The Jessica Fund
The Jessica Fund is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, with a presence in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Established in 1987, it operates as a small family foundation focused on supporting arts and culture, advocacy, and social change initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$308K
-53.7% YoY
Grant Count
30
+20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-61.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Jessica Fund supports the arts, advocacy programs for women and girls, and social change. Primary funding areas include:
- Arts, Culture & Humanities
- Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy, and Social Justice
- Education
- Human Services
The foundation emphasizes general operating support for its grantees.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry and proposals. Applications should be two typewritten pages. Contact by email is preferred.
Grant Range
$500–$350,000
Average Grant
amount: $17,838
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Jessica Fund funds organizations primarily in:
- Illinois
- California
- New York
- Texas
- Florida
- Maryland
- Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,917,253
- Total Revenue: $417,983
- Total Expenses: $339,891
- Total Giving: $307,830
- Giving Rate: 10.7%
IRS Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation (EIN: 36-6850332)
| 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
128 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Chicago Theatre Group Inc ($100,000), Museum of Contemporary Art ($27,500), The Brearley School ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,600 |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| CHICAGO SINAI TEMPLE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $6,225 |
| CHICAGO THEATRE GROUP INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FRANCIS W PARKER SCHOOL CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $11,000 |
| GEORGIA O'KEEFE MUSEUM SANTA FE, NM | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| GOODMAN THEATRE GROUP CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM SKOKIE, IL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,600 |
| MITZVAH MATTERS LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carol Prins – President and Trustee (5 hours/week)
- John Hart – Trustee (1 hour/week)
- Audrey Prins – Trustee (0.5 hours/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL PRINS | TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JOHN HART | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| AUDREY PRINS | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jessica Fund fund?
The Jessica Fund supports the arts, advocacy programs for women and girls, and social change. Primary funding areas include: • Arts, Culture & Humanities • Civil Rights, Social Action, Advocacy, and Social Justice • Education • Human Services The foundation emphasizes general operating support for its grantees.
How do I apply for a grant from The Jessica Fund?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 50 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $307,830 • Grant range: $500–$350,000 • Average grant amount: $17,838 • Median grant amount: $17,838 **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Goodman Theatre: $100,000 • Museum of Contemporary Art: $27,500 • Brearley School: $20,000 **Application Process:** The foundation accepts letters of inquiry and proposals. Applications should be two typewritten pages. Contact by email is preferred. **Contact for Applications:** • Email: [email prote…
Where does The Jessica Fund make grants?
The Jessica Fund funds organizations primarily in: • Illinois • California • New York • Texas • Florida • Maryland • Santa Fe County, New Mexico
What size grants does The Jessica Fund award?
In 2024, The Jessica Fund awarded 30 grants totaling $308K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Jessica Fund's EIN?
The Jessica Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6850332. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jessica Fund'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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