The Acorn Foundation | Foundation Profile
GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like The Acorn Foundation. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.
EIN: 36-3991208
Foundation Overview
Based in Chicago, IL, The Acorn Foundation has awarded 125 grants totaling $222,500 to organizations in Illinois, New York and 9 other states across the US. Individual grants range from $100 to $40,000, with a median award of $1,000.
Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot
Foundation Intelligence
Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies
New Applicant Friendliness
27 of 96 recipients (28%) were new grantees. Foundation strongly favors organizations with proven track records. New partnerships develop slowly over time.
Geographic Focus
Grants are geographically diversified with 35% in Illinois and funding distributed across 11 total locations. This foundation values broad geographic impact and diverse community partnerships. Within Illinois, funding concentrates in Chicago (91%), Urbana (9%).
Funding Trajectory
Stable funding levels with 5% change over 2 years indicate consistent grant-making capacity and predictable philanthropic resources. This stability suggests reliable ongoing funding opportunities.
Program Areas
Diversified giving across multiple program areas with primary emphasis on community projects (38%). This broad approach suggests openness to various causes and innovative cross-sector solutions.
Where is The Money Going?
Grants & Funding
Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into The Acorn Foundation's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.
| Name | Amount | Location | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Against Hunger-usa | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Anshe Emet Synagogue | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Religious | 2022 |
| Charitywater | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Federalist Society | $500 | Washington, DC, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| Friends Of Payton School | $2,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Habitat For Humanity | $1,000 | Americus, GA, US | Human Serviceshuman Services | 2022 |
| Honeybee Research Facitlity-wsu Foundation | $1,000 | Pullman, WA, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Human Rights Watch | $500 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Interlochen Center For The Arts | $500 | Interlochen, MI, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Jewish Family Services Of San Diego | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Kpbs Tvfm | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Latin School Of Chicago | $1,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Museum Of Science And Industry | $5,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Of America Inc | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| School Year Abroad - Office Of Advancement | $1,000 | North Andover, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Stanford University 616 | $1,000 | Stanford, CA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Actors' Fund Of America | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Campanile Foundation | $1,200 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Catherine Cook School | $4,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Cornucopia Institute | $1,200 | Cornucopia, WI, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| The Fund For Sarah Lawrence - Sarah Lawrence College | $2,500 | Bronxville, NY, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Jarrett Meeker Foundation | $1,200 | La Mesa, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Tufts University | $1,000 | Medford, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Illinois Foundation Harker Hall Mc-386 | $1,000 | Urbana, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Iowa Foundation | $3,000 | Iowa City, IA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation | $1,000 | Washington, DC, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Colby College | $2,500 | Waterville, ME, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Field Museum | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Adler Planetarium | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Action Against Hunger-usa | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Anshe Emet Synagogue | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Religious | 2022 |
| Charitywater | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Federalist Society | $500 | Washington, DC, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| Friends Of Payton School | $2,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Habitat For Humanity | $1,000 | Americus, GA, US | Human Serviceshuman Services | 2022 |
| Honeybee Research Facitlity-wsu Foundation | $1,000 | Pullman, WA, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Human Rights Watch | $500 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Interlochen Center For The Arts | $500 | Interlochen, MI, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Jewish Family Services Of San Diego | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Kpbs Tvfm | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Latin School Of Chicago | $1,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Museum Of Science And Industry | $5,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Of America Inc | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| School Year Abroad - Office Of Advancement | $1,000 | North Andover, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Stanford University 616 | $1,000 | Stanford, CA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Actors' Fund Of America | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Campanile Foundation | $1,200 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Catherine Cook School | $4,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Cornucopia Institute | $1,200 | Cornucopia, WI, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| The Fund For Sarah Lawrence - Sarah Lawrence College | $2,500 | Bronxville, NY, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Jarrett Meeker Foundation | $1,200 | La Mesa, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Tufts University | $1,000 | Medford, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Illinois Foundation Harker Hall Mc-386 | $1,000 | Urbana, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Iowa Foundation | $3,000 | Iowa City, IA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation | $1,000 | Washington, DC, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Colby College | $2,500 | Waterville, ME, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Field Museum | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Adler Planetarium | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Action Against Hunger-usa | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Anshe Emet Synagogue | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Religious | 2022 |
