The Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation concentrates its giving on two clear priorities: gynecological cancer research, education and awareness (including major institutional research grants) and early childhood literacy/children’s book access programs. Grants are few but substantial, often repeating with the same organizations, suggesting a preference for focused, high-impact gifts to established national and local institutions.
The Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation’s recent giving centers on two areas that recur across years: gynecological and ovarian cancer research, education, and awareness, plus early childhood literacy and book access. The largest grant on file is a $207,500 award to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer for research, education, and awareness about gynecological cancer, followed by another $82,500 grant to the same organization in 2024. That pattern points to a foundation that makes substantial, repeated gifts to established institutions rather than spreading funds broadly. In cancer-related work, the foundation has also backed the University of Chicago for ovarian cancer research, education, and awareness. In literacy, it has funded both national organizations and local book-distribution efforts, including Save the Children and Childhood Literacy Foundation. The named book grant program distributes Amy and Tom Lichtenheld’s I Wish You More to schools and nonprofit organizations committed to literacy, education, and access to books. Across the recent record, the grants are selective, with a mix of large institutional awards and smaller project grants tied to specific programs.
Gynecological and ovarian cancer work is a central thread. The foundation gave $207,500 to the Foundation for Women’s Cancer for research, education, and awareness about gynecological cancer, and later awarded $75,000 to the University of Chicago for research, education, and awareness around ovarian cancer. Early childhood literacy is the other major area. It supported Save the Children with a $44,337 grant for reading literacy, and it also funded Enchanted Backpack for reading literacy in two separate years. Book distribution appears as a distinct tactic within literacy giving. A $30,273 grant to Childhood Literacy Foundation was designated for children’s books distribution, showing that the foundation funds both reading programs and direct access to books. The foundation also makes small public-awareness grants through its ovarian cancer innovator awards, which are designed to support education on symptoms, early detection, and awareness.
Typical grant size is modest but not tiny for a private foundation: the p25 is $4,365, the median is $15,960, and the p75 is $52,003. The recent record shows a split between very large institutional awards and smaller project grants. Grants also repeat across years, including multiple awards to the same cancer and literacy organizations, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time support. The foundation is not a DAF or a PRI maker, and it does not fund individuals. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including the ovarian cancer early detection research grants, the ovarian cancer innovator award, and the book grant.
$110K
$551K
$275K
$232K
Most grants fall between $4K and $52K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$52K
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Concentrated, relatively small-number of grants but with large dollar amounts; repeat funding to a handful of core grantees rather than many small, one-off donations.
Notable grantees: Foundation for Women's Cancer, University of Chicago, Save the Children, Childhood Literacy Foundation
Giving is regional and concentrated in the United States. By recipient location, Illinois accounts for 67% of grants, even though Minnesota is the top state by grant count. Chicago appears repeatedly as a recipient city, along with Fairfield, Connecticut; Tower Lakes, Illinois; Bensenville, Illinois; and St. Paul, Minnesota. The recent grant list is entirely U.S.-based, with 12 grants to U.S. recipients.
Its recent giving is centered on gynecological and ovarian cancer research, education, and awareness, plus early childhood literacy and book access. The foundation also supports cancer survivor-related work and public awareness efforts through small project grants.
Yes. The recent grants show repeat support for the Foundation for Women’s Cancer, Save the Children, Enchanted Backpack, and organizations in the cancer research portfolio, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
The foundation’s grant sizes cluster around a median of $15,960, with a lower quartile of $4,365 and an upper quartile of $52,003. Recent awards range from small $500 grants to six-figure support for cancer research and awareness.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited requests, including the ovarian cancer early detection research grants, the ovarian cancer innovator award, and both book grant programs tied to I Wish You More.
Minnesota is the top state by grant count, while Illinois receives 67% of grants by recipient location. The recent recipient list is entirely U.S.-based.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U OF UNIV OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $75,000 | 2025 | RESRCH, EDUC & AWARN OV CANCER |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $20,037 | 2025 | READING LITERACY |
| MISC RECIPIENTS LESS THAN 5000 | EVANSTON, IL | $11,884 | 2025 | LITERACY AND RESEARCH |
| ENCHANTED BACKPACK | BENSENVILLE, IL | $3,450 | 2025 | READING LITERACY |
| FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN'S CANCER | CHICAGO, IL | $82,500 | 2024 | RESRCH, EDUC & AWARN GYN CANCER |
| SAVE THE CHILDREN | FAIRFIELD, CT | $44,337 | 2024 | READING LITERACY |
| ENCHANTED BACKPACK | BENSENVILLE, IL | $6,804 | 2024 | READING LITERACY |
| MISC RECEPIENTS LESS THAN 5000 | EVANSTON, IL | $3,996 | 2024 | READING LITERACY |
| DEBORAH BINDER | EDMONDS, WA | $500 | 2024 | GRANT/ AKR FOUNDATION SURVIVOR |
| FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN'S CANCER | CHICAGO, IL | $207,500 | 2023 | RESEARCH, EDUCATION & AWARENESS ABOUT GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER |
| CHILDHOOD LITERACY FOUNDATION | TOWER LAKES, IL | $30,273 | 2023 | CHILDREN'S BOOKS DISTRIBUTION |
| LITTLE FREE LIBRARY | ST PAUL, MN | $4,488 | 2023 | CHILDHOOD LITERACY |
U OF UNIV OF CHICAGO
$75,000RESRCH, EDUC & AWARN OV CANCER
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$20,037READING LITERACY
MISC RECIPIENTS LESS THAN 5000
$11,884LITERACY AND RESEARCH
ENCHANTED BACKPACK
$3,450READING LITERACY
FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN'S CANCER
$82,500RESRCH, EDUC & AWARN GYN CANCER
SAVE THE CHILDREN
$44,337READING LITERACY
ENCHANTED BACKPACK
$6,804READING LITERACY
MISC RECEPIENTS LESS THAN 5000
$3,996READING LITERACY
DEBORAH BINDER
$500GRANT/ AKR FOUNDATION SURVIVOR
FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN'S CANCER
$207,500RESEARCH, EDUCATION & AWARENESS ABOUT GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER
CHILDHOOD LITERACY FOUNDATION
$30,273CHILDREN'S BOOKS DISTRIBUTION
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
$4,488CHILDHOOD LITERACY
Current and upcoming funding from Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects that raise awareness, educate on symptoms and early detection, and bring fresh ideas to the fight against ovarian cancer.
Who can apply: Offered annually to schools and nonprofit organizations committed to literacy, education, and access to books. The 2026 award requires requests of 1,000 books per shipment due to shipping restrictions.
Deadline: Applications Open: February 26, 2026; Application Deadline: March 30, 2026; Award Notifications: May 2026; Book Delivery: September 2026
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