The Simon Family Foundation
The Simon Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Highland Park, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports 49 grants totaling $5,470,000, with recipients including organizations working in food access, theatre, breast health, education, reproductive health, and humanitarian food relief.
The Simon Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Simon Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 49 grants in 2024 (avg $112K), mostly in Illinois. 8% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,470,000
- +12.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 49
- -2.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $111,633
- +14.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $59,545,098
- +4.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (4 of 49, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Simon Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Albert Simon III with a written statement of charitable purpose. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Albert Simon Iii
Mailing address: 1755 Lake Cook Rd Apt 314, Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: (847) 835-9195
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Simon Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Greater Chicago Food Depository ($400K). Together the top 10 received $2.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
256 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 256 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 13% to New York, 8% to the District of Columbia, and 3% each to Minnesota and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Simon Family Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 49 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $121K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 86% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+20%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2020) to $5.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 49 grants totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $400,000 |
| Timeline Theatre Company Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $370,000 |
| A Silver Lining Foundation Chicagoland Cancer Info Coalition Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $325,000 |
| Donorschoose Org New York, NY | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $300,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $300,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Incorporated Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $300,000 |
| Jewish National Fund Inc Northbrook, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $250,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of Illinois Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $200,000 |
| Center for Science in the Public Interest Washington, DC | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $160,000 |
| Providence St Mel School Chicago, IL | To Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization | $160,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $59,545,098 | $8,519,032 | $6,183,169 | $5,470,000 | 49 | $5,573,285 | $8,038,257 | $5,538,641 |
| 2023 | $56,874,508 | $6,872,356 | $5,394,444 | $4,860,000 | 50 | $4,968,125 | $5,863,878 | $4,787,631 |
| 2022 | $55,757,890 | $3,999,166 | $5,506,576 | $4,790,000 | 50 | $4,887,062 | $3,532,852 | $4,833,557 |
| 2021 | $57,269,601 | $9,855,130 | $5,117,234 | $4,570,000 | 52 | $4,675,625 | $9,401,562 | $4,801,286 |
| 2020 | $52,535,533 | $3,229,902 | $4,447,714 | $3,750,000 | 55 | — | $2,575,852 | $3,974,607 |
| 2019 | $53,994,699 | $13,680,063 | $4,647,214 | $4,236,000 | 53 | — | $13,442,123 | $4,234,168 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Simon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the Greater Chicago Food Depository says its mission is to end hunger, while Timeline Theatre Company says it presents history-inspired stories connected to current social and political issues. A Silver Lining Foundation describes its work as providing cost-free breast health testing, and DonorsChoose.org says it addresses educational inequity by engaging the public in public schools.
Other 2024 recipients include World Central Kitchen, which says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises; Planned Parenthood of Illinois, which describes its work as reproductive health care, education, and rights; and Providence St. Mel School, which says it provides a college-preparatory education to students from preschool through grade 12.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $5,470,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $400,000, with a median grant of $100,000.
Among the largest awards were $400,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository; $370,000 to Timeline Theatre Company; $325,000 to A Silver Lining Foundation; and $300,000 each to DonorsChoose.org, Northern Illinois Food Bank, and World Central Kitchen. Other listed awards included $250,000 to Jewish National Fund, $200,000 to Planned Parenthood of Illinois, and $160,000 each to the Center for Science in the Public Interest and Providence St. Mel School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Albert Simon III as president, Judith Simon as vice president, and Steven Simon as assistant.
The Simon Family Foundation is led by Albert Simon III, President on every filing since 2019; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Albert Simon III
President
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$48K (2019) → $48K (2024)
Judith Simon
Vice President
On filings since 2019
15 hrs/week
$48K (2019) → $48K (2024)
Steven Simon
Assistant
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $48K, to Albert Simon III (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Simon Family Foundation
How much does The Simon Family Foundation give each year?
The Simon Family Foundation gave $5.5M across 49 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.9M across 50 grants.
What is The Simon Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Simon Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $111,633, across 49 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Simon Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Simon Family Foundation give grants?
The Simon Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (13%) and District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (20 grants), New York, NY (5 grants), Evanston, IL (3 grants) and Glencoe, IL (3 grants).
Who are The Simon Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Simon Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Greater Chicago Food Depository ($400,000), Timeline Theatre Company ($370,000) and A Silver Lining Foundation Chicagoland Cancer Info Coalition ($325,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Simon Family Foundation?
The Simon Family Foundation reported $59.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Simon Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Simon Family Foundation?
Contact Albert Simon III with a written statement of charitable purpose. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Simon Family Foundation's EIN?
The Simon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4325958. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Simon Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Simon Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-simon-family-foundation-morg_ed202fd613c04aa4a3a8d5eaad9e2cbc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364325958_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Simon Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-simon-family-foundation-morg_ed202fd613c04aa4a3a8d5eaad9e2cbc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Simon Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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