The Polsky Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2003, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and maintains its principal office at One South Wacker Drive, Suite 1810, Chicago, IL 60606-4614.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$63.5M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.8M
+78.1% YoY
Grant Count
39
-15.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$199K
+110.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
- Obesity prevention
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois
- Florida
- District of Columbia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $62,785,818
- Total revenues: $3,413,668
- Total expenses: $4,712,068
- Total liabilities: $74,000
Revenue Breakdown (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $814,752
- Investment income and dividends: $967,509
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $568,436
- Miscellaneous revenues: $1,062,971
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $63,458,565
- Total giving: $7,770,395
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $63,458,565 | $62,785,818 | $68,739,918 |
| Revenue | $3,326,501 | $3,413,668 | $13,432,580 |
| Expenses | $8,196,597 | $4,712,068 | $9,182,513 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,060,567 | $4,421,312 | $9,059,259 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,225,290 | $2,488,184 | $12,330,590 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,429,485 | $2,553,555 | $2,620,947 |
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
138 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
The foundation's trustees include:
- Michael P. Polsky
- Jonathan Taiber
- David Canmann
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL P POLSKY | PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JONATHAN TAIBER | TREASURER AND DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DAVID CANMANN | SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Polsky Foundation has supported significant educational initiatives, including the Polsky Energy Transition Leadership Academy launched at the University of Chicago with a $25 million gift, and a $12.5 million grant to UChicago's Polsky Center.
Polk Bros. Foundation to release three grant opportunities to support community-drivenSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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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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