The Tenzer Family Foundation
The Tenzer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 filing lists 25 grants totaling $146,130.
The Tenzer Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Tenzer Family Foundation gave $146K across 25 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Florida. 16% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $146,130
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 25
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,845
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $6,050,721
- +2.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (4 of 25, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Florida (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Tenzer Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 141 W Jackson Blvd Suite 2036, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 386-9760
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Tenzer Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Shriners Hospital for Children ($55K). Together the top 10 received $131K.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 133 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Among 2025 grant dollars, 59% went to recipients in Florida, 23% to Illinois, 5% to Colorado, 4% to New Jersey, and 3% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Tenzer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 25 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 84% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 137% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 31% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2022) to $3.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 25 grants totaling $146K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shriners Hospital for Children Tampa, FL | General Purposes | $55,000 |
| Artis-Naples Naples, FL | General Purposes | $25,000 |
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $15,000 |
| Wind River Ministries Inc Estes Park, CO | General Purposes | $8,000 |
| Blessings in a Backpack Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| Depaul College Prep Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control (Fcacc) Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| St Jude's Children's Research Hospital Memphis, TN | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| The MDS Foundation Yardville, NJ | General Purposes | $5,000 |
| Gulfshore Playhouse Naples, FL | General Purposes | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Tenzer Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,050,721 | $352,266 | $213,010 | $146,130 | 25 | $147,820 | $287,076 | $483,845 |
| 2024 | $5,907,580 | $579,749 | $192,418 | $117,980 | 25 | $119,870 | $507,201 | $451,597 |
| 2023 | $6,221,722 | $7,631,420 | $3,112,490 | $3,061,227 | 25 | $3,064,317 | $473,654 | $391,126 |
| 2022 | $2,707,961 | $122,210 | $93,835 | $61,580 | 27 | $61,580 | $89,955 | $161,371 |
| 2021 | $2,679,586 | $1,123,871 | $3,340,304 | $3,302,222 | 31 | $3,302,222 | $561,003 | $251,656 |
| 2020 | $4,896,019 | $131,021 | $308,574 | $271,590 | 29 | — | $101,584 | $248,548 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Tenzer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $484K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions span different activities. Blessings in a Backpack says it provides weekend food for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry. Gulfshore Playhouse says it is committed to professional theatre in Southwest Florida and to developing its education department. Heavens Gait Ranch describes its work as equine activities under PATH International and building a compassionate community. Wounded Warrior Project says it serves post-9/11 wounded, ill, and injured veterans, service members, and their families.
Other 2025 grantees include Danny Did Foundation, which says it works to raise awareness of epilepsy and SUDEP and prevent seizure-related deaths, and Smile Train, which says it aims to provide people born with clefts the same opportunities in life as those born without clefts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 25 grants totaling $146,130. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $55,000, with a median of $2,000. Its largest grants included $55,000 to Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, Florida; $25,000 to Artis-Naples in Naples, Florida; and $15,000 to Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund in Chicago, Illinois. The listed grants were for general purposes.
The foundation made 25 grants totaling $117,980 in 2024 and 25 grants totaling $3,061,227 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathryn L McClain, Marilyn E Tenzer, Rebecca E Tenzer, and Melissa K Tenzer as trustees.
The Tenzer Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marilyn E. Tenzer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn L. McClain
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa K. Tenzer
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca E. Tenzer
Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lee E. Tenzer (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Tenzer Family Foundation
How much does The Tenzer Family Foundation give each year?
The Tenzer Family Foundation gave $146K across 25 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $118K across 25 grants.
What is The Tenzer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Tenzer Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $5,845, across 25 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Tenzer Family Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Tenzer Family Foundation give grants?
The Tenzer Family Foundation gives mostly in Florida: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (23%) and Colorado (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants), Naples, FL (3 grants) and Williams Bay, WI (2 grants).
Does The Tenzer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Tenzer Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (25 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Tenzer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Tenzer Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Shriners Hospital for Children ($55,000), Artis-Naples ($25,000) and Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Tenzer Family Foundation?
The Tenzer Family Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $148K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $484K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Tenzer Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions span different activities. Blessings in a Backpack says it provides weekend food for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Tenzer Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Tenzer Family Foundation's EIN?
The Tenzer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7613423. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Tenzer Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Tenzer Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Tenzer Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Tenzer Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-tenzer-family-foundation-morg_1ac58ad046fd4899b99f2f5bea466343
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_367613423_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Tenzer Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-tenzer-family-foundation-morg_1ac58ad046fd4899b99f2f5bea466343},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Tenzer 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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