Well Told Grants

Foundations / Illinois

S Edward Marder Family Foundation

Preselected recipients only Lake Forest, Illinois · EIN 366157038

S Edward Marder Family Foundation is a private foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois. In tax year 2025 it gave $82,350 in 27 grants; the typical grant was $2,000 and the largest $12,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.

Giving in 2025 was up from $78,750 the year before.

26% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$48,50025$2.1 million
2024$78,75025$2.5 million
2025$82,35027$2.8 million

How to apply

S Edward Marder Family Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What S Edward Marder Family Foundation funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 10 states, the most to Illinois.

StateGrantsAmount
Illinois15$54,350
Ohio1$10,000
New York3$8,000
Connecticut1$2,000
District of Columbia1$2,000
Virginia1$2,000
California2$1,000
Georgia1$1,000
Maryland1$1,000
Tennessee1$1,000

Grants paid in 2025

All 27 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Prairie State Legal Services Inc
Rockford, IL
Charitable$12,000
Family Resource Center
Chicago, IL
Charitable$10,000
Fidelity Charitable
Cincinnati, OH
Charitable$10,000
Friends of the Israel Defense Forces
Chicago, IL
Charitable$6,000
Evergreen Shared Housing
Elmhurst, IL
Charitable$5,000
Paws Chicago
Chicago, IL
Charitable$5,000
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Chicago, IL
Charitable$4,000
ACLU Foundation
New York, NY
Charitable$3,000
Doctors Without Borders USA
New York, NY
Charitable$3,000
Frank Lentz Foundation LTD
Skokie, IL
Charitable$3,000
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
Libertyville, IL
Charitable$2,500
Feeding America
Washington, DC
Charitable$2,000
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls
Chicago, IL
Charitable$2,000
Planned Parenthood
New York, NY
Charitable$2,000
The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA
Charitable$2,000
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT
Charitable$2,000
Youthbuild Lake County
North Chicago, IL
Charitable$2,000
Shriners Hospital for Children
Atlanta, GA
Charitable$1,000
St Jude Childrens Research Hospital
Memphis, TN
Charitable$1,000
The Salvation Army
Waukegan, IL
Charitable$1,000
University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc
College Park, MD
Charitable$1,000
City of Hope
Los Angeles, CA
Charitable$500
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Chicago, IL
Charitable$500
Occidental College
Los Angeles, CA
Charitable$500
United Way of Lake County
Gurnee, IL
Charitable$500
Orphans of the Storm
Deerfield, IL
Charitable$500
The Pilgrim Chamber Players
Highland Park, IL
Charitable$350

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2025 filing.

Questions people ask

Does S Edward Marder Family Foundation accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does S Edward Marder Family Foundation give?

$82,350 in tax year 2025, across 27 grants, with a typical grant of $2,000.

Who runs S Edward Marder Family Foundation?

Its 2025 filing lists Chris Marder (President/Dir.), David L Canmann Jr (Treasurer/Dir.), Linda L Marder (V.P. & Secretary/Dir.) and Michael E Cottle (Asst. Secretary/Dir.).

What does S Edward Marder Family Foundation fund?

Based on its grants, mainly human services, housing and homelessness and youth programs.

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