Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern is a private foundation, based in Po Box Chica, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $99K. Net investment income was $377K.
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern at a glance
In short: Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern gave $99K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $98,500
- -61.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,944
- -61.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,209,036
- +9.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Chicago ($75K). Together the top 9 received $99K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 47 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 56% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2021) to $255K (2024). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $99K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Tokovler Diabetes Center | $75,000 |
| NCH Medical Diplomats Council Naples, FL | General Support | $7,500 |
| Prison Fellowship Ministries Merrifield, VA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | General Support | $5,000 |
| Artis-Naples Naples, FL | General Support | $2,500 |
| University of Minesota Law School Minneapolis, MN | General Support | $2,000 |
| Burke's Westchester, IL | General Support | $500 |
| Erika's Lighthouse Winnetka, IL | General Support | $500 |
| Int'l Society for Frontotemporal Burnsville, MN | General Support | $500 |
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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 | $3,209,036 | $598,513 | $118,067 | $98,500 | 9 | $109,511 | $376,704 | $196,858 |
| 2024 | $2,934,802 | $89,809 | $276,766 | $255,398 | 9 | $266,591 | $93,732 | $182,652 |
| 2023 | $3,121,055 | $146,370 | $176,597 | $141,600 | 11 | $152,292 | $138,586 | $171,604 |
| 2022 | $3,150,781 | $933,998 | $127,980 | $100,838 | 12 | $112,395 | $625,803 | $172,872 |
| 2021 | $2,625,965 | $205,940 | $34,148 | $11,200 | 6 | — | $184,192 | $167,272 |
| 2020 | $2,452,774 | $104,615 | $242,640 | $219,737 | 9 | — | $87,557 | $142,504 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern reported a distributable amount of $197K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern is led by Jefffrey H. Wessel, President Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jefffrey H. Wessel
President Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Wessel
Treasurer Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth K. Wessel
Char Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine W. Mitchell
Secretary Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern
How much does Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern give each year?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern gave $99K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $255K across 9 grants.
What is Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's typical grant size?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $10,944, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern give grants?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern gives mostly in Illinois: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (10%) and Virginia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Naples, FL (2 grants).
Does Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern give general operating support?
Yes: 89% of Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's largest grantees?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Chicago ($75,000), NCH Medical Diplomats Council ($7,500) and Prison Fellowship Ministries ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $197K (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 is Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's EIN?
Wessel Family Foundation Inc the Northern's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 55-0799320. 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.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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