The Acorn Foundation
The Acorn Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 33 grants totaling $87K.
Key facts about The Acorn Foundation
- EIN
- 36-3991208
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $87,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $2,636
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Primary geography
- Illinois (44% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026.
Who The Acorn Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Acorn Foundation's 33 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (44%), New York (16%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), San Diego, CA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). None of its 33 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (11 grants), "Human Services" (6 grants) and "Cultural" (5 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$87K
Grant Count
33
Avg Grant Size
$3K
About The Acorn Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Acorn Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 33 grants totaling $87K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| 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
94 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Museum of Science and Industry ($12,000), Depaul College Prep ($5,500), University of Iowa Foundation ($5,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY CHICAGO, IL | MUSEUM | $12,000 |
| DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $5,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION IOWA CITY, IA | EDUCATIONAL | $5,500 |
| COLBY COLLEGE WATERVILLE, ME | EDUCATIONAL | $5,000 |
| THE FUND FOR SARAH LAWRENCE - SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE BRONXVILLE, NY | EDUCATIONAL | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK HIGH CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $3,000 |
| LATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $3,000 |
| FRIENDS OF PAYTON SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $2,500 |
| ACTION AGAINST HUNGER-USA NEW YORK, NY | HUMAN SERVICES | $2,400 |
| HILLEL INTERNATIONAL WASHINGTON, DC | HUMAN SERVICES | $2,400 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RALPH WANGER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| KATHLEEN TUCKER | TREASURER | — | — |
| ERIC DAVID WANGER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| LEONARD RALPH WANGER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DEBRA JANE WANGER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Acorn Foundation?
The Acorn Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CHICAGO, IL. It holds — in total assets as of 2024.
Where does The Acorn Foundation operate?
The Acorn Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Washington, Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Acorn Foundation award?
In 2024, The Acorn Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $87K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Acorn Foundation's EIN?
The Acorn Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3991208. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Acorn Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.