George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities

Private foundation · EIN 36-3689650 · since 1990gmefoundationforcharities.org·Chicago, Illinois, Rochester·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$4M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$2,000 to $15,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$5,000
Typical grant (median)
150 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The foundation's interests in medical research, medical education, and physical, emotional and social assistance for underprivileged youth and seniors suit charities working in those areas in Illinois, with priority for the Chicago metropolitan area, or in Rochester, Minnesota; charities outside the Chicago metropolitan area or Rochester, Minnesota are excluded.
  • Its typical grant band is $2,000 to $15,000, and half of its 464 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less, so a modest, specific request is the realistic size to ask for.
  • In the filing, 97% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations the foundation had also funded in one of the two earlier filings, so it appears relationship-led, and a first approach should be made through its online grant form before the April 30 deadline with a complete application, since omissions can delay review or lead to denial.
  • Only apply if you can report back, because recipients must submit a brief report on how the funds were used.
  • Do not apply for support to specific individuals, endowment funds, churches or religious education, secondary or elementary schools, or political activities, including lobbying.

Overview

George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities is a US private foundation based in Arlington Heights, IL.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation considers grants in medical research, medical education, and physical, emotional and social assistance, primarily for the benefit of underprivileged youth and seniors. Its mission continues George M. Eisenberg’s focus on the underprivileged sick, hungry and homeless in the Chicago metropolitan area, and it awards requests to charities whose work directly aligns with those areas of passion. Its stated geographic focus is Illinois, primarily the Chicago metropolitan area, and Rochester, Minnesota. The board considers the foundation’s guidelines, the merits of the proposal and the charity’s urgent need.

Themes

  • Medical research
  • Medical education
  • Physical assistance
  • Emotional assistance
  • Social assistance

Geographic Focus

Illinois; Rochester, Minnesota. Priority: Chicago metropolitan area.

What They Don't Fund

  • Charities outside the Chicago metro area or Rochester, Minnesota
  • Specific individuals
  • Endowment funds
  • Advertising in charitable publications
  • Purchase of tickets for fundraising
  • Public colleges or universities unless relating to medical care
  • Churches or religious education
  • Secondary or elementary schools
  • Political activities, including lobbying
  • 509(a)(3)-Type III organizations

How to apply

Submit the grant request electronically using the online grant form.

Deadlines: Grant submissions are due by April 30 for consideration during that year.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 97% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 464 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The board selects recipients based on the Foundation’s Guidelines, the merits of the proposal and the charity’s urgent need.
  • The board considers only complete applications containing all requested information; omissions can delay review or lead to denial.
  • Grant recipients must submit a brief report describing how the grant funds were used.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Illinois69%
Minnesota31%
California<1%
Pennsylvania<1%
  • The largest single recipient received 28% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 97% of grant dollars went to organisations George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.

Grants

150 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 150 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$1k–$2.5k13%
$2.5k–$5k27%
$5k–$10k45%
$10k–$25k7%
$25k–$50k3%
$50k–$100k0%
$100k–$250k1%
$250k–$500k0%
$500k–$1M2%
$1M and over1%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Mayo Clinic · Social assistance
    $1,275,0002024 tax year
  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · Social assistance
    $530,0002024 tax year
  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine · Social assistance
    $520,0002024 tax year
  • Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago · Social assistance
    $500,0002024 tax year
  • Misericordia Home · Social assistance
    $180,0002024 tax year
  • Northwest Community Health Services Foundation · Social assistance
    $143,0002024 tax year
  • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois · Social assistance
    $30,0002024 tax year
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana · Social assistance
    $25,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Thomas Speslberg Jr — Secretary
  • Erin O'Brien-Cahill — Vice President
  • Dean Marousis — President
  • Nancy Jourdan — Director
  • Katie Owens — Director
  • Sofia Bishop — Director
  • James Marousis — Treasurer

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$4,524,016$3,827,137$43,903,032Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$4,321,714$3,699,413$46,150,390Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$4,592,102$3,965,000$47,182,034Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

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