Sacks Family Foundation
The Sacks Family Foundation is a private foundation based in an individual recipient, Illinois. In 2025, it made 53 grants totaling $7,015,100 to organizations including universities, arts organizations, and charitable organizations.
Sacks Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Sacks Family Foundation gave $7.0M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $132K), mostly in Illinois. 26% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,015,100
- +26.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +6.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $132,360
- +19.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $3,096,461
- +20517.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (14 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (76% 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 Sacks Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 833 Central Avenue 1155, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (312) 506-6501
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sacks Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern University ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $5.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
304 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 179 grants of 304 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Other recipient-state shares were Louisiana, 7%; New York, 7%; Virginia, 6%; and California, 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sacks Family Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 14 of 53 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $77K; repeat grants $152K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $3.5M (2019) to $7.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $7.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,077,500 |
| The Barack Obama Foundation Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $1,000,000 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $600,000 |
| Tulane University New Orleans, LA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $500,000 |
| Navy Seal Foundation Virginia Beach, VA | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $375,000 |
| Anti Defamation League Foundation New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| Eb Research Partnership New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| Hope Chicago Inc Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre CO Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $215,000 |
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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 | $3,096,461 | $17,812,248 | $7,023,808 | $7,015,100 | 53 | $7,023,808 | $7,618,297 | — |
| 2024 | $15,019 | $5,390,466 | $5,553,258 | $5,546,000 | 50 | $5,553,253 | $8,516 | $4,682 |
| 2023 | $177,811 | $7,025,843 | $6,857,628 | $6,845,671 | 60 | $6,857,628 | $343 | $2,333 |
| 2022 | $9,596 | $6,811,306 | $6,803,195 | $6,799,456 | 77 | $6,800,195 | $2 | $837 |
| 2021 | $1,485 | $5,642,447 | $5,676,873 | $5,671,167 | 64 | $5,676,873 | $119,316 | $340 |
| 2020 | $35,911 | $4,439,581 | $4,421,945 | $4,416,685 | 55 | — | — | $722 |
| 2019 | $18,275 | $3,570,003 | $3,554,103 | $3,549,000 | 47 | — | $3 | $1,570 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is not stated. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations, including higher education, arts and culture, educational access, medical research, and support for military families.
Among its grantees, Northwestern University describes its mission as advancing teaching and research and supporting students’ personal and intellectual growth. The University of Chicago describes its mission as communicating and creating knowledge and fostering a community of scholars and students. An individual recipient Art Center says it works to sustain visual arts in Chicago by supporting artists and connecting them with the public. Hope Chicago describes its work as providing access to debt-free postsecondary education and completion support for Chicago Public School students and their parents. EB Research Partnership says it funds research for treatments and a cure for epidermolysis bullosa. The Navy SEAL Foundation says it supports warriors, veterans, and families of Naval Special Warfare.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 53 grants totaling $7,015,100. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,077,500, with a median grant of $50,000. Its largest awards included $1,077,500 to Northwestern University, $1,000,000 to The Barack Obama Foundation, $600,000 to Jewish United Fund, and $500,000 each to Tulane University and the University of Chicago.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Sacks as president and treasurer, Kenneth Sacks as secretary, and Elise Sacks as director.
Sacks Family Foundation is led by Michael Sacks, President & Treasurer since 2020 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Sacks
President & Treasurer
President & Treasurer Part-Time → President & Treasurer, 2020
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elise Sacks
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Sacks
Secretary
Secretary Part-Time → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: A. Lee Sacks (2019) — Director Part-Time
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 Sacks Family Foundation
How much does Sacks Family Foundation give each year?
Sacks Family Foundation gave $7.0M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.5M across 50 grants.
What is Sacks Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Sacks Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $132,360, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sacks Family Foundation that year got $77K on average.
Where does Sacks Family Foundation give grants?
Sacks Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Louisiana (7%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (27 grants), Highland Park, IL (6 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Who are Sacks Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Sacks Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University ($1,077,500), The Barack Obama Foundation ($1,000,000) and Jewish United Fund ($600,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sacks Family Foundation?
Sacks Family Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $17.8M.
What does Sacks Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations, including higher education, arts and culture, educational access, medical research, and support for military families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sacks Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sacks Family Foundation's EIN?
Sacks Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4053778. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Sacks 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.
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 September 2, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 26, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 27, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sacks Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sacks Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sacks-family-foundation-morg_9813c1693b3a4e5b92abc924d8ef01bf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364053778_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sacks Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sacks-family-foundation-morg_9813c1693b3a4e5b92abc924d8ef01bf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Sacks Family Foundation'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.
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