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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Polsky Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
- Human services
- Obesity prevention
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with The Polsky Foundation?
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include BRCA Research and Cure Alliance ($2,293,698), Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($2,006,992), University of Chicago 2016 ($1,704,101).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Club of Chicago Chicago, IL | GENERAL FUND | $31,568 |
| High Jump Chicago, IL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| Latin School of Chicago Chicago, IL | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| White Stork Winnetka, IL | GENERAL FUND | $150,000 |
| World Jewish Congress New York, NY | GENERAL FUND | $4,000 |
| Las Olas Chabad Fort Lauderdale, FL | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | General Fund | $10,000 |
| The Buddy Program Arlington Heights, IL | General Fund | $1,500 |
| Ukrainian Genocide Famine Foundation Chicago, IL | General Fund | $4,500 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Polsky Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Science and STEM education • Philanthropy and voluntarism • Human services • Obesity prevention
How do I apply for a grant from The Polsky Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 10 grants in 2023, with 30 total grants documented across recent filings • Total giving in 2024: $7,770,395 • Typical award range: $1,000–$4,000,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • White Stork - United States: $414,160 • World Resources Institute (WRI): $250,000 • Voice Health Institute: $200,000
Where does The Polsky Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois • Florida • District of Columbia
What size grants does The Polsky Foundation award?
In 2024, The Polsky Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $7.8M — an average of about $199K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Polsky Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Polsky Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Polsky Foundation's EIN?
The Polsky Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-1164639. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Polsky Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
RHS Foundation
MOLINE, IL
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
37
Total Given
$342K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Polsky Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Polsky Foundation to a real strategy.