The Cynthia Elkins Foundation
The Cynthia Elkins Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1996 and tax-exempt since April 1997, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization classified under the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) as a Private Grantmaking Foundation.
Key facts about The Cynthia Elkins Foundation
- EIN
- 36-4118927
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $750,800
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- Average grant
- $18,312
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (8 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (80% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Cynthia Elkins Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Cynthia Elkins Foundation's 41 itemized 2024 grants were Illinois (80%), New York (8%) and District of Columbia (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (17 grants), Highland Park, IL (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Madison, WI (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Cynthia Elkins Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 41 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Cynthia Elkins Foundation
- How to evaluate The Cynthia Elkins Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$751K
+10.1% YoY
Grant Count
41
+10.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
-0.7% YoY
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants across multiple focus areas including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, disaster preparedness and relief, arts, history, and creative writing.
Ready to take the next step with The Cynthia Elkins Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 41 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (Fiscal Year Ending November 2024):
- Total Assets: $287,149
- Total Revenue: $781,899
- Total Expenses: $759,855
- Total Giving: $750,800
Prior Year (Fiscal Year Ending November 2023):
- Total Assets: $336,892
- Total Revenue: $768,674
- Total Expenses: $692,584
- Total Grants, Contributions: $779,080
- Investment Income and Dividends: $3,165
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Daniel Murphy Scholarships ($137,500), Illinois Holocaust Museum ($92,000), American Friends of Magen David Ado ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIPS Chicago, IL | GENERAL USE | $137,500 |
| ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM Skokie, IL | GENERAL USE | $92,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF MAGEN DAVID ADO New York, NY | GENERAL USE | $55,000 |
| UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MUSEUM Washington, DC | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND Chicago, IL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| URBAN INICIATIVES Chicago, IL | GENERAL USE | $40,000 |
| NSSRA FOUNDATION Highland Park, IL | GENERAL USE | $40,000 |
| BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE Chicago, IL | GENERAL USE | $38,000 |
| LEAP Chicago, IL | GENERAL USE | $36,000 |
| ONE TAIL AT A TIME Chicago, IL | GENERAL USE | $28,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Elkins | President | — | — |
| Leslie Elkins | Vice President | — | — |
| Shannon Elkins | Secretary | — | — |
| Robyn Hulfeld | Treasurer | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 415 E North Water St Apt 2406, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-364-8725
Website: https://www.theelkinsfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from The Cynthia Elkins Foundation?
The foundation makes grants across multiple focus areas including education, philanthropy and voluntarism, human services, disaster preparedness and relief, arts, history, and creative writing. Recent grants have ranged from $36,000 to $100,000. Notable recent grants include: • Cato Institute: $100,000 (2023) • Brave Space Alliance: $37,000 (2023) • United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $36,000 (2023) The foundation made 32 grants in 2023. Typical award amounts range from $500 to $210,000.
Where does The Cynthia Elkins Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York.
What size grants does The Cynthia Elkins Foundation award?
In 2024, The Cynthia Elkins Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $751K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Cynthia Elkins Foundation's EIN?
The Cynthia Elkins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4118927. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.