Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation
The Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation is a private foundation based in Glencoe, Illinois. Its 2025 grants supported organizations including a university, food and nutrition organizations, public media, and arts and cultural organizations.
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation at a glance
In short: Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation gave $3.1M across 151 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in Illinois. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,118,850
- +10.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 151
- +32.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,655
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,000
- Total assets
- $43,956,243
- +23.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (30 of 150, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (63% 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 Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written request to the foundation; the filing specifies no required form or materials and no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Walter And Karla Goldschmidt Fnd
Mailing address: 465 Lakeside Terrace, Glencoe, IL 60022
Phone: (847) 835-4655
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern University ($254K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
645 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 542 grants of 645 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 13% to recipients in the District of Columbia, 8% to recipients in California, 6% to recipients in Missouri, and 4% to recipients in Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 151 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 30 of 150 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $25K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+16%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 163% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $2.5M (2020) to $3.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 151 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University Evanston, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $253,500 |
| Food & Friends Washington, DC | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $250,000 |
| Chicago Public Media Chicago, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $200,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $200,000 |
| Washington University in Stlouis St. Louis, MO | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $175,000 |
| Writers Theatre Glencoe, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $100,000 |
| Hyde Park Art Center Chicago, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $85,000 |
| Sabew Phoenix, AZ | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $83,000 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden Glencoe, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $75,000 |
| Pritzker College Prep Chicago, IL | Activities of the organization to which money was donated | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walter and Karla Goldschmidt 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 | $43,956,243 | $11,244,802 | $3,520,167 | $3,118,850 | 151 | $3,139,156 | $10,939,774 | $1,930,641 |
| 2024 | $35,499,283 | $5,798,694 | $3,175,207 | $2,817,975 | 114 | $2,829,762 | $5,466,431 | $1,838,716 |
| 2023 | $32,875,796 | $3,055,593 | $2,907,127 | $2,585,500 | 126 | $2,597,920 | $2,746,939 | $1,704,769 |
| 2022 | $32,727,330 | $-1,412,447 | $3,282,503 | $2,686,500 | 117 | $2,699,686 | $39,819 | $1,804,901 |
| 2021 | $37,428,661 | $11,902,976 | $3,011,545 | $2,551,125 | 137 | — | $11,491,479 | $1,817,226 |
| 2020 | $29,292,791 | $4,198,480 | $2,948,482 | $2,546,962 | 114 | — | $3,832,444 | $1,441,303 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M 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 grants show support for organizations working in areas including higher education, food assistance, local journalism, and the arts. For example, Northwestern University describes its mission as excellent teaching, innovative research, and students’ personal and intellectual growth. The Greater Chicago Food Depository says its mission is to end hunger, while Chicago Public Media describes its mission as strengthening local communities and democracy through independent local journalism. Writers Theatre says it creates connections through performances and programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 151 grants totaling $3,118,850. Individual grants ranged from $200 to $253,500, with a median of $3,000. Its largest grants included $253,500 to Northwestern University, $250,000 to Food & Friends, and $200,000 each to Chicago Public Media and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Other notable grants included $175,000 to Washington University in St. Louis and $100,000 to Writers Theatre.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications are written, with no specific requirements; the filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Susan Goldschmidt as president, secretary, and director; Miles Taub as vice president, director, and treasurer; and James Goldschmidt as director.
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation is led by Susan Goldschmidt, President, Secretary & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Goldschmidt
President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Goldschmidt
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Miles Taub
Vice President, Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jane Deal (2020) — Director
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 Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation
How much does Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation give each year?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation gave $3.1M across 151 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 114 grants.
What is Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's typical grant size?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,000, and its average grant was $20,655, across 151 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation give grants?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (43 grants), Washington, DC (35 grants), New York, NY (8 grants) and Glencoe, IL (5 grants).
Does Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 151 grants with a stated purpose on Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Activities of the Organization to Which Money Was Donated" (151 grants).
Who are Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's largest grantees?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University ($253,500), Food & Friends ($250,000) and Chicago Public Media ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation reported $44.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including higher education, food assistance, local journalism, and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation?
Submit a written request to the foundation; the filing specifies no required form or materials and no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's EIN?
Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7410867. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 February 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-karla-goldschmidt-foundation-morg_26e8b4a43ebc4ff29f8c85ef84e8d01e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237410867_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-and-karla-goldschmidt-foundation-morg_26e8b4a43ebc4ff29f8c85ef84e8d01e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Walter and Karla Goldschmidt 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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