The Charles Jacob Foundation
The Charles Jacob Foundation is a private foundation based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported $47,500 in grants to 13 organizations, including recipients in Illinois, Virginia, Montana, New York, and Wisconsin.
The Charles Jacob Foundation at a glance
In short: The Charles Jacob Foundation gave $48K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $47,500
- +2.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,654
- -5.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $225,749
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (74% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Charles Jacob 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: 17W220 22Nd Street Suite 500, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Phone: (630) 990-0355
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Charles Jacob Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Providence Englewood Charter ($10K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 65 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 74% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 11% to Virginia, 8% to Montana, 5% to New York, and 2% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Charles Jacob Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 13 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 230% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2022) to $85K (2023). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $48K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Englewood Charter Chicago, IL | Unrestrited | $10,000 |
| Lift - Chicago Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Women Employed Chicago, IL | Nancy B. Kreiter Fund | $5,000 |
| Virginia Center for Creative Arts Amherst, VA | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| One Health Livingston, MT | Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Marwen Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, IL | Unresticted | $2,500 |
| Living Traditions Brooklyn, NY | Unrestricted | $2,500 |
| My Block My Hood My City Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Open Studio Project Evanston, IL | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
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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 | $225,749 | $56,548 | $52,857 | $47,500 | 13 | $47,500 | $5,966 | $20,683 |
| 2024 | $222,058 | $66,635 | $51,801 | $46,500 | 12 | $46,500 | $6,114 | $17,792 |
| 2023 | $207,224 | $80,316 | $89,802 | $85,000 | 16 | $85,000 | $5,420 | $15,390 |
| 2022 | $216,710 | $64,470 | $44,308 | $40,000 | 10 | $40,000 | $4,063 | $14,678 |
| 2021 | $196,548 | $63,774 | $58,029 | $53,500 | 14 | $53,500 | $3,365 | $13,962 |
| 2020 | $190,803 | $66,612 | $56,229 | $52,000 | 15 | — | $4,494 | $11,477 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charles Jacob Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Women Employed says it works to improve women’s economic status and remove barriers to economic equity. Living Traditions describes itself as an arts space showcasing folk and traditional music and art, while Open Studio Project says it brings art to individuals for personal growth, social-emotional learning, and community well-being. Providence Englewood Charter’s stated mission includes supporting the school and its students, including through academic or need-based scholarships.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $47,500 through 13 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $10,000, with a median of $2,500. Larger awards included $10,000 each to Providence Englewood Charter and LIFT - Chicago; $5,000 each to Women Employed and Virginia Center for Creative Arts; and $4,000 to One Health. Other listed recipients included Marwen, Old Town School of Folk Music, Living Traditions, My Block My Hood My City, Open Studio Project, Crivitz Youth Center, and Refugee One.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Nancy S. Hearon as president, secretary, and director; Caroline Degenaars as treasurer and director; and Dirk Degenaars as vice president and director.
The Charles Jacob Foundation is led by Nancy S. Hearon, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nancy S. Hearon
President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Degenaars
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dirk Degenaars
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Buck Taylor (2020) — Director
- Former: Kristen Taylor (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Charles Jacob Foundation
How much does The Charles Jacob Foundation give each year?
The Charles Jacob Foundation gave $48K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $47K across 12 grants.
What is The Charles Jacob Foundation's typical grant size?
The Charles Jacob Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,654, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Charles Jacob Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Charles Jacob Foundation give grants?
The Charles Jacob Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (11%) and Montana (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does The Charles Jacob Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 69% of The Charles Jacob Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Charles Jacob Foundation's largest grantees?
The Charles Jacob Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Providence Englewood Charter ($10,000), Lift - Chicago ($10,000) and Women Employed ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Charles Jacob Foundation?
The Charles Jacob Foundation reported $226K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $48K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $21K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Charles Jacob Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Women Employed says it works to improve women’s economic status and remove barriers to economic equity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Charles Jacob 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 Charles Jacob Foundation's EIN?
The Charles Jacob Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4086916. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Charles Jacob 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Charles Jacob Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Charles Jacob 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.
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