The Geraldi Norton Foundation
The Geraldi Norton Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmette, Illinois. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including colleges and schools, arts and cultural institutions, and organizations working on health and education.
The Geraldi Norton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Geraldi Norton Foundation gave $173K across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Massachusetts. 12% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $173,100
- +15.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- +6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,091
- +8.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $2,215,479
- -4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 12% first-time grantees (4 of 34, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (31% 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 Geraldi Norton Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter explaining the purpose to Kathryn Wise. The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None; grants are usually paid in December.
- Deadline
- None; grants are usually paid in December.
- Contact
Application contact: Kathryn Wise
Mailing address: P O Box 10, Kenilworth, IL 60043
Phone: (847) 251-9733
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Geraldi Norton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Trinity College ($30K). Together the top 10 received $140K.
Grant Size Distribution
174 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 174 grants of 174 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that grants are made principally in the Chicago area. In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were 31% in Massachusetts, 19% in Illinois, 19% in Connecticut, 14% in Vermont, and 13% in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Geraldi Norton Foundation open to new grantees?
12%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 34 grantees (12%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $119K (2022) to $173K (2024). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $173K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trinity College Hartford, CT | Annual Fund & All-in Campaign | $30,000 |
| FSHD Society Lexington, MA | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Harvard College Cambridge, MA | Evansfield Scholars Fund | $25,000 |
| Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation Plymouth, VT | Coolidge Scholars Program | $24,850 |
| The Clemente Course in the Humanities Annandaleonhudson, NY | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| The Metropolitan Opera New York, NY | National Council Auditions-New England Region | $4,750 |
| Providence St Mel School Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $4,000 |
| Midwest Young Artists Conservatory Highwood, IL | Unrestricted | $3,250 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Sustaining Fellows | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Geraldi Norton Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Grantmaking totals reported for the three filing years:
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,215,479 | $143,725 | $242,142 | $173,100 | 34 | $203,103 | $106,819 | $212,024 |
| 2023 | $2,312,265 | $30,643 | $220,223 | $149,550 | 32 | $157,670 | $26,694 | $191,171 |
| 2022 | $2,503,242 | $113,188 | $196,154 | $119,100 | 33 | $151,790 | $71,701 | $193,117 |
| 2021 | $2,586,208 | $149,203 | $226,924 | $156,100 | 38 | $183,621 | $109,905 | $217,432 |
| 2020 | $2,663,929 | $297,204 | $214,018 | $147,100 | 37 | — | $259,901 | $175,403 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Geraldi Norton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $212K 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 recipients included organizations with varied missions. Trinity College describes its mission as providing excellence in liberal arts education, while Providence St. Mel School describes its mission as providing a college-preparatory education to students from preschool through grade 12, primarily targeting students on Chicago’s West Side. The FSHD Society says it works to find treatments and a cure for facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy while empowering families. The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation says it works to perpetuate Coolidge’s memory through education.
Other 2024 recipients included Miss Porter’s School, which says it educates young women to become informed, bold, resourceful, and ethical global citizens; Groton School, which says it inspires lives of character, scholarship, leadership, and service; and Glen View Club Scholarship Foundation, which says it provides scholarships and other educational support to employees, families, and caddies of Glen View Club.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $173,100. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $30,000, with a median of $1,500. Its largest grants included $30,000 to Trinity College for its Annual Fund and All-In Campaign; $25,000 to the FSHD Society for unrestricted support; $25,000 to Harvard College for the Evansfield Scholars Fund; and $24,850 to the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation for its Coolidge Scholars Program. Other recipients included The Clemente Course in the Humanities ($15,000, unrestricted), Ravinia Festival ($5,000, unrestricted), and the Metropolitan Opera ($4,750, for National Council Auditions—New England Region).
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications are to be sent to Kathryn Wise as a letter explaining the purpose. Grants are made principally in the Chicago area, and the foundation does not make grants to individuals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathryn Wise as president and secretary, Christopher Eklund as chairman and treasurer, and Peter H. Eklund as vice president.
The Geraldi Norton Foundation is led by Kathryn Wise, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathryn Wise
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Christopher Eklund
Chairman & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Peter H. Eklund
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $26K, to Christopher Eklund (Chairman & Treasurer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Geraldi Norton Foundation
How much does The Geraldi Norton Foundation give each year?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation gave $173K across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $150K across 32 grants.
What is The Geraldi Norton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,500, and its average grant was $5,091, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Geraldi Norton Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Geraldi Norton Foundation give grants?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (19%) and Connecticut (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Winnetka, IL (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does The Geraldi Norton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of The Geraldi Norton Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 34) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Geraldi Norton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Trinity College ($30,000), FSHD Society ($25,000) and Harvard College ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Geraldi Norton Foundation?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $203K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $212K (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 Geraldi Norton Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 recipients included organizations with varied missions. Trinity College describes its mission as providing excellence in liberal arts education, while Providence St. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Geraldi Norton Foundation?
Submit a letter explaining the purpose to Kathryn Wise. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Geraldi Norton Foundation's EIN?
The Geraldi Norton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6069997. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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 May 26, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 22, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Geraldi Norton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Geraldi Norton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-geraldi-norton-foundation-morg_7a67ad50a9c64d3fa622f156b98aaeed
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366069997_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Geraldi Norton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-geraldi-norton-foundation-morg_7a67ad50a9c64d3fa622f156b98aaeed},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Geraldi Norton 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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