Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable

Private foundation · Grantmaker Skokie, IL EIN: 36-3224787

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable is a private foundation based in Skokie, Illinois. Its 2026 filing reports grants for educational and religious purposes, primarily to organizations in Illinois.

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable at a glance

In short: Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable gave $256K across 19 grants in 2026 (avg $13K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2026)
$255,781
+285.5% vs 2025
Grants made (2026)
19
+0.0% vs 2025
Average grant
$13,462
+285.5% vs 2025
Median grant
$500
Total assets
$247,811
-73.9% vs 2025
Primary geography
Illinois (97% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing

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

How to apply to Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

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

Contact

Mailing address: 8833 Gross Point Road, Skokie, IL 60077
Phone: (847) 679-0700

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2026

Jewish United Fund: $199KJewish United Fund$199KJewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago: $46KJewish Federation ofMetropolitan Chicago$46KFriends of Asor Fund (Through Jgive): $3KFriends of Asor Fund (ThroughJgive)$3KChicago Mitzvah Campaign: $2KChicago Mitzvah Campaign$2KPEF Israel Endowment Funds: $1KPEF Israel Endowment Funds$1KMigdalor (Through Jgive): $1KMigdalor (Through Jgive)$1KCongregation Yehuda Moshe Sisterhood: $1KCongregation Yehuda MosheSisterhood$1KHebron Fund: $525Hebron Fund$525Friendship Circle of LA: $500Friendship Circle of LA$500One Israel Fund: $500One Israel Fund$500

The largest 2026 recipient was Jewish United Fund ($199K). Together the top 10 received $254K.

Grant Size Distribution

93 grants across all recorded years

91<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 91 grants of 93 (98%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2026, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 2% to New York, and 1% to New Jersey; California accounted for 0% as reported. Listed recipients include organizations in those states.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoSkokieNew YorkBrooklynLincolnwoodLakewoodLos AngelesNorthbrookCedarhurstHollywoodTeaneckBernardsvilleBoca RatonClevelandDeerfieldDenverHighland ParkMonseyNew RochellePalatine

How Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable gives

  • 11% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
  • Giving grew 189% from 2023 to 2026. Method
  • In 2026 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2026). 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

$0$100K$200K$300K4 grants2021 22 grants2022 19 grants2023 14 grants2024 19 grants2025 19 grants2026

From 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $42K (2024) to $256K (2026). In 2026 it made 19 grants totaling $256K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Jewish United Fund Chicago, ILEducational and Religious$198,904
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, ILEducational and Religious$45,500
Friends of Asor Fund (Through Jgive) Lakewood, NJEducational and Religious$3,000
Chicago Mitzvah Campaign Chicago, ILEducational and Religious$1,853
PEF Israel Endowment Funds New York, NYEducational and Religious$1,029
Migdalor (Through Jgive) New York, NYEducational and Religious$1,000
Congregation Yehuda Moshe Sisterhood Lincolnwood, ILEducational and Religious$1,000
Hebron Fund Brooklyn, NYEducational and Religious$525
Friendship Circle of LA Los Angeles, CAEducational and Religious$500
One Israel Fund Cedarhurst, NYEducational and Religious$500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2026$247,811$241,724$266,350$255,78119$258,554$58,971$24,868
2025$949,124$49,018$83,969$66,34519$71,311$36,360$26,440
2024$983,836$54,396$49,436$41,90714$42,172$47,232$31,807
2023$978,876$111,006$102,599$88,35719$88,357$100,764$56,678
2022$970,469$175,822$147,855$136,31322$136,440$166,316$63,617
2021$942,502$155,496$227,283$215,7524—$133,566$64,877

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable reported a distributable amount of $25K for 2026 — 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 foundation is provided. Its 2026 grant descriptions list educational and religious purposes. Among its grantees, PEF Israel Endowment Funds describes work supporting people in need and health, educational, and religious institutions in Israel. One Israel Fund describes fundraising for humanitarian, healthcare, security, social welfare, recreational, religious, and educational needs. Ezer Mizion describes facilitating stem cell transplants and supporting people facing medical or mental health challenges, as well as older adults, people with disabilities, and children with special needs. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2026, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $255,781. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $198,904, with a median of $500. Its largest reported grants were $198,904 to Jewish United Fund and $45,500 to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, both for educational and religious purposes. Other grants included $3,000 to Friends of ASOR Fund (through JGive), $1,853 to Chicago Mitzvah Campaign, and $1,029 to PEF Israel Endowment Funds.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2026 filing lists Elliott Robinson as president, Freda Robinson as secretary, and Colman Ginsparg as director.

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable is led by Elliott Robinson, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2026 report compensation.

Officers on the 2026 filing

  • Elliott Robinson

    President

    President & Director → President, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colman Ginsparg

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Freda Robinson

    Secretary

    Secretary & Director → Secretary, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    0.1 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "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 Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable

How much does Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable give each year?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable gave $256K across 19 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $66K across 19 grants.

What is Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's typical grant size?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's median grant in 2026 was $500, and its average grant was $13,462, across 19 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable give grants?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable gives mostly in Illinois: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).

Does Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable give general operating support?

Not in 2026: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational and Religious" (19 grants).

Who are Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's largest grantees?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's largest 2026 grantees include Jewish United Fund ($198,904), Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago ($45,500) and Friends of Asor Fund (Through Jgive) ($3,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.

How large is Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable reported $248K in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $259K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $25K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grant descriptions list educational and religious purposes. Among its grantees, PEF Israel Endowment Funds describes work supporting people in need and health, educational, and religious institutions in Israel. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable?

The foundation 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 Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's EIN?

Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3224787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.

Does Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable 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

(2)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

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Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Chicago, IL

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

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The foundation’s stated focus is general operating support for preselected charitable organizations, with its 2024 grant going to a recipient in Illinois. Its 2024 giving was one grant of $1,627,220; it does not accept unsolicited requests.

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Aj & SL Stern Family Foundation

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The AJ & SL Stern Family Foundation funds charitable organizations, with a 2024 grant for general operating support, and its grant dollars went to Illinois. Its giving varies substantially: it reported grants totaling $933,897 to $1.42 million in 2022–2023, and one grant of $1,273,695 in 2024. It does not accept unsolicited requests and contributes only to preselected organizations.

Assets

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Bellows Family Foundation

Chicago, IL

The foundation supports charitable, educational, and religious organizations serving the purposes of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, including Jewish schools, religious programs, and services in Israel. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,500 to $150,500, with a median of $12,500, and went mainly to organizations in Illinois, New York, and New Jersey. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$5.7M

Grants

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Total Given

$1.1M

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sheldon-and-freda-robinson-charitable-morg_90d766de7f9f43729af202eea2ab8136

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363224787_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/sheldon-and-freda-robinson-charitable-morg_90d766de7f9f43729af202eea2ab8136},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

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Figures come from Sheldon and Freda Robinson Charitable'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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