Zuckerman Family Foundation
The Zuckerman Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Glencoe, Illinois. It makes grants to charitable organizations; its 2024 filing lists grant purposes as “public charity support.”
Zuckerman Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Zuckerman Family Foundation gave $171K across 41 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), mostly in Illinois. 2% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $171,000
- -20.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 41
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,171
- -8.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,059,480
- -2.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 41, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (61% 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 Zuckerman Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1049 Bluff Road, Glencoe, IL 60022
Phone: (312) 948-8000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Zuckerman Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Erikson Institute ($25K). Together the top 10 received $130K.
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 213 grants of 213 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 15% to Florida, 9% to New York, 6% to Connecticut, and 3% to California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 41 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Zuckerman Family Foundation open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 41 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $500; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 98% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 194% 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 $171K (2024) to $223K (2020). In 2024 it made 41 grants totaling $171K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Erikson Institute Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $25,000 |
| National Parkinson's Foundation Miami, FL | Public Charity Support | $25,000 |
| Jewish United Fund Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $15,000 |
| American Jewish Committee New York, NY | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Facing History & Ourselves Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Fulcrum Point Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Merit School of Music Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| North Suburban Synagogue Beth El Highland Park, IL | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust Trumbill, CT | Public Charity Support | $10,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Public Charity Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Zuckerman Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,059,480 | $176,386 | $179,258 | $171,000 | 41 | $175,700 | $168,143 | $90,504 |
| 2023 | $1,084,105 | $81,500 | $218,605 | $214,460 | 47 | $215,460 | $48,943 | $79,665 |
| 2022 | $1,254,379 | $439,819 | $201,367 | $184,500 | 45 | $186,194 | $210,715 | $72,505 |
| 2021 | $1,117,996 | $192,294 | $229,250 | $208,115 | 42 | $212,576 | $120,791 | $81,252 |
| 2020 | $1,211,531 | $28,818 | $242,708 | $222,732 | 38 | — | $14,102 | $71,512 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Zuckerman Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $91K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as early childhood, food assistance, music education, human rights, and medical research. For example, Erikson Institute says it prepares professionals to address challenges facing young children and their families; the Greater Chicago Food Depository says its mission is to end hunger; and Rett Syndrome Research Trust says it focuses on developing treatments and cures for Rett syndrome and related disorders.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 41 grants totaling $171,000. Grants ranged from $250 to $25,000, with a median of $1,000. Among the largest were $25,000 each to Erikson Institute and National Parkinson’s Foundation; $15,000 to Jewish United Fund; and $10,000 each to American Jewish Committee, Facing History & Ourselves, Fulcrum Point, Merit School of Music, North Suburban Synagogue Beth El, and Rett Syndrome Research Trust.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sherwin Zuckerman as president, director, and secretary, and Sheri Zuckerman as treasurer and director.
Zuckerman Family Foundation is led by Sherwin Zuckerman, President, Director & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sherwin Zuckerman
President, Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sheri Zuckerman
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Zuckerman Family Foundation
How much does Zuckerman Family Foundation give each year?
Zuckerman Family Foundation gave $171K across 41 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $214K across 47 grants.
What is Zuckerman Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Zuckerman Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,171, across 41 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Zuckerman Family Foundation that year got $500 on average.
Where does Zuckerman Family Foundation give grants?
Zuckerman Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (15%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (19 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Glencoe, IL (3 grants) and Highland Park, IL (2 grants).
Does Zuckerman Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 41 grants with a stated purpose on Zuckerman Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public Charity Support" (41 grants).
Who are Zuckerman Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Zuckerman Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Erikson Institute ($25,000), National Parkinson's Foundation ($25,000) and Jewish United Fund ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Zuckerman Family Foundation?
Zuckerman Family Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $176K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Zuckerman Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in areas such as early childhood, food assistance, music education, human rights, and medical research. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Zuckerman Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Zuckerman Family Foundation's EIN?
Zuckerman Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4120779. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Zuckerman Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 1, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Zuckerman Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Zuckerman Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/zuckerman-family-foundation-morg_aa9e7de304da446b905546704d4d0193
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364120779_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Zuckerman Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/zuckerman-family-foundation-morg_aa9e7de304da446b905546704d4d0193},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Zuckerman Family 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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