The Tarko Foundation
The Tarko Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $907K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 31 grants totaling $52K. Net investment income was $17K.
Key facts about The Tarko Foundation
- EIN
- 84-3262587
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $52,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 31
- Average grant
- $1,677
- Median grant
- $1,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (20 of 31, 2024)
- Total assets
- $907,393
- Primary geography
- Washington (22% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Tarko Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Tarko Foundation's 31 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (22%), North Carolina (20%) and Illinois (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (7 grants), Seattle, WA (4 grants), Chicago, IL (4 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Tarko Foundation open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 31 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Tarko Foundation
- How to evaluate The Tarko Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$907K
-2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$52K
+3.0% YoY
Grant Count
31
+6.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tarko Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Tarko Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Tarko Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $907K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 31 grants totaling $52K. Net investment income was $17K.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with The Tarko Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 31 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $907,393 | $930,813 | $967,200 |
| Revenue | $43,753 | $28,530 | $23,636 |
| Expenses | $67,173 | $64,917 | $71,794 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $54,151 | $52,961 | $59,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $16,724 | $16,774 | $12,368 |
| Distributable Amount | $68,408 | $58,422 | $62,005 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
132 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lawton Elementary School PTA ($5,000), Borderless Magazine ($3,000), Asap (Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project) ($2,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LAWTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTA Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $5,000 |
| BORDERLESS MAGAZINE Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $3,000 |
| ASAP (APPALACHIAN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT) Asheville, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| DREAM OF DETROIT Detroit, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| MARWENS ARTS Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| MARY'S PLACE Seattle, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| CAWC Chicago, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| THE LAND INSTITUTE Salina, KS | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| NETWORK FOR GOOD Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
| FOOD RESEARCH & ACTION CENTER Washington, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT TO HELP FUND THE WORK OF THIS ORGANIZATION | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eli Halpern | Director | 1 | — |
| Erica Moen | Director | 1 | — |
| Robert Halpern | Director | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Tarko Foundation?
The Tarko Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $907K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Tarko Foundation?
As of 2024, The Tarko Foundation holds $907K in total assets with $44K in annual revenue. It awarded 31 grants totaling $52K in 2024.
Where does The Tarko Foundation operate?
The Tarko Foundation has awarded grants in Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin.
What size grants does The Tarko Foundation award?
In 2024, The Tarko Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $52K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Tarko Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Tarko Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Tarko Foundation's EIN?
The Tarko Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3262587. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.