Polk Family Charitable Fund
The Polk Family Charitable Fund is a private foundation established in 1984 and based in Palatine, Illinois. The organization operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking across the United States and Canada.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$235K
-0.1% YoY
Grant Count
68
-6.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+7.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Polk Family Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $174K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for higher education and human services. The organization does not specify particular subject areas of focus beyond these primary areas, indicating a potentially broad philanthropic mission within these categories.
Grantmaking
The Polk Family Charitable Fund is an active grantmaker with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
approximately $14,000
Average Grant
approximately $14,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports diverse communities across the United States and Canada, with funding activity documented in multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Major cities receiving support include New York, Chicago, and Toronto, as well as smaller communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of August 2023):
- Total assets: $1,759,412
- Total revenues: $127,788
- Total expenses: $256,733
- Investment income and dividends: $109,751
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $18,037
Staffing:
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- EIN: 36-3332896
- Tax-exempt since January 1985
- IRS filing requirement: Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,742,861 | $1,759,412 | $1,884,357 |
| Revenue | $231,986 | $127,788 | $346,683 |
| Expenses | $248,757 | $256,733 | $249,820 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $239,774 | $239,645 | $240,475 |
| Net Investment Income | $223,016 | $101,639 | $337,759 |
| Distributable Amount | $174,245 | $167,289 | $170,534 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wild Bear Nature Center ($40,000), Wellesley College ($17,500), Friends of Israel Defense Forces ($17,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A SAFE PLACE ZION, IL | GRANT AWARD | $300 |
| AMERICAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GRANT AWARD | $12,500 |
| ASPIRITECH NFP HIGHLAND PARK, IL | GRANT AWARD | $300 |
| ATKINSON MEMORIAL CHURCH OREGON CITY, OR | GRANT AWARD | $500 |
| AUTISTIC KIDS FOUNDATION GLENVIEW, IL | GRANT AWARD | $1,750 |
| BOULDER COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION BOULDER, CO | GRANT AWARD | $1,000 |
| CANADIAN OPERA CO INC BUFFALO, NY | GRANT AWARD | $3,000 |
| CANCER WELLNESS CENTER NORTHBROOK, IL | GRANT AWARD | $1,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN GLENCOE, IL | GRANT AWARD | $10,125 |
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GRANT AWARD | $2,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The fund is managed by a board of directors and key personnel, including:
- Bruce R. Bachmann
- Edward M. Polk
- Ellen P. Multack
These individuals serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRUCE R BACHMANN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| EDWARD M POLK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LINDA E CUTLER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| SANDRA P GUTHMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| HOWARD J POLK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEFFRY A LEWIS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JEFFREY A POLK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| BARBARA P MILSTEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DR TRAVIS M POLK LT MC USN USN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELLEN P MULTACK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| E RICHARD POLK | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Polk Family Charitable Fund fund?
The foundation gives primarily for higher education and human services. The organization does not specify particular subject areas of focus beyond these primary areas, indicating a potentially broad philanthropic mission within these categories.
How do I apply for a grant from Polk Family Charitable Fund?
The Polk Family Charitable Fund is an active grantmaker with the following characteristics: **Grant Activity:** • Made 64 grants in the most recent reporting year • Total giving of approximately $235,000–$236,000 annually • Typical award range: $250–$40,000 • Average grant size: approximately $14,000 • Median grant size information available but not specified in sources **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN): $40,000 • Wellesley College: $17,500 • Chicago B…
Where does Polk Family Charitable Fund make grants?
The foundation supports diverse communities across the United States and Canada, with funding activity documented in multiple states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Major cities receiving support include New York, Chicago, and Toronto, as well as smaller communities.
What size grants does Polk Family Charitable Fund award?
In 2024, Polk Family Charitable Fund awarded 68 grants totaling $235K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Polk Family Charitable Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Polk Family Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $174K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Polk Family Charitable Fund's EIN?
Polk Family Charitable Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3332896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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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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