Polk Family Charitable Fund
The Polk Family Charitable Fund is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 72 grants totaling $274,850 to charitable organizations.
Polk Family Charitable Fund at a glance
In short: Polk Family Charitable Fund gave $275K across 72 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $274,850
- +16.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 72
- +5.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,817
- +10.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,100
- Total assets
- $1,597,623
- -8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (13 of 60, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (56% 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 Polk Family Charitable Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 675 N North Court Suite 450, Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: (312) 641-5765
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Polk Family Charitable Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American College of Surgeons Foundation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $126K.
Organizations only. It also paid 13 grants to individuals ($64,600), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
347 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 346 grants of 347 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (56%), Massachusetts (10%), and Colorado (10%). Arizona accounted for 5%; a further 6% was assigned to an unidentified state in the filing data.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Polk Family Charitable Fund open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 60 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+17%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 149% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $193K (2019) to $275K (2025). In 2025 it made 72 grants totaling $275K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 8 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $62,300 |
| American College of Surgeons Foundation Chicago, IL | Grant Award | $20,000 |
| Friends of Israel Defense Forces Chicago, IL | Grant Award | $20,000 |
| Wellesley College Wellesley, MA | Grant Award | $20,000 |
| Royal Ontario Museum Foundation | Grant Award | $14,000 |
| Colorado Gives Foundation Arvada, CO | Grant Award | $14,000 |
| Ort America Northbrook, IL | Grant Award | $9,000 |
| Suffolk University Boston, MA | Grant Award | $8,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Association Highland Park, IL | Grant Award | $7,500 |
| School Alternatives Portland, OR | Grant Award | $7,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Polk Family Charitable Fund?
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 | $1,597,623 | $152,635 | $293,653 | $274,850 | 72 | $282,628 | $139,895 | $189,493 |
| 2024 | $1,742,861 | $231,986 | $248,757 | $235,334 | 68 | $239,774 | $223,016 | $174,245 |
| 2023 | $1,759,412 | $127,788 | $256,733 | $235,525 | 73 | $239,645 | $101,639 | $167,289 |
| 2022 | $1,884,357 | $346,683 | $249,820 | $235,850 | 64 | $240,475 | $337,759 | $170,534 |
| 2021 | $1,787,494 | $77,677 | $190,993 | $229,625 | 70 | — | $94,529 | $159,635 |
| 2020 | $1,900,810 | $97,334 | $209,026 | $193,250 | 68 | — | $111,144 | $133,927 |
| 2019 | $2,012,502 | $119,696 | $211,380 | $192,600 | 68 | — | $111,451 | $133,874 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Polk Family Charitable Fund reported a distributable amount of $189K 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
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grantees describe a range of activities: Cradles to Crayons says it provides essential items to children in homeless or low-income situations; Wellesley College says it provides a liberal arts education for women; and the American College of Surgeons Foundation says it supports the charitable and educational work of the ACS. Other grantees include Ravinia Festival Association, which describes its work as presenting music performances, and Boulder Shelter for the Homeless, which says it creates avenues to stable housing for homeless adults.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund reported 72 grants totaling $274,850. Grants ranged from $300 to $50,000, with a median of $1,100. Among the largest awards were $50,000 to Cradles to Crayons; $20,000 each to the American College of Surgeons Foundation, Friends of Israel Defense Forces, and Wellesley College; and $14,000 each to the Royal Ontario Museum Foundation and Colorado Gives Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following officers and directors: Linda E Cutler, president; Bruce R Bachmann, Edward M Polk, Sandra P Guthman, Howard J Polk, Jeffry A Lewis, Jeffrey A Polk, Barbara P Milstein, Dr Travis M Polk LT MC USN USN, and Ellen P Multack, directors.
Polk Family Charitable Fund is led by Linda E. Cutler, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda E. Cutler
President
Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Barbara P. Milstein
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Bruce R. Bachmann
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
E. Richard Polk
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Edward M. Polk
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Ellen P. Multack
Director
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Howard J. Polk
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jeffrey A. Polk
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Jeffry A. Lewis
Director
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sandra P. Guthman
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Travis M. Polk Lt Mc Usn Usn
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Polk Family Charitable Fund
How much does Polk Family Charitable Fund give each year?
Polk Family Charitable Fund gave $275K across 72 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $235K across 68 grants.
What is Polk Family Charitable Fund's typical grant size?
Polk Family Charitable Fund's median grant in 2025 was $1,100, and its average grant was $3,817, across 72 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Polk Family Charitable Fund that year got $3K on average.
Where does Polk Family Charitable Fund give grants?
Polk Family Charitable Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (10%) and Colorado (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants), Highland Park, IL (6 grants), Portland, OR (6 grants) and Phoenix, AZ (5 grants).
Does Polk Family Charitable Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 72 grants with a stated purpose on Polk Family Charitable Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant Award" (71 grants).
Who are Polk Family Charitable Fund's largest grantees?
Polk Family Charitable Fund's largest 2025 grantees include American College of Surgeons Foundation ($20,000), Friends of Israel Defense Forces ($20,000) and Wellesley College ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 13 grants to individuals ($64,600), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Polk Family Charitable Fund?
Polk Family Charitable Fund reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $283K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $189K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Polk Family Charitable Fund fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Polk Family Charitable Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 2019–2025.
Does Polk Family Charitable Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Other open foundation grants in Illinois
Illinois Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Polk Family Charitable Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
AbbVie Foundation
North Chicago, IL
The AbbVie Foundation funds health equity, access to care, cancer care, community health, and related community-led programs through partnerships and employee initiatives. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $15 million, with a median of $25,000; it supports work worldwide, with the largest share of recent grants going to Illinois. It makes grants only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$265.6M
Grants
65
Total Given
$47.1M
Gannett Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Gannett Foundation’s 2025 grants supported a range of organizations, with listed awards generally between $1,500 and $2,500, though the available figures do not establish a typical grant size or geographic focus. The foundation has wound down: its 2026 filing reports no grants or assets, and no current application process or acceptance of unsolicited requests is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$65K
Modestus Bauer Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Modestus Bauer Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including health, food access, education, and arts groups, with most of its giving going to Illinois. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $101,600, with a median of $5,000; it gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$11.8M
Grants
136
Total Given
$1.0M
First Bank Chicago Foundation
Highland Park, IL
The foundation supports charitable, educational, religious, and scientific organizations, with grants backing areas such as affordable housing, education, health, and community services. It primarily funds Illinois organizations; grants ranged from $50 to $34,690 in 2024, with a median of $1,000. It does not limit giving to preselected organizations, and the profile says to contact Jill Takiff Hirsch; no application form or deadline is specified.
Assets
$17K
Grants
144
Total Given
$452K
Motorola Solutions Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Motorola Solutions Foundation funds first-responder programs and technology and engineering education, especially for under-resourced communities; its 2025 grants had a median of $35,000. It supports organizations worldwide, with priority for communities where Motorola Solutions operates, and accepts unsolicited requests through an annual letter-of-inquiry process, with full applications by invitation.
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
213
Total Given
$12.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Polk Family Charitable Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/polk-family-charitable-fund-morg_e04bc3bc172f4680ac33c1fefe721b12
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363332896_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Polk Family Charitable Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/polk-family-charitable-fund-morg_e04bc3bc172f4680ac33c1fefe721b12},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Polk Family Charitable Fund'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.
Polk Family Charitable Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?