The Acorn Foundation

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 36-3991208

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.

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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

12states
+4 more states

Cities

AMERICUSBRONXVILLECHICAGOCORNUCOPIAFRANKLININTERLOCHENIOWA CITYLA JOLLALA MESAMEDFORDNEW YORKNORTH ANDOVERPULLMANSAN DIEGOSTANFORDURBANAVIROQUAWASHINGTONWATERVILLE

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$22K$44K$65K$87K28 grants20201 grants202132 grants20220 grants202333 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND IN…$12KDEPAUL COLLEGE PREP$6KUNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUND…$6KCOLBY COLLEGE$5KTHE FUND FOR SARAH LAWRE…$5KFRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK …$3KLATIN SCHOOL OF CHICAGO$3KFRIENDS OF PAYTON SCHOOL$3KACTION AGAINST HUNGER-USA$2KHILLEL INTERNATIONAL$2K

Grant Size Distribution

94 grants across all recorded years

94<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Museum of Science and Industry ($12,000), Depaul College Prep ($5,500), University of Iowa Foundation ($5,500).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ACTION AGAINST HUNGER-USA NEW YORK, NYHUMAN SERVICES$2,400
ADLER PLANETARIUM CHICAGO, ILMUSEUM$1,000
ANSHE EMET SYNAGOGUE CHICAGO, ILRELIGIOUS$2,000
CHARITYWATER FRANKLIN, TNENVIRONMENTAL$2,000
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHICAGO, ILCULTURAL$2,000
COLBY COLLEGE WATERVILLE, MEEDUCATIONAL$5,000
DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP CHICAGO, ILEDUCATIONAL$5,500
FEDERALIST SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DCADVOCACY$1,000
FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO, ILMUSEUM$2,000
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK HIGH CHICAGO, ILEDUCATIONAL$3,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
RALPH WANGERPRESIDENT
KATHLEEN TUCKERTREASURER
ERIC DAVID WANGERDIRECTOR
LEONARD RALPH WANGERDIRECTOR
DEBRA JANE WANGERDIRECTOR

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

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Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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