The Adjuvant Foundation
The Adjuvant Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it awarded grants to organizations in Massachusetts and New York, including hospitals, arts organizations, and youth-serving organizations.
The Adjuvant Foundation at a glance
In short: The Adjuvant Foundation gave $1.2M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $129K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,160,000
- +16.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- +28.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $128,889
- -9.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $24,531,044
- +0.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Adjuvant Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 225 W Wacker Drive 2150, Chicago, IL 60606-1224
Phone: (312) 621-0590
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Adjuvant Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Massachusetts General Hospital ($715K across 2 grants). Together the top 6 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 64 (69%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants included recipients in Massachusetts and New York. The largest grants went to Massachusetts General Hospital in Massachusetts; New York recipients included Dieu Donné Paper Mill in Brooklyn and StreetSquash and Jazz Generation in New York City.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Adjuvant Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $555K (2020) to $1.2M (2022). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts General Hospital Somerville, MA | Program Support | $500,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital Somerville, MA | Program Support | $215,000 |
| Dieu Donne Paper Mill Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $125,000 |
| Streetsquash New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $125,000 |
| Jazz Generation Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $50,000 |
| Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | Program Support | $50,000 |
| Streetsquash New York, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $50,000 |
| Dieu Donne Paper Mill Inc Brooklyn, NY | General Operating Support/Annual Gift | $35,000 |
| FIREDUP4 | Program Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Adjuvant Foundation?
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 | $24,531,044 | $1,538,360 | $1,408,805 | $1,160,000 | 9 | $1,160,170 | $1,320,876 | $1,240,884 |
| 2023 | $24,394,133 | $-1,851,526 | $1,294,255 | $995,000 | 7 | $1,006,886 | $1,231,831 | $1,170,908 |
| 2022 | $27,517,567 | $1,509,310 | $1,491,287 | $1,200,000 | 17 | $1,208,532 | $1,212,474 | $1,212,548 |
| 2021 | $27,588,804 | $2,297,430 | $1,509,855 | $1,034,000 | 17 | $1,039,921 | $1,923,475 | $1,371,902 |
| 2020 | $26,762,211 | $1,292,981 | $969,540 | $555,000 | 14 | — | $942,392 | $1,185,740 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Adjuvant Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included program support for Massachusetts General Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and general operating support or annual gifts to arts and youth-serving organizations.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms: Dieu Donné Paper Mill says it is a nonprofit artist workspace dedicated to contemporary art in hand papermaking. StreetSquash says it provides long-term support to children, families, and schools in Harlem, with the aim of helping participants realize their academic and personal potential. Jazz Generation says it compensates musicians for free public performances and educates youth and audiences about live jazz and blues.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $1,160,000. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest awards were $500,000 and $215,000 to Massachusetts General Hospital for program support. Other grants included $125,000 and $35,000 to Dieu Donné Paper Mill, $125,000 and $50,000 to StreetSquash, $50,000 to Jazz Generation, and $50,000 to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Charles V Polsky, George Polsky, James Harris Polsky, Jean Polsky, and Richard M Polsky as vice presidents and directors; Virginia Polsky as president, secretary, and director; and Lauren K MacDonald as treasurer.
The Adjuvant Foundation is led by Virginia Polsky, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Virginia Polsky
President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles V. Polsky
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Polsky
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Harris Polsky
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jean Polsky
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard M. Polsky
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren K. Macdonald
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jack R. Polsky (2020–2021) — Vice President & Director · Filing note: Deceased 7621
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 The Adjuvant Foundation
How much does The Adjuvant Foundation give each year?
The Adjuvant Foundation gave $1.2M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $995K across 7 grants.
What is The Adjuvant Foundation's typical grant size?
The Adjuvant Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $128,889, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Adjuvant Foundation give grants?
The Adjuvant Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 62% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (38%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Somerville, MA (2 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (2 grants).
Does The Adjuvant Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 56% of The Adjuvant Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (4 grants).
Who are The Adjuvant Foundation's largest grantees?
The Adjuvant Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Massachusetts General Hospital ($715,000 across 2 grants), Streetsquash ($175,000 across 2 grants) and Dieu Donne Paper Mill Inc ($160,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Adjuvant Foundation?
The Adjuvant Foundation reported $24.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (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 does The Adjuvant Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included program support for Massachusetts General Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and general operating support or annual gifts to arts and youth-serving organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Adjuvant Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Adjuvant Foundation's EIN?
The Adjuvant Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3866528. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Adjuvant Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 9, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Adjuvant Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Meadows Road Foundation (FKA Coydog Foundation)
Charleston, SC
Meadows Road Foundation funds a varied mix of work, including reproductive health and rights, children’s services, public policy research, tax policy, free expression, and philanthropy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $250,000, with a median of $5,000, and the largest shares went to organizations in South Carolina and New York. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$41.7M
Grants
88
Total Given
$2.6M
Soros Fund Charitable Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation supports preselected charitable organizations, including cultural institutions, schools, universities, and other nonprofits. In 2025, it made 215 grants ranging from $75 to $566,124, with a median grant of $3,000; most funding went to organizations in New York, followed by Virginia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. It does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$70.1M
Grants
215
Total Given
$3.6M
RSF Social Finance Inc
San Francisco, CA
RSF Social Finance funds organizations and projects advancing social and environmental change, especially in food and agriculture, climate and energy, education, and community impact. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $5,250 to $5.52 million; recipients were primarily in California, Maryland, New York, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether RSF accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$108.4M
Grants
457
Total Given
$48.2M
FJC
New York, NY
FJC supports nonprofits and fiscally sponsored charitable projects across areas including arts, education, social services, health, religion, and the environment, with grantmaking concentrated in New York and also reaching other U.S. states. In 2025, grants had a median of $17,200 and ranged from $5,040 to $2.8 million. The profile does not state whether FJC accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$462.3M
Grants
747
Total Given
$41.7M
The Commonwealth Fund
New York, NY
The Commonwealth Fund supports health care research, policy, and projects that improve access, care quality, affordability, and equity, primarily through grants to health care-focused organizations. In 2025, grants ranged from $75 to $2.35 million, with a median of $15,000; it funds work in the United States and supports international learning and exchange. It accepts letters of inquiry through its online portal on a rolling basis and responds to unsolicited proposals, generally from tax-exempt charities.
Assets
$922.7M
Grants
534
Total Given
$31.3M
The Tapestry Foundation Inc
New York, NY
Assets
$46.5M
Grants
534
Total Given
$2.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Adjuvant Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Adjuvant Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?