Ries Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-2545485

Ries Foundation is a private foundation, based in CHICAGO, 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 32 grants totaling $67K. Net investment income was $51K.

Key facts about Ries Foundation

EIN
36-2545485
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$66,586
Grants made (2024)
32
Average grant
$2,081
Median grant
$500
Total assets
$1,337,535
Primary geography
Illinois (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026.

Who Ries Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Ries Foundation's 32 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (63%), California (23%) and New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Ithaca, NY (2 grants). None of its 32 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Gift" (26 grants) and "Charitable Grants" (4 grants).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.3M

+92.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$67K

+24.1% YoY

Grant Count

32

-8.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

+35.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $63K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Ries Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Ries Foundation is a private foundation, based in CHICAGO, 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 32 grants totaling $67K. Net investment income was $51K.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 32 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkIthacaSkokieBostonEvanstonGlencoeHighland ParkDowners GroveNorth ChicagoWashingtonDallasRancho MirageGlenviewNapervilleNorthbrookSan FranciscoAuroraBeachwoodCleveland

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$32K$64K$96K$128K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,337,535$693,962$652,588
Revenue$72,763$116,314$83,651
Expenses$80,845$64,304$70,641
Qualifying Distributions$66,586$55,001$57,091
Net Investment Income$50,619$108,015$70,802
Distributable Amount$62,979$57,531$57,979

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$17K$33K$50K$67K31 grants202032 grants202137 grants202235 grants202332 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Jewish United Fund$18KWorthy Books$15KUs Holocaust Memorial$5KAm Shalom$5KNorthwestern University$3KSelf Help Home$2KFriends of the Idf$2KJewish Women's Foundation$2KWorld Central Kitchen$2KCornell University$2K

Grant Size Distribution

167 grants across all recorded years

167<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Jewish United Fund ($18,418), Worthy Books ($15,000), Us Holocaust Memorial ($5,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
JEWISH UNITED FUND CHICAGO, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$18,418
WORTHY BOOKS ENCINITAS, CACHARITABLE GIFT$15,000
US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL HIGHLAND PARK, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$5,000
AM SHALOM GLENCOE, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$4,950
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY EVANSTON, ILCHARITABLE GRANTS$2,500
SELF HELP HOME CHICAGO, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$2,150
FRIENDS OF THE IDF CHICAGO, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$2,143
JEWISH WOMEN'S FOUNDATION CHICAGO, ILCHARITABLE GIFT$2,000
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN WASHINGTON, DCCHARITABLE GRANTS$2,000
CORNELL UNIVERSITY ITHACA, NYCHARITABLE GIFT$1,500

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DR MICHAEL H RIESPRESIDENT, TREAS, DIRECTOR——
DR ELAINE LEBOFF-RIESVICE PRESIDENT, SECR, DIRECTOR——
JEFFREY RIESDIRECTOR——
LAURA RIESDIRECTOR——

Frequently Asked Questions

How large is Ries Foundation?

As of 2024, Ries Foundation holds $1.3M in total assets with $73K in annual revenue. It awarded 32 grants totaling $67K in 2024.

Where does Ries Foundation operate?

Ries Foundation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Texas.

What size grants does Ries Foundation award?

In 2024, Ries Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $67K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Ries Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $63K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Ries Foundation's EIN?

Ries Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2545485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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