The 21st Century Institute
The 21st Century Institute is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Westmont, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $5K. Net investment income was $74K.
The 21st Century Institute at a glance
In short: The 21st Century Institute gave $5K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,000
- -80.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,000
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,778,855
- +13.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% 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 The 21st Century Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was claremont Mckenna College ($5K).
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 9 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How The 21st Century Institute gives
- Giving fell 75% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 58% 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 $5K (2025) to $70K (2023). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $5K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| claremont Mckenna College Claremont, CA | Acdemic Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $3,778,855 | $74,066 | $184,775 | $5,000 | 1 | $94,888 | $74,066 | $164,021 |
| 2024 | $3,339,822 | $289,834 | $198,123 | $25,000 | 3 | $198,123 | $291,570 | — |
| 2023 | $2,590,854 | $73,136 | $148,533 | $70,000 | 3 | $148,533 | $73,136 | $126,590 |
| 2022 | $2,511,785 | $38,143 | $102,870 | $20,000 | 1 | $93,405 | $37,966 | $120,135 |
| 2021 | $2,627,646 | $161,739 | $155,678 | $20,000 | 1 | $20,000 | $161,569 | $121,864 |
| 2020 | $2,509,338 | $36,115 | $121,814 | $45,000 | 2 | — | $33,125 | $123,125 |
| 2019 | $2,897,306 | $1,466,879 | $763,507 | $24,300 | 1 | — | — | $139,642 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The 21st Century Institute reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The 21st Century Institute is led by Sharon K Tan, President & Education Dirctor since 2023 (on filings since 2019); all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sharon K Tan
President & Education Dirctor
President → Presidentand Education Dirctor, 2020
Presidentand Education Dirctor → President & Education Dirctor, 2023
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $100K (2025)
Kevin K. Tan
Secretary
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$24K (2024) → $30K (2025)
Weidong Shi
Vice President
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$8K (2024) → $20K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $100K, to Sharon K Tan (PRESIDENT and Education Dirctor). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The 21st Century Institute
How much does The 21st Century Institute give each year?
The 21st Century Institute gave $5K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 3 grants.
How large is The 21st Century Institute?
The 21st Century Institute reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $95K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $164K (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 The 21st Century Institute?
The 21st Century Institute is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Westmont, IL. It holds $3.8M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The 21st Century Institute operate?
The 21st Century Institute has awarded grants in California, Illinois.
What is The 21st Century Institute's EIN?
The 21st Century Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4822464. 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 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 31, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
Live grants for the work The 21st Century Institute funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The 21st Century Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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