Rossman Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 20-3928172

The Rossman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In its 2024 filing, it reported 21 grants totaling $562,500; the listed grant purposes were general purposes.

Key facts about Rossman Family Foundation

In short: Rossman Family Foundation gave $563K across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Illinois. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
20-3928172
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$562,500
Grants made (2024)
21
Average grant
$26,786
Median grant
$10,000
New grantees (estimate)
24% first-time grantees (5 of 21, 2024; small sample)
Total assets
$7,483,800
Primary geography
Illinois (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.5M

+2.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$563K

+18.4% YoY

Grant Count

21

+16.7% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$27K

+1.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rossman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $519K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is Rossman Family Foundation open to new grantees?

24%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 5 of 21 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $34K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $23K repeat.

  • 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated work spans civic leadership, education, theater, end-of-life care, music education, philanthropy, and disability inclusion. For example, Civic Leadership Foundation says it provides leadership training and promotes public dialogue about leadership. Albany Park Theater Project says it creates experiences that amplify the voices and experiences of immigrant and first-generation communities. Lead Guitar says it provides free in-school guitar programs for students facing socioeconomic challenges or other barriers.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 21 grants totaling $562,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $180,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest grants included $180,000 to Civic Leadership Foundation, $90,000 to Children’s Place International, $50,000 to American Exchange Project, $34,000 to Education Reimagined, and $30,000 to Albany Park Theater Project. The stated purpose for each was general purposes.

How to Apply

The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, recipients in Illinois received 60% of grant dollars, those in the District of Columbia 13%, Massachusetts 11%, Colorado 4%, and California 4%.

Grant Distribution by State

12states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoWashingtonHighland ParkGlencoePrincetonSan FranciscoTucsonDenverMontgomeryAnnapolisLos AngelesSudburyCambridgeGurneeManchacaMilwaukeeNew YorkWoodacre

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K18 grants2020 15 grants2021 19 grants2022 18 grants2023 21 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $475K (2023) to $610K (2022). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $563K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Civic Leadership Foundation: $180KCivic Leadership Foundation$180KChildren's Place International: $90KChildren's Place International$90KAmerican Exchange Project: $50KAmerican Exchange Project$50KEducation Reimagined: $34KEducation Reimagined$34KAlbany Park Theater Project: $30KAlbany Park Theater Project$30KChicago Public Media - Wbez: $25KChicago Public Media - Wbez$25KCompassion & Choices: $25KCompassion & Choices$25KNew Deal Forum: $25KNew Deal Forum$25KLead Guitar: $20KLead Guitar$20KTides Foundation: $15KTides Foundation$15K

The largest 2024 recipient was Civic Leadership Foundation ($180K). Together the top 10 received $494K.

Grant Size Distribution

91 grants across all recorded years

77<$50K9$50–100K5$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 91 (85%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Civic Leadership Foundation Glencoe, ILGeneral Purposes$180,000
Children's Place International Chicago, ILGeneral Purposes$90,000
American Exchange Project Sudbury, MAGeneral Purposes$50,000
Education Reimagined Washington, DCGeneral Purposes$34,000
Albany Park Theater Project Chicago, ILGeneral Purposes$30,000
Chicago Public Media - Wbez Chicago, ILGeneral Purposes$25,000
Compassion & Choices Denver, COGeneral Purposes$25,000
New Deal Forum Washington, DCGeneral Purposes$25,000
Lead Guitar Tucson, AZGeneral Purposes$20,000
Tides Foundation San Francisco, CAGeneral Purposes$15,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant total Grants
2024 $7,483,800 $774,823 $593,594 $562,500 21
2023 $7,302,571 $135,007 $528,985 $475,000 18
2022 $7,696,549 $106,753 $677,176 $609,500 19
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$250K$500K$750K$1M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,483,800$7,302,571$7,696,549
Revenue$774,823$135,007$106,753
Expenses$593,594$528,985$677,176
Qualifying Distributions$562,525$475,025$609,525
Net Investment Income$744,754$88,291$82,214
Distributable Amount$518,605$485,405$480,420

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Howard M Rossman as president and treasurer; Beverly G Rossman as secretary; and Jeremy Rossman and Erin Rossman as vice presidents.

Rossman Family Foundation is led by Howard M. Rossman, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Howard M. Rossman

    President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Beverly G. Rossman

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    0.3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin Rossman

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Jeremy Rossman

    Vice President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 333 W Wacker Drive 1700, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 274-8246

Frequently asked questions about Rossman Family Foundation

How much does Rossman Family Foundation give each year?

Rossman Family Foundation gave $563K across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $475K across 18 grants.

What is Rossman Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Rossman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $26,786, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rossman Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.

Where does Rossman Family Foundation give grants?

Rossman Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and Massachusetts (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants) and Washington, DC (4 grants).

Does Rossman Family Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Rossman Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Rossman Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Rossman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Civic Leadership Foundation ($180,000), Children's Place International ($90,000) and American Exchange Project ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Rossman Family Foundation?

Rossman Family Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $563K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $519K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Rossman Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included organizations whose stated work spans civic leadership, education, theater, end-of-life care, music education, philanthropy, and disability inclusion. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Rossman Family Foundation?

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 Rossman Family Foundation's EIN?

Rossman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3928172. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Rossman Family Foundation 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.

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