The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable

Foundation · Grantmaker Palm Beach, FL EIN: 36-3381401

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.

Key facts about The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable

EIN
36-3381401
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,262,000
Grants made (2024)
1
Average grant
$2,262,000
Median grant
$2,262,000
Total assets
$92,294,274
Primary geography
Florida (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
Applications should be submitted in writing. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

How The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable gives

  • Giving grew 1470% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 72% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

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

Next steps with The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable

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

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

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

8states

Share of all 1 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

StuartNew YorkSan DiegoChicagoWashingtonPalm BeachBoca RatonBoynton BeachDunwoodyEvanstonPalm Beach GardensPalm CityPort StlucieSkokieTallahasseeAtlantaBala CynwydBrooklynChigagoEncinitas

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$14M$28M$42M$56M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$566K$1M$2M$2M47 grants202032 grants20211 grants20221 grants20231 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 1 recipients in 2024

See Detailed Statement: $2.3MSee Detailed Statement$2.3M

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

77<$50K2$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include See Detailed Statement ($2,262,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
SEE DETAILED STATEMENT Palm Beach, FLGENERAL PURPOSE$2,262,000

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

Elyse Knapp Sollender — President, Treasurer: $120KElyse Knapp SollenderPresident, Treasurer$120KSusan Knapp Schulman — Vice-President: $120KSusan Knapp SchulmanVice-President$120K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
Elyse Knapp SollenderPresident, Treasurer40$120,000
Susan Knapp SchulmanVice-President40$120,000
John W Randolph JrDirector0.3—

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 medical

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable fund?

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

How do I apply for a grant from The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable?

Applications should be submitted in writing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable make 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.

What size grants does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable award?

In 2024, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable awarded 1 grant totaling $2.3M — an average of about $2.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable's EIN?

The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3381401. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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