Tensor Foundation
Tensor Foundation is a private foundation, based in Evanston, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $172K. Net investment income was $129K.
Tensor Foundation at a glance
In short: Tensor Foundation gave $172K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $172,450
- +25.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,636
- -28.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,450
- Total assets
- $3,071,594
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Tensor Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Metropolitan Opera ($65K). Together the top 7 received $172K.
Grant Size Distribution
25 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 25 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Tensor Foundation gives
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $137K (2024) to $688K (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $172K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Opera New York, NY | General Grant | $65,000 |
| Northlight Theatre Skokie, IL | General Purpose | $50,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Elmsford, NY | The Empower Gala | $25,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Purpose | $10,450 |
| Compassion Choices Littleton, CO | General Purpose | $10,000 |
| Mercy Center Bronx Bronx, NY | General Purpose | $6,000 |
| Wings Program Inc Palatine, IL | General Purpose | $6,000 |
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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 | $3,071,594 | $158,107 | $215,914 | $172,450 | 7 | $176,047 | $129,046 | $189,510 |
| 2024 | $3,129,401 | $572,381 | $172,031 | $137,000 | 4 | $141,204 | $520,056 | $176,564 |
| 2023 | $2,729,051 | $226,432 | $379,082 | $351,000 | 3 | $354,401 | $159,299 | $157,705 |
| 2022 | $2,881,701 | $247,780 | $330,819 | $289,000 | 5 | $292,358 | $196,584 | $165,081 |
| 2021 | $2,964,740 | $685,125 | $722,379 | $688,151 | 6 | $691,551 | $616,422 | $187,729 |
| 2020 | $3,001,994 | $133,448 | $370,747 | $322,500 | 5 | — | $95,980 | $178,719 |
| 2019 | $3,239,293 | $665,445 | $308,717 | $268,130 | 7 | — | $633,288 | $165,197 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tensor Foundation reported a distributable amount of $190K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Tensor Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Archie C. McKellar
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Marie T. McKellar
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
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 Tensor Foundation
How much does Tensor Foundation give each year?
Tensor Foundation gave $172K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $137K across 4 grants.
What is Tensor Foundation's typical grant size?
Tensor Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,450, and its average grant was $24,636, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Tensor Foundation give grants?
Tensor Foundation gives mostly in New York: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (39%) and Colorado (6%).
Does Tensor Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Tensor Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Tensor Foundation's largest grantees?
Tensor Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Metropolitan Opera ($65,000), Northlight Theatre ($50,000) and Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Tensor Foundation?
Tensor Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $176K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $190K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Tensor Foundation's EIN?
Tensor Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7017367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
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