Thierer Family Foundation
The Thierer Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 2015 and granted tax-exempt status in June 2016. The foundation is committed to improving life for people in Chicago by increasing the impact of local nonprofit organizations working to break the cycle of poverty. The foundation collaborates with nonprofit organizations and strategically funds innovative technology projects that make organizations and systemic processes more effective, efficient, and sustainable.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.4M
-30.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$639K
-11.9% YoY
Grant Count
13
-13.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+1.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thierer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Thierer Family Foundation's mission is to increase the impact of nonprofit organizations by helping them leverage innovative ideas and technology in order to be more effective, efficient, and sustainable.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Food insecurity and food access
- Shelter and human services
- Arts and culture
- Education
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
The foundation emphasizes funding projects that combine technology and innovative ideas with necessary financial resources to enable organizations to provide better services and reach more people.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Illinois (particularly Chicago and Chicagoland)
- North Carolina
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $9.2 million
- Total Revenue: $2.17 million
- Total Expenses: $2.94 million
- Total Liabilities: $64,200
- Total Giving: $638,904
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6.43 million
Revenue Sources (2023):
- Grants and contributions: $737,264
- Investment income and dividends: $201,476
The foundation has 5 employees and maintains a staffed operation with dedicated paid personnel.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,430,192 | $9,196,491 | $10,028,904 |
| Revenue | $-1,021,629 | $2,165,170 | $1,606,198 |
| Expenses | $1,645,376 | $2,935,776 | $2,670,792 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,594,894 | $2,900,179 | $2,599,475 |
| Net Investment Income | $161,271 | $1,405,309 | $1,555,364 |
| Distributable Amount | $289,053 | $313,822 | $552,094 |
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
71 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Food Access Project ($400,000), Sinai Health System ($102,527), Nourishing Hope ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | LUNCHEON | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO BOTANICAL GARDENS GLENCOE, IL | GENERAL FUNDING | $15,000 |
| COLLABORATIVE ARTS INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | ARTS & CULTURE GRANT | $5,000 |
| FOOD ACCESS PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | FOOD & BASIC NECESSITIES | $400,000 |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY CHICAGO, IL | ANNUAL SUPPORT AND PREPARED MEAL OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
| GREENLIGHT FUND INC BOSTON, MA | GENERAL FUNDING | $10,000 |
| LITTLE HEROES LEAGUE CHICAGO, IL | FOOD & BASIC NECESSITIES | $5,000 |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | ARTS & CULTURE GRANT | $25,377 |
| MANNA FOOD BANK ASHEVILLE, NC | GENERAL FUNDING | $5,000 |
| MPN RESEARCH FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUNDING | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board and Key Staff:
- Nasrin S. Thierer — President (5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Mark A. Thierer — Officer/Co-Founder (5 hours/week, unpaid)
- Stephanie Thierer — Officer (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Jonathon Thierer — Officer (1 hour/week, unpaid)
- Meghan Zimmerman — VP of Product Operations ($140,000/year)
- Heather Forsythe — Director of Data Systems ($115,000/year)
- Lisa Church — Director of Food Bank ($88,000/year)
- Rita Ann Davenport — Director of Operations ($64,000/year)
- Michael Januszewski — Chief Technology Officer
- Sam Gillespie — Chief Financial Officer
The foundation is supported by Nasrin S. Thierer and is part of the broader Thierer family philanthropic and business ecosystem.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASRIN S THIERER | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| MARK A THIERER | OFFICER | 5 | — |
| STEPHANIE THIERER | OFFICER | 1 | — |
| JONATHON THIERER | OFFICER | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Thierer Family Foundation launched **Vivery Community**, a public charity designed to expand access to nutritious food and benefits nationwide. This represents a significant expansion of the foundation's work in food insecurity, moving beyond local Chicago-based grantmaking to a national initiative.
Thierer Family Foundation Launches Vivery Community, a Public Charity toVivery was named a winner of the 21st Annual Chicago Innovation Awards, recognizing the foundation's innovative approach to addressing food access challenges.
Vivery is Named Winner of the 21st Annual Chicago Innovation ...The foundation continues to design and develop specialized technology to connect food pantries with those in need of food, reflecting its core commitment to leveraging technology for nonprofit effectiveness.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Thierer Family Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Thierer Family Foundation's mission is to increase the impact of nonprofit organizations by helping them leverage innovative ideas and technology in order to be more effective, efficient, and sustainable. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Food insecurity and food access • Shelter and human services • Arts and culture • Education • Philanthropy and grantmaking The foundation emphasizes funding projects that combine technology and innovative ideas with necessary financial resources to e…
How do I apply for a grant from Thierer Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Recent grants range from $1,000 to $500,000 • Median grant size: $10,000 • The foundation made 13-15 grants in recent years **Recent Grants (2023):** • Vivery Community NFP: $500,000 (Food & Basic Necessities) • Lyric Opera of Chicago: $49,730 (Arts & Culture) • Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago: $25,000 (Arts & Culture) • Lakeview Pantry (grantee mentioned) **Grant Type:** Impact Project Grants are awarded to fund the growth and evolution of nonprofit organizations …
Where does Thierer Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Illinois (particularly Chicago and Chicagoland) • North Carolina • Massachusetts
What size grants does Thierer Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Thierer Family Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $639K — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thierer Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thierer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $289K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thierer Family Foundation's EIN?
Thierer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-0718077. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thierer Family 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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