The Steve and Janice Hefter Family Foundation is a private independent family foundation established in August 2000 and based in Highland Park, Illinois. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation operates as a grantmaking entity focused on philanthropic activities aligned with the personal values and commitments of its founders.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$551K
-20.8% YoY
Grant Count
15
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+5.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation reflects Steve and Janice Hefter's lifelong commitment to Jewish and pro-Israel causes. Their philanthropic priorities are rooted in their documented involvement in Jewish advocacy and community support, including participation in the Free Soviet Jewry movement, attendance at the anti-Nazi march in Skokie, and founding membership in the Simon Wiesenthal Center's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.
Primary funding areas include:
- Jewish cultural and religious institutions
- Jewish community support
- Pro-Israel causes
- Jewish advocacy and education
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. Grantmaking decisions are made through trustee discretion based on established philanthropic priorities.
Grant Range
$2,600 to $155,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on funding in Illinois, with secondary emphasis on the District of Columbia and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,001,910
- Total Revenues: $691,101
- Total Expenses: $556,025
- Total Giving: $550,800
Assets & Giving (2023):
- Total Assets: $2.96 million
- Total Revenues: $179,000
- Total Expenses: $705,000
- Total Giving: $695,800
Staffing: The foundation operates with limited staffing. All three trustees report minimal hours per week (1 hour) with no compensation.
| 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
89 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
- Steve Hefter — President & Treasurer
- Janice Hefter — Vice President
- Justin Hefter — Secretary
Steve Hefter holds degrees from Stanford University and Harvard Business School, with professional experience at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVE HEFTER | PRESIDENT & TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JANICE HEFTER | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JUSTIN HEFTER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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