much does Paul Liebman Family Foundation give each year?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation gave $1.6M across 46 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.4M across 37 grants.
What is Paul Liebman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $34,674, across 46 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Paul Liebman Family Foundation give grants?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation's top state is Oregon, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Minnesota (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (18 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Duluth, MN (3 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Paul Liebman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Paul Liebman Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (46 of 46) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Paul Liebman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Green Empowerment ($100,000), Greenwood Project ($100,000) and National Regional Defense Council (NRDC) ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Paul Liebman Family Foundation?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation reported $46.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.3M (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 Paul Liebman Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing does not state a mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Paul Liebman Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it 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 Paul Liebman Family Foundation's EIN?
Paul Liebman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4563334. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Paul Liebman Family Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 5, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 20, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Paul Liebman Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Paul Liebman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/paul-liebman-family-foundation-morg_85c040c03f56407892645128f9c046a8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814563334_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Paul Liebman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/paul-liebman-family-foundation-morg_85c040c03f56407892645128f9c046a8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Paul Liebman Family 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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