The Sacks Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2001 and based in Highland Park, Illinois. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation supported by Michael and Cari Sacks. The foundation maintains a low public profile and does not actively solicit grant applications, instead making grants to preselected organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.5M
-19.0% YoY
Grant Count
50
-16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$111K
-2.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education — particularly higher education institutions
- The Arts — including visual arts and cultural institutions
- Jewish Organizations and Temples
- Children and Social Services
- Health
- Human Services
- Policy Development
The foundation prioritizes the Chicago area and has demonstrated particular commitment to educational and arts institutions in the region.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. It makes grants exclusively to preselected organizations. Networking is noted as the primary avenue for organizations seeking to engage with the foundation's leadership.
Grant Range
$1,000 to $1,176,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Sacks Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's giving is concentrated in:
- Illinois (primary focus, particularly the Chicago area)
- District of Columbia
- California
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total Assets: $15,019
- Total Revenue: $5,390,466
- Total Expenses: $5,553,258
- Total Grants/Contributions: $5,381,950
- Investment Income and Dividends: $8,516
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 to 2024):
- Total grants and contributions decreased 23.4% (from $7,025,500 in 2023)
- Investment income increased significantly (from $343 to $8,516)
Tax-Exempt Status:
- EIN: 36-4053778
- Tax-exempt since February 1996
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
247 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Michael Sacks — President/Treasurer (10 hours per week, no compensation)
- CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management
- Vice-chairman of World Business Chicago
- Born in Chicago; B.A. in Economics from Tulane University (1984); MBA and J.D. from Northwestern University; attended London School of Economics
- Spent two years at Harris Associates, L.P. before joining Grosvenor Capital Management in 1990; named managing partner in 1994
Kenneth Sacks — Secretary (0.1 hours per week, no compensation)
Elise Sacks — Director (0.1 hours per week, no compensation)
Cari Sacks — Co-founder
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL SACKS | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 10 | — |
| KENNETH SACKS | SECRETARY | 0.1 | — |
| ELISE SACKS | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Sacks Family Foundation made a $5 million donation to support early career faculty positions at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine, announced in March 2026.
Sacks family donates 5m early career geisel facultyThe foundation has historically provided substantial support to educational institutions, including a $5 million gift to Northwestern University earlier in the decade and a $1 million gift to the Art Institute of Chicago for need-based Sacks Family Scholarships.
Sacks family donates 5m early career geisel facultySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Fostering Success
WAYNE, IL
Assets
$38K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Sacks Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities