Willens Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Short Hills, NJ EIN: 84-3831250

Willens Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Medical Research, based in Short Hills, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 19 grants totaling $603K.

Key facts about Willens Family Foundation

In short: Willens Family Foundation gave $603K across 19 grants in 2025 (avg $32K), mostly in Illinois. 68% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
84-3831250
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$602,800
Grants made (2025)
19
Average grant
$31,726
Median grant
$12,533
New grantees (estimate)
68% first-time grantees (13 of 19, 2025)
Primary geography
Illinois (53% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Quick answers about Willens Family Foundation

How much does Willens Family Foundation give each year?

Willens Family Foundation gave $603K across 19 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $479K across 21 grants.

What is Willens Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Willens Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,533, and its average grant was $31,726, across 19 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Willens Family Foundation that year got $39K on average.

Where does Willens Family Foundation give grants?

Willens Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (22%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).

Does Willens Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 19 grants with a stated purpose on Willens Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Charity" (17 grants).

Who are Willens Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Willens Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern University Office of Alumni Relations & Development ($302,000), Civic Soul ($55,134) and Doctors Without Borders USA ($37,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Is Willens Family Foundation open to new grantees?

68%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 13 of 19 grantees (68%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $39K; repeat grants $15K. How we count

Medians: $12K first-time, $13K repeat.

  • 32% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 66% from 2022 to 2025. 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.

Next steps with Willens Family Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$603K

+26.0% YoY

Grant Count

19

-9.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$32K

+39.2% YoY

About Willens Family Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Willens Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Medical Research, based in Short Hills, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 19 grants totaling $603K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

18states

Share of all 19 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoNew YorkEvanstonLas VegasBoca RatonHillsideFranklin LakesPembrook ParkHoustonRancho MirageWashingtonHangerstownPasadenaLovelandMontgomeryAlexandriaBemidjiBostonDallasMemphis

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.5$1$1.5202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K$800K11 grants202015 grants202119 grants202218 grants202321 grants202419 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Northwestern University Office of Alumni Relations & Development: $302KNorthwestern University Officeof Alumni Relations &…$302KCivic Soul: $55KCivic Soul$55KDoctors Without Borders USA: $38KDoctors Without Borders USA$38KMed Access International: $38KMed Access International$38KCaltech Advancement and Alumni Relations: $25KCaltech Advancement and AlumniRelations$25KMy Block My Hood My City: $15KMy Block My Hood My City$15KCamfed USA: $15KCamfed USA$15KBoca Raton Regional Hospital: $13KBoca Raton Regional Hospital$13KMinds Matter NYC: $13KMinds Matter NYC$13KChildrens Aid NYC: $13KChildrens Aid NYC$13K

Grant Size Distribution

92 grants across all recorded years

86<$50K2$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Northwestern University Office of Alumni Relations & Development Evanston, ILEndowment$302,000
Civic Soul Woodland Hills, CAPublic Charity$55,134
Doctors Without Borders USA Hangerstown, MDPublic Charity$37,600
Med Access International Palm Desert, CAPublic Charity$37,600
Caltech Advancement and Alumni Relations Pasadena, CAEndowment$25,000
My Block My Hood My City Chicago, ILPublic Charity$15,000
CAMFED USA San Francisco, CAPublic Charity$15,000
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Boca Raton, FLPublic Charity$12,600
Minds Matter NYC New York, NYPublic Charity$12,533
Childrens Aid NYC New York, NYPublic Charity$12,533

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Willens Family Foundation is led by Ronald Willens, Director Chairman since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Ronald Willens

    Director Chairman

    Director & Chairman → Director Chairman, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jaclyn Willens

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kevin Willens

    Director Treasurer

    Director & Treasurer → Director Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kirk Willens

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Willens

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa Wattoo

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nicole Willens

    Director Secretary

    Director & Secretary → Director Secretary, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven Willens

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Joanne Willens (2020–2024) — 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.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Willens Family Foundation?

Willens Family Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on Medical Research, based in Short Hills, NJ. It holds — in total assets as of 2025.

What is Willens Family Foundation's EIN?

Willens Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-3831250. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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