The Irmgard Cheek Foundation
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Desert, California. In filing year 2025, it reported 16 grants totaling $46,202 to charitable organizations, with stated purposes including support for people with disabilities, arts, organizational support, conservation, research, and education.
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation at a glance
In short: The Irmgard Cheek Foundation gave $46K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,202
- +8.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,888
- -18.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,552
- Total assets
- $1,583,589
- -0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Irmgard Cheek Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 73214 Loma Vista Lane, Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 341-6656
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Irmgard Cheek Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Challenged Sailors San Diego ($13K). Together the top 10 received $42K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 32 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 1% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Irmgard Cheek Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 (2023–2025). 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 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2023) to $46K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Challenged Sailors San Diego San Diego, CA | Support/Persons with Disabilities | $12,500 |
| San Diego Symphony San Diego, CA | Support Arts | $6,036 |
| Stand with US Los Angeles, CA | Organizational Support | $4,300 |
| Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic Palm Desert, CA | Organizational Support | $4,000 |
| Shays Warriors Life After Cancer Palm Desrt, CA | Organizational Support | $4,000 |
| Broadway San Diego San Diego, CA | Organizational Support | $3,700 |
| Friends of Desert Mountains Palm Desert, CA | Support Conservation | $3,240 |
| San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance San Diego, CA | Organizational Support | $1,604 |
| UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Research | $1,500 |
| Desert Town Hall La Quinta, CA | Organizational Support | $1,350 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,583,589 | $60,504 | $71,876 | $46,202 | 16 | $71,876 | $34,830 | $77,788 |
| 2024 | $1,594,961 | $293,622 | $74,463 | $42,590 | 12 | $74,463 | $259,212 | $55,173 |
| 2023 | $1,375,802 | $1,410,065 | $34,263 | $4,318 | 4 | $34,263 | — | $59,199 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Irmgard Cheek Foundation reported a distributable amount of $78K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic describes its mission as providing classical music to the area and funds for charitable purposes and scholarships. UCLA Foundation describes itself as UCLA’s giving, receiving, and investing arm, enabling private donors to advance the university’s academic and research work. The Anti-Defamation League describes its mission as stopping the defamation of Jewish people and securing justice and fair treatment for all. USS Midway Museum says it preserves the historic ship and the legacy of those who serve, while seeking to inspire and educate future generations and entertain museum guests.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $46,202. Grants ranged from $270 to $12,500, with a median of $1,552. Larger grants included $12,500 to Challenged Sailors San Diego for support of persons with disabilities; $6,036 to San Diego Symphony for arts support; $4,300 to Stand With Us for organizational support; $4,000 each to Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic and Shays Warriors Life After Cancer for organizational support; and $3,240 to Friends of Desert Mountains for conservation support. Other reported grants included $1,500 to UCLA Foundation for research, $1,000 to LA County Science & Eng Fair for education, $520 to Anti-Defamation League, and $270 to USS Midway Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sabby Jonathan as Controller, Wendy Jonathan as Secretary, and Becky Hartung as CFO.
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Becky Hartung
CFO
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Sabby Jonathan
Controller
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Wendy Jonathan
Secretary
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "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 Irmgard Cheek Foundation
How much does The Irmgard Cheek Foundation give each year?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation gave $46K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $43K across 12 grants.
What is The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's typical grant size?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,552, and its average grant was $2,888, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Irmgard Cheek Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Irmgard Cheek Foundation give grants?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (7 grants), Palm Desert, CA (3 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does The Irmgard Cheek Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Organizational Support" (9 grants).
Who are The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's largest grantees?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Challenged Sailors San Diego ($12,500), San Diego Symphony ($6,036) and Stand with US ($4,300), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Irmgard Cheek Foundation?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $72K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $78K (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 Irmgard Cheek Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a range of organizations. For example, Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic describes its mission as providing classical music to the area and funds for charitable purposes and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Irmgard Cheek Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's EIN?
The Irmgard Cheek Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-1586861. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Does The Irmgard Cheek 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
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Figures come from The Irmgard Cheek 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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