The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute

Private foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 45-2430087

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute is a private foundation focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 6 grants totaling $94K.

Key facts about The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute

In short: The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute gave $94K across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), top state California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
45-2430087
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$93,831
Grants made (2024)
6
Average grant
$15,639
Median grant
$15,556
Total assets
$7,751,126
Primary geography
California (12% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.8M

-37.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$94K

+293.9% YoY

Grant Count

6

+200.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$16K

+31.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute reported a distributable amount of $463K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute gives

  • Giving fell 36% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoMerced

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K2 grants2020 2 grants2021 2 grants2022 2 grants2023 6 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $24K (2023) to $244K (2020). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $94K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 5 recipients in 2024

Shenzen Zhilan Foundation: $28KShenzen Zhilan Foundation$28KShenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation: $24K across 2 grantsShenzhen Mangrove WetlandsConservation Foundation$24K · 2 grantsChina Institute of Green Carbon: $20KChina Institute of GreenCarbon$20KDuke Kunshan University: $11KDuke Kunshan University$11KUniversity of California Merced: $11KUniversity of CaliforniaMerced$11K

The largest 2024 recipient was Shenzen Zhilan Foundation ($28K). Together the top 5 received $94K.

Grant Size Distribution

14 grants across all recorded years

10<$50K$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 14 (71%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Shenzen Zhilan Foundation Implementation of biodiversity conservation projects related to the protection of china's coastal wetland ecosystem.$28,090
Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation Implementing the project "protected area for public welfare in wuyuanhe national wetland park of haikou city".$20,833
China Institute of Green Carbon Develop the green voluntary carbon emisison reduction system (GVER) and related methodologies, research, and explore biodiversity credit project development and credit trading, implement GVER-based biodiversity credit pilots, and scale up the application of the GVER standard.$20,000
Duke Kunshan University Implementation on the Promoting Bird-Friendly Urban Development Project.$11,111
University of California Merced Merced, CALeadership Training Program for National Parks$11,000
Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation For organizing the symposium on cities and biodiversity: aligning cities with the global biodiversity framework in shenzhen.$2,797

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,751,126$12,460,230$16,366,113
Revenue$1,092,182$1,010,985$1,692,706
Expenses$6,001,870$5,936,203$5,677,370
Qualifying Distributions$5,452,115$5,323,224$4,487,080
Net Investment Income—$95,977—
Distributable Amount$462,518$672,763$821,200

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 16, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute is led by Deborah Lehr, Executive Director & Vice Chairman on every filing since 2020; 2 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Deborah Lehr

    Executive Director & Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $150K (2020) → $151K (2024)

  • Henry M. Paulson Jr.

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    7.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Claire Buchan Parker

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Evan Feigenbaum

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelley Folino

    Chief Operating Officer & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $106K (2020) → $183K (2024)

  • Terry Robbins

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wendy J. Paulson

    Vice Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    2 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

Kelley Folino — Chief Operating Officer/ Secretary: $183KKelley FolinoChief Operating Officer/…$183KDeborah Lehr — Executive Director/ Vice Chairman: $151KDeborah LehrExecutive Director/ Vice…$151K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $183K, to Kelley Folino (Chief Operating Officer/ Secretary). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute

How much does The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute give each year?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute gave $94K across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $24K across 2 grants.

What is The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's typical grant size?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's median grant in 2024 was $15,556, and its average grant was $15,639, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute give grants?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's top state is California, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Does The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's largest grantees?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Shenzen Zhilan Foundation ($28,090), Shenzhen Mangrove Wetlands Conservation Foundation ($23,630 across 2 grants) and China Institute of Green Carbon ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute reported $7.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $463K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute is a private foundation focused on International, Foreign Affairs & National Security, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $7.8M in total assets as of 2024.

What is The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's EIN?

The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2430087. 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.

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