Polen Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HIGHLAND PARK, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 35 grants totaling $141K. Net investment income was $48K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.3M
+19.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$141K
+11.7% YoY
Grant Count
35
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+11.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Polen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Polen Family Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Polen Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HIGHLAND PARK, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 35 grants totaling $141K. Net investment income was $48K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,277,891 | $1,074,158 | $880,806 |
| Revenue | $353,050 | $329,533 | $314,546 |
| Expenses | $149,317 | $136,181 | $98,386 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $140,700 | $126,000 | $92,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $47,983 | $25,642 | $20,305 |
| Distributable Amount | $62,903 | $48,440 | $35,716 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
172 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Shirly Ryan Abilitylab ($25,000), Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation ($12,700), Catholic Charities ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL SPORT CENTER FOR THE DISABLED NORTHFIELD, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| AMERICA'S VETDOGS SMITHTOWN, NY | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
| ASPEN VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION ASPEN, CO | CHARITABLE | $12,700 |
| CANCER WELLNESS CENTER NORTHBROOK, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES CAROL STREAM, IL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDEN GLENCOE, IL | CHARITABLE | $1,500 |
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BROOKFIELD, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| COLLEGE BOARD OPPORTUNITIES HIGHLAND PARK, IL | CHARITABLE | $1,000 |
| DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDWARD POLEN | PRES/SEC/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| TAMRA POLEN | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| BERNARD A SCHLIFKE | ASST SECY/DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Polen Family Foundation?
Polen Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in HIGHLAND PARK, IL. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Polen Family Foundation?
As of 2024, Polen Family Foundation holds $1.3M in total assets with $353K in annual revenue. It awarded 35 grants totaling $141K in 2024.
Where does Polen Family Foundation operate?
Polen Family Foundation has awarded grants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia.
What size grants does Polen Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Polen Family Foundation awarded 35 grants totaling $141K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Polen Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Polen Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $63K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Polen Family Foundation's EIN?
Polen Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3970463. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Polen Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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