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.
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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
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 | — | — | — |
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 include Daniel Murphy Scholarships ($137,500), Illinois Holocaust Museum ($92,000), American Friends of Magen David Ado ($55,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE ART CENTER OF HIGHLAND PARK HIGHLAND PARK, IL | GENERAL USE | $20,000 |
| CANINE CAMPANIONS OCEANSIDE, CA | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE | $6,000 |
| DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIPS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE | $137,500 |
| ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM SKOKIE, IL | GENERAL USE | $92,000 |
| INVEST FOR KIDS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | GENERAL USE | $10,000 |
| OWLS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| CENTER FOR ENRICHED LIVING RIVERWOODS, IL | GENERAL USE | $5,000 |
| ONE TAIL AT A TIME CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL USE | $28,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Cynthia Elkins Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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