The Sheba Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1994 and based in Highland Park, Illinois. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving aligned with Jewish values and ethics.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+287.5% YoY
Grant Count
51
+37.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$85K
+181.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for health, particularly children's health, as well as for Jewish federated giving programs. The foundation also supports charitable causes consistent with Jewish ethics, with notable funding directed toward the cancer center at Rush University Medical Center.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Health and children's health
- Jewish federated giving programs
- Education
- Human services
- Disaster preparedness and relief
- Support for Jewish nonprofits
Grantmaking
The foundation made eight grants in 2023. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
s:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $39.4 million
- Total Revenue: $3.55 million
- Total Expenses: $1.42 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total Assets: $44.8 million
- Total Giving: $5.29 million
Revenue Sources: Investment income and dividends comprised $1.19 million in 2023, representing a 50.1% increase from the prior year.
| 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
116 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include North Suburban Synagogue Beth El ($1,100,000), Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago ($770,195), Jewish United Fund - Kibbutz Nir Oz ($235,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE NEW YORK, NY | RESEARCH IN THE NATURAL AND EXACT SCIENCES AND ADVANCING SCIENTIFIC STUDIES IN SCHOOLS | $5,319 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY INC NEW YORK, NY | RESEARCH ON FOOD SAFETY | $222,000 |
| AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE ISRAEL-AMERICAN RELATIONS | $20,879 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | YOUTH ACTIVITIES | $5,250 |
| BUILD INC CHICAGO, IL | CHICAGOLAND YOUTH SERVICES | $8,685 |
| CAMP FOR ALL KIDS CHICAGO, IL | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | $70,200 |
| CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY | PUBLIC AFFAIRS, PUBLIC AWARENESS, COMBAT ANTI-SEMITISM | $100,000 |
| CHICAGO COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS CHICAGO, IL | YOUTH DEVELOPMENT | $4,500 |
| CHICAGO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | SURVIVOR FAMILY SERVICES | $10,000 |
| COUNCIL FOR JEWISH ELDERLY CHICAGO, IL | ELDER CARE | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel identified in recent filings:
- Steven Lavin - President
- Sheldon Lavin - Past President
- Deborah Rosenberg - Director/Assistant Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEVEN H LAVIN | DIRECTOR & PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| DEBORAH ROSENBERG | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| DAWN LAVIN | DIRECTOR & ASST. SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| MICHAEL LAVIN | TREASURER | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1849 Green Bay Rd Ste 440 Highland Park, IL 60035-3173
Telephone: 312-670-4260
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sheba Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for health, particularly children's health, as well as for Jewish federated giving programs. The foundation also supports charitable causes consistent with Jewish ethics, with notable funding directed toward the cancer center at Rush University Medical Center. Primary funding focus areas include: • Health and children's health • Jewish federated giving programs • Education • Human services • Disaster preparedness and relief • Support for Jewi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sheba Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made eight grants in 2023. Recent grants include: • Goodman Theatre: $35,000 (performing arts support) • Sinai Health System: $25,000 (general hospital funding) • Jewish Institute for National Security of America: $25,000 (education and research in support of national security) **Grant Ranges:** • Typical awards range from $100 to $2,000,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Maximum grant amount: $498,000 **Geographic Focus:** The foundation primarily funds org…
What size grants does The Sheba Foundation award?
In 2024, The Sheba Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $85K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Sheba Foundation's EIN?
The Sheba Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3976909. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sheba Foundation'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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