Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $600K. Net investment income was $1.5M.
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation at a glance
In short: Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation gave $600K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $75K), top state Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $600,000
- +20.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $75,000
- +5.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $75,000
- Total assets
- $5,313,882
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Illinois (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Companis ($100K). Together the top 8 received $600K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 16 grants of 29 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation gives
- Giving grew 76% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 121% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $340K (2021) to $600K (2024). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $600K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Companis Seattle, WA | General | $100,000 |
| UCSF Foundation San Francisco, CA | General | $100,000 |
| California Academy of Sciences San Francisco, CA | General | $100,000 |
| Field Museum Chicago, IL | General | $100,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoo Chicago, IL | General | $50,000 |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center Chicago, IL | General | $50,000 |
| Equal Justice Initiative Montgomery, AL | General | $50,000 |
| Working in the Schools Chicago, IL | General | $50,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,313,882 | $1,561,644 | $676,230 | $600,000 | 8 | $608,070 | $1,511,807 | $504,588 |
| 2023 | $4,425,870 | $577,863 | $577,609 | $500,000 | 7 | $511,515 | $467,828 | $445,469 |
| 2022 | $4,622,002 | $402,904 | $556,951 | $500,000 | 6 | $509,814 | $270,762 | $456,742 |
| 2021 | $4,575,760 | $513,116 | $409,701 | $340,000 | 4 | $348,419 | $447,614 | $528,390 |
| 2020 | $4,469,894 | $577,600 | $503,257 | $420,000 | 4 | — | $457,030 | $425,149 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $505K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
H. Debra Levin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jesse F. Abelson
Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation
How much does Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation give each year?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation gave $600K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $500K across 7 grants.
What is Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's typical grant size?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $75,000, and its average grant was $75,000, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation give grants?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (33%) and Washington (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's largest grantees?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Companis ($100,000), UCSF Foundation ($100,000) and California Academy of Sciences ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $608K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $505K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's EIN?
Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1704222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Stuart & Jesse Abelson Foundation funds
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