The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable
The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 in Illinois and currently based in Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92.3M
+66.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+198.4% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.3M
+198.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enhance and empower medical advancement, neurodivergent populations, underserved communities, Jewish organizations, and women and children, while honoring the legacy of the founders, Jules and Gwen Knapp.
Primary funding interests include:
- Medical advancement and health
- Education
- Women and girls
- Community and economic development
- Religion and Judaism
- International human rights
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
Applications should be submitted in writing.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
$5,000–$14,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Florida, Illinois, New York, and California. Florida, Illinois, and New York account for approximately 72% of all grants, with grantmaking reaching organizations across eight states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $92,294,274
- Total revenues: $20,472,907
- Total expenses: $2,856,242
- Total grants and contributions: $17,508,748
- Investment income and dividends: $1,679,968
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.4 million in 2011 to $92.3 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,294,274 | $55,585,230 | $52,329,597 |
| Revenue | $20,472,907 | $53,565 | $50,880,522 |
| Expenses | $2,856,242 | $1,268,006 | $226,007 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,523,192 | $956,157 | $225,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,664,298 | $1,559,123 | $213,111 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,518,553 | $2,815,995 | $541,769 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Susan K. Schulman – President ($120,000 compensation, 2024)
- Elyse Knapp Sollender – Treasurer/Vice President ($120,000 compensation, 2023)
The foundation employs two staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELYSE KNAPP SOLLENDER | PRESIDENT, TREASURER | 40 | $120,000 |
| SUSAN KNAPP SCHULMAN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 40 | $120,000 |
| JOHN W RANDOLPH JR | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a $25 million gift to the University of Chicago to support the construction of a 10-story medical research facility, reflecting its commitment to advancing medical research and innovation.
$25 million gift from Jules and Gwen Knapp will help build 10-story medicalRelated Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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