Walder Foundation
Walder Foundation is a private family foundation based in Skokie, Illinois, established by Joseph z”l and Elizabeth Walder. It champions Chicago and invests in science innovation, environmental sustainability, the performing arts, migration and immigrant communities, and Jewish life to uplift local communities and elevate the region’s contributions to the world.
Walder Foundation at a glance
In short: Walder Foundation gave $24.4M across 200 grants in 2024 (avg $122K), mostly in Illinois. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $24,415,290
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 200
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $122,076
- +12.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $77,500
- Total assets
- $154,578,741
- -17.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (32 of 145, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (70% 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 Walder Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It identifies organizations aligned with its program strategies and invites them to apply. If there are open funding opportunities, they are announced on its website.
- Contact
Mailing address: Foundation Source 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Website: https://walderfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walder Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago ($2.3M). Together the top 10 received $8.0M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($66,667), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
934 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 345 grants of 934 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation states that its grantmaking is concentrated primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area, with additional support for select projects globally. In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 11% to New York, 3% to New Jersey, and 3% to the District of Columbia; 2% was listed with the recipient state unspecified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 200 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walder Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 145 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $104K; repeat grants $179K. How we count
Medians: $73K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 329% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19.6M (2022) to $27.4M (2020). In 2024 it made 200 grants totaling $24.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL | Arie Crown Hebrew Day School Capital Project | $2,250,000 |
| Lubavitch Girls High School Inc Chicago, IL | Capital Expenses for Construction of a New School building | $1,500,000 |
| Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School Skokie, IL | Hillel Torah Campus Expansion and Renovation | $500,000 |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society Chicago, IL | Global expansion of Chicago-led urban biodiversity research and conservation network | $482,709 |
| Alliance for the Great Lakes Chicago, IL | Chicago(land) Flooding and Sanitation Equity Initiative | $450,000 |
| Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL | A Chicago Based Hub For Assessment, Planning, And Action For Saving Threatened Trees | $388,074 |
| Chicago Horticultural Society Glencoe, IL | Improving ex situ plant conservation: Scaling up zoo pedigree management approaches to critically rare plants in the Pacific | $387,049 |
| Shedd Aquarium Society Chicago, IL | Maximizing Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation Through global partnerships | $373,382 |
| Yeshiva Shearis Yisroel-Veitzener Cheder Inc Chicago, IL | Mortgage Reduction Funds | $360,000 |
| University of Guelph | Bioalfa: advancing knowledge of costa rican biodiversity through dna barcodes | $333,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walder 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $154,578,741 | $8,972,601 | $32,011,208 | $24,415,290 | 200 | $30,039,451 | $6,598,371 | $9,121,084 |
| 2023 | $187,607,820 | $4,224,649 | $29,076,872 | $22,496,937 | 208 | $26,689,151 | $1,880,649 | $9,158,832 |
| 2022 | $212,459,981 | $9,175,580 | $25,167,135 | $19,557,367 | 135 | $23,398,122 | $7,506,307 | $10,328,205 |
| 2021 | $215,951,796 | $11,130,940 | $29,970,725 | $25,356,980 | 217 | $28,671,770 | $10,211,505 | $13,241,528 |
| 2020 | $225,243,678 | $14,134,945 | $31,489,685 | $27,441,278 | 174 | — | $13,492,491 | $12,088,032 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walder Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to champion Chicago and invest in its five focus areas to uplift local communities and elevate the region’s contributions to the world. Its focus areas reflect the Walders’ lifelong passions, interests, and personal and professional experiences.
The Foundation supports programs and project-based work, capacity building, direct services, and technical assistance. It seeks organizations aligned with its mission that focus on results-oriented outcomes, embrace collaboration, demonstrate creativity and innovation, and leverage partners and resources to maximize impact. It does not fund lobbying groups or political campaigns.
Examples of supported organizations include schools, cultural and scientific institutions, conservation organizations, and regional planning groups. Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School describes its affiliated foundation as organized exclusively to benefit the school. Lincoln Park Zoo says it connects people with nature and advances animal care, education, science, and conservation. Alliance for the Great Lakes describes its mission as protecting, conserving, and restoring the Great Lakes. The Metropolitan Planning Council says it promotes planning and development policies for the Chicago region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 200 grants totaling $24,415,290. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $2,250,000, with a median of $77,500. Examples include $2,250,000 to Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago for the Arie Crown Hebrew Day School Capital Project; $1,500,000 to Lubavitch Girls High School for construction of a new school building; and $500,000 to Hillel Torah North Suburban Day School for campus expansion and renovation. Other grants included $482,709 to Lincoln Park Zoological Society for urban biodiversity research and conservation, $450,000 to Alliance for the Great Lakes for a flooding and sanitation equity initiative, and $300,000 to Metropolitan Planning Council for Right Infrastructure, Right Place.
Grantmaking is primarily by invitation, and an invitation to apply does not guarantee funding. Some processes begin with a letter of inquiry followed by a full proposal. Invited applicants submit an online application; the Foundation may request a site visit or interview and, in some cases, proposals may be reviewed by external experts or advisers. The Foundation says funds are typically awarded five to six months after receiving an LOI or proposal. It generally limits grants to organizations with federal Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, including qualifying fiscal sponsors.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Walder as president, secretary, and director; Jeffrey L Sweet as vice president; Kate Coughlin as treasurer; and Joseph Walder as a director through March 2024.
Walder Foundation is led by Elizabeth Walder, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Walder
President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey L Sweet
Vice President
Treasurer & Vice President → Vice President & Treas**, 2021
Vice President & Treas** → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$40K (2020) → $53K (2024)
Kate Coughlin
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$95K (2021) → $119K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Joseph Walder (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Through March 2024
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 $119K, to Kate Coughlin (Treas). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Walder Foundation
How much does Walder Foundation give each year?
Walder Foundation gave $24.4M across 200 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $22.5M across 208 grants.
What is Walder Foundation's typical grant size?
Walder Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $77,500, and its average grant was $122,076, across 200 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walder Foundation that year got $104K on average.
Where does Walder Foundation give grants?
Walder Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (103 grants), New York, NY (26 grants), Skokie, IL (8 grants) and Washington, DC (8 grants).
Does Walder Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 12% of Walder Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (23 of 200) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Platform Award" (20 grants).
Who are Walder Foundation's largest grantees?
Walder Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago ($2,250,000), Lubavitch Girls High School Inc ($1,500,000) and Morton Arboretum ($738,074 across 4 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($66,667), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Walder Foundation?
Walder Foundation reported $154.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Walder Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to champion Chicago and invest in its five focus areas to uplift local communities and elevate the region’s contributions to the world. Its focus areas reflect the Walders’ lifelong passions, interests, and personal and professional experiences. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walder Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Walder Foundation's EIN?
Walder Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4092041. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Walder Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walder Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walder Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walder-foundation-morg_4c411f022615456d8e6b0819f53f6913
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_464092041_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walder Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walder-foundation-morg_4c411f022615456d8e6b0819f53f6913},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Walder 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.
Walder Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?