| Charitywater | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Federalist Society | $500 | Washington, DC, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| Friends Of Payton School | $2,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Habitat For Humanity | $1,000 | Americus, GA, US | Human Serviceshuman Services | 2022 |
| Honeybee Research Facitlity-wsu Foundation | $1,000 | Pullman, WA, US | Environmental | 2022 |
| Human Rights Watch | $500 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Interlochen Center For The Arts | $500 | Interlochen, MI, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Jewish Family Services Of San Diego | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Kpbs Tvfm | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Latin School Of Chicago | $1,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Museum Of Science And Industry | $5,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Of America Inc | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| School Year Abroad - Office Of Advancement | $1,000 | North Andover, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Stanford University 616 | $1,000 | Stanford, CA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Actors' Fund Of America | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Campanile Foundation | $1,200 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| The Catherine Cook School | $4,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Cornucopia Institute | $1,200 | Cornucopia, WI, US | Advocacy | 2022 |
| The Fund For Sarah Lawrence - Sarah Lawrence College | $2,500 | Bronxville, NY, US | Educational | 2022 |
| The Jarrett Meeker Foundation | $1,200 | La Mesa, CA, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Tufts University | $1,000 | Medford, MA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Illinois Foundation Harker Hall Mc-386 | $1,000 | Urbana, IL, US | Educational | 2022 |
| University Of Iowa Foundation | $3,000 | Iowa City, IA, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation | $1,000 | Washington, DC, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Human Services | 2022 |
| Colby College | $2,500 | Waterville, ME, US | Educational | 2022 |
| Field Museum | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Adler Planetarium | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2022 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2022 |
| Chicago Collegiate Charter School | $40,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2021 |
| Action Against Hunger-usa | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2020 |
| Anshe Emet Synagogue | $1,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Religious | 2020 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| Environmental Working Group | $1,000 | Washington, DC, US | Environmental | 2020 |
| Habitat For Humanity | $1,000 | Americus, GA, US | Human Serviceshuman Services | 2020 |
| Honeybee Research Facitlity-wsu Foundation | $1,200 | Pullman, WA, US | Environmental | 2020 |
| Human Rights Watch | $500 | New York, NY, US | Human Services | 2020 |
| Interlochen Center For The Arts | $500 | Interlochen, MI, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| Jewish Family Services Of San Diego | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Human Services | 2020 |
| Kpbs Tvfm | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| Latin School Of Chicago | $5,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2020 |
| Museum Of Science And Industry | $6,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Museum | 2020 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation Of America Inc | $1,000 | New York, NY, US | Advocacy | 2020 |
| The Actors' Fund Of America | $1,200 | New York, NY, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| The Campanile Foundation | $1,000 | San Diego, CA, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| The Catherine Cook School | $4,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2020 |
| The Childrens School | $100 | La Jolla, CA, US | Educational | 2020 |
| The Jarrett Meeker Foundation | $2,000 | La Mesa, CA, US | Human Services | 2020 |
| Tufts University | $1,000 | Medford, MA, US | Educational | 2020 |
| University Of Illinois Foundation Harker Hall Mc-386 | $1,000 | Urbana, IL, US | Educational | 2020 |
| University Of Iowa Foundation | $3,000 | Iowa City, IA, US | Educational | 2020 |
| Wbez Chicago Public Radio | $500 | Chicago, IL, US | Cultural | 2020 |
| Federalist Society | $1,000 | Washington, DC, US | Advocacy | 2020 |
| Friends Of Payton School | $2,500 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2020 |
| School Year Abroad - Office Of Advancement | $1,500 | North Andover, MA, US | Educational | 2020 |
| The Fund For Sarah Lawrence - Sarah Lawrence College | $2,000 | Bronxville, NY, US | Educational | 2020 |
| Chicago Collegiate Charter School | $5,000 | Chicago, IL, US | Educational | 2020 |
Foundations Similar to The Acorn Foundation
Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($720,978-$737,752), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in IL that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.
| Foundation Name | Total Assets | Typical Grant Size | Service Area | Similarity Match |
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The Virginia Burns Private
EIN: 45-6255849 | 136 grants awarded |
$736,149
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5600k Foundation
EIN: 81-0852982 | 195 grants awarded |
$737,752
(≈ Similar) |
$1,000
median grant |
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|
Kreiling Family Foundation
EIN: 81-4389976 | 203 grants awarded |
$720,978
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Contact Information
Official contact details for The Acorn Foundation as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.
| EIN | 36-3991208 |
| Website | N/A |
| Address | COTTLE 1160 S MICHIGAN AVE 3002 Chicago, IL 60605-0000 |
Key People (5)
Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee The Acorn Foundation's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.
| President | Ralph Wanger |
|---|---|
| Treasurer | Kathleen Tucker |
| Director | Eric David Wanger |
| Director | Leonard Ralph Wanger |
| Director | Debra Jane Wanger |
Forms 990-PF
IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.
Form 990-PF Research Tips
- Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
- Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
- Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
- Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns
About This Foundation Profile
This comprehensive foundation profile for The Acorn Foundation is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.
Data Sources & Accuracy
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