The Ehlert Family Foundation
The Ehlert Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Palatine, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas including community outreach, addiction prevention and recovery, animal welfare, education, music, and services for children.
The Ehlert Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Ehlert Family Foundation gave $532K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $38K), mostly in Illinois. 36% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $532,049
- +49.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $38,004
- +38.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,517,653
- -2.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Ehlert Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1292 S Falcon Drive, Palatine, IL 60067
Phone: (847) 489-8744
Website: HTTPS://EHLERTFAMILYFOUNDATION.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Ehlert Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Inspiration Outreach Foundation ($141K). Together the top 10 received $516K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 55 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Palatine, Illinois. Its website describes its awardees as organizations working to improve lives in the Chicago area. In 2024, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 15% to Florida, and 1% each to New Mexico and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Ehlert Family Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 262% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 171% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $83K (2020) to $532K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $532K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Inspiration Outreach Foundation Palatine, IL | Expenditure Responsibility Grant | $141,018 |
| YMCA Metro of Chicago Chicago, IL | To Support Community Outreach. | $100,000 |
| Live 4 Lali Inc Arlington Heights, IL | General Support | $91,981 |
| Origins Behavioral Healthcare West Palm Beach, FL | General Support | $82,350 |
| Paws of Chicago Chicago, IL | To Support Neglected Cats and Dogs. | $37,200 |
| Ravinia Festival Association Highland Park, IL | General Support | $30,000 |
| Barb's Precious Rescue Palatine, IL | To Support Neglected Cats and Dogs. | $10,000 |
| Solly's Way Foundation Inc Lake Zurich, IL | To Support Childrens' Education. | $10,000 |
| Golden Willow Retreat Inc Arroyo Hondo, NM | General Support | $7,000 |
| Off the Street Club Chicago, IL | Swing for the Kids Event | $6,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Ehlert Family 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 | $5,517,653 | $435,693 | $586,695 | $532,049 | 14 | $540,200 | $389,198 | $315,568 |
| 2023 | $5,668,655 | $188,419 | $404,822 | $355,879 | 13 | $362,729 | $146,326 | $302,025 |
| 2022 | $5,885,058 | $375,135 | $509,524 | $447,214 | 12 | $447,214 | $315,825 | $328,661 |
| 2021 | $6,393,742 | $521,983 | $207,495 | $147,000 | 8 | $147,000 | $461,488 | $358,365 |
| 2020 | $6,257,010 | $4,093,646 | $153,962 | $82,512 | 8 | — | $65,316 | $286,005 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ehlert Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $316K 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
The foundation’s website lists Barb’s Precious Rescue and Adoption Center, Live4Lali, Miss Carly’s, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services, Palatine Township programs, Project H.O.O.D., Solly’s Way Foundation, and Buehler YMCA of Metro Chicago among its awardees. The listed Palatine Township programs include Thanksgiving Baskets, Angel Tree, and a Food Pantry.
Grantee descriptions illustrate the kinds of work supported. Live 4 Lali says it provides funding for children’s drug-prevention education and aims to prevent substance use and reduce related harms. Ravinia Festival Association describes its mission as enriching lives through music, including through performances, education, training, and community engagement. Golden Willow Retreat says it promotes healthy grieving through therapeutic programming and professional development. Off the Street Club describes community activities for underprivileged children, while Mulliganeers says it raises funds for therapy and equipment for children. St. Baldrick’s Foundation describes its work as supporting research toward cures for childhood cancers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave $532,049 through 14 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,500 to $141,018, with a median grant of $10,000.
The largest 2024 grants included $141,018 to Inspiration Outreach Foundation for an expenditure-responsibility grant; $100,000 to YMCA Metro of Chicago for community outreach; $91,981 to Live 4 Lali Inc. for general support; $82,350 to Origins Behavioral Healthcare for general support; and $37,200 to PAWS of Chicago to support neglected cats and dogs. Other grants included $30,000 to Ravinia Festival Association and $10,000 each to Barb’s Precious Rescue and Solly’s Way Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Stacy Lee Ehlert as president, Marilyn Ehlert as treasurer, and Laurie Turner as secretary. Directors listed are Rob Colbert, Kathy Roeser, Sharyn DeLaurentis Nakos, and Barb Weber.
The Ehlert Family Foundation is led by Stacy Lee Ehlert, President on the 2024 filing; none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Stacy Lee Ehlert
President
New on the 2024 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barb Weber
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathy Roeser
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rob Colbert
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharyn Delaurentis Nakos
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Ehlert
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Turner
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Stacy Lee Harding (2020–2023) — President
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 Ehlert Family Foundation
How much does The Ehlert Family Foundation give each year?
The Ehlert Family Foundation gave $532K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $356K across 13 grants.
What is The Ehlert Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Ehlert Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $38,004, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Ehlert Family Foundation that year got $48K on average.
Where does The Ehlert Family Foundation give grants?
The Ehlert Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Palatine, IL (2 grants).
Does The Ehlert Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of The Ehlert Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Ehlert Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Ehlert Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Inspiration Outreach Foundation ($141,018), YMCA Metro of Chicago ($100,000) and Live 4 Lali Inc ($91,981), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Ehlert Family Foundation?
The Ehlert Family Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $540K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $316K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Ehlert Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website lists Barb’s Precious Rescue and Adoption Center, Live4Lali, Miss Carly’s, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services, Palatine Township programs, Project H.O.O.D., Solly’s Way Foundation, and Buehler YMCA of Metro Chicago among its awardees. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Ehlert Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Ehlert Family Foundation's EIN?
The Ehlert Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0626100. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Ehlert Family 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Ehlert Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ehlert-family-foundation-morg_fe5f69d28c1941f295530baf380bd0de
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_020626100_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Ehlert Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ehlert-family-foundation-morg_fe5f69d28c1941f295530baf380bd0de},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Ehlert Family 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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