The Perlman Family Foundation focuses its giving on Jewish life and education, Israel-related institutions, and select local civic/health causes in the Chicago area. They make relatively large gifts to a small set of repeat grantees—supporting Jewish religious and educational leadership (Ohr Torah Stone), community infrastructure (Jewish United Fund), scientific research in Israel (Weizmann Institute), and occasional local healthcare philanthropy (Lurie Children’s). The pattern suggests a family commitment to sustaining core Jewish and Israel-facing partners while also funding high-impact local civic needs.
A repeated pattern of six-figure support for Jewish United Fund, Ohr Torah Stone, and Weizmann Institute of Science defines the Perlman Family Foundation Founded by Anita and Louis Perlman. The foundation gives to a relatively small set of recurring partners, with gifts reaching both Chicago-area institutions and Israel-related organizations. Its recent grant history includes support for Jewish religious and educational leadership, Jewish communal infrastructure, scientific research, and selected civic and health causes. The foundation’s giving is anchored in Jewish life and education. It has funded Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish National Fund, and JCC-related organizations, alongside local partners such as College Bound Opportunities and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. The result is a portfolio that combines community-serving local grants with institution-level support for Jewish and Israel-facing work. Several recipients appear in more than one year, suggesting continuity rather than one-off philanthropy. Jewish United Fund, Weizmann Institute of Science, Ohr Torah Stone, and the Jewish Federation of Broward County all recur in the recent grants list, often at substantial levels. That repeat pattern points to sustained relationships with organizations that fit the foundation’s core interests.
Jewish education and leadership training are a clear thread in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $120,000 in 2024 and $100,000 in 2023 to Ohr Torah Stone, supporting a major Jewish religious and educational institution. Institutional Jewish infrastructure is another emphasis. Jewish United Fund received $139,000 in 2024 and $139,100 in 2023, while the JCC Association of North America received $10,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation also gave $25,000 in 2024 to Jewish Federation of Broward County. Israel-facing science and civic support appears in grants to Weizmann Institute of Science, which received $100,000 in both 2023 and 2024, and to Impact Israel, which received $42,500 in 2024. In the Chicago area, it also funded Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital, Alain Locke Charter School, and Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University.
$795K
$2.7M
$627K
$830K
Most grants fall between $16K and $59K, with a median of $26K.
25th Percentile
$16K
Median
$26K
75th Percentile
$59K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving to a small number of repeat core grantees (multiple multi-thousand-dollar grants to the same organizations), balancing Israel-focused institutional support with targeted local civic and health donations.
Notable grantees: Jewish United Fund, Ohr Torah Stone, Weizmann Institute of Science, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Typical grants cluster in the middle range, with a p25 of $16,350, a median of $26,000, and a p75 of $58,500. The recent list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including several two-year patterns and a few larger continuing commitments. The foundation is a family foundation, not an individual-giving vehicle, and it makes no program-related investments. Its grants are national in scope, with most awards going to Illinois recipients. The list does not indicate an application process.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, accounting for 100% of the recent grants list. Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Chicago appears frequently through Jewish United Fund, Weizmann Institute of Science, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital, Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics, and Alain Locke Charter School. Other recipient cities include New York, Davie, Needham, Washington, DC, Evanston, Deerfield, and Fort Lauderdale.
Its recent grants center on Jewish life and education, Israel-related institutions, Chicago-area Jewish community infrastructure, and selected local civic and health causes. Named recipients include Ohr Torah Stone, Weizmann Institute of Science, Jewish United Fund, and Ann & Robert H Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support across 2023 and 2024 for Jewish United Fund, Weizmann Institute of Science, Ohr Torah Stone, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Norton & Elaine Sarnoff Center for Jewish Genetics, Alain Locke Charter School, Anti-defamation League, Jewish National Fund, Fiedler Hillel at Northwestern University, JCC Association of North America, Jewish Community Center-ft Lauderdale, and College Bound Opportunities.
The foundation’s typical grant size is centered in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $16,350, median is $26,000, and p75 is $58,500. Recent awards range from $7,500 to $139,100.
Illinois is the top state by grant count, and 46% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Chicago is a frequent recipient city, but the foundation also gives to organizations in New York, Davie, Needham, Washington, DC, Evanston, Deerfield, and Fort Lauderdale.
No. While many grants go to Illinois recipients, the foundation also funds organizations in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC. Recent recipients include Ohr Torah Stone in New York, Jewish Federation of Broward County in Davie, Impact Israel in Needham, and the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $139,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| OHR TORAH STONE | NEW YORK, NY | $120,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $82,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS | SKOKIE, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| IMPACT ISRAEL | NEEDHAM, MA | $47,500 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS | CHICAGO, IL | $45,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $45,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $39,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF BROWARD COUNTY | DAVIE, FL | $31,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH SPIRITUALITY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $24,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| COLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNITIES | DEERFIELD, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ISRAEL TENNIS & EDUCATION CENTERS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-SOREF | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $7,500 | 2026 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $139,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| OHR TORAH STONE | NEW YORK, NY | $120,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $84,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| US HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| IMPACT ISRAEL | NEEDHAM, MA | $45,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS | CHICAGO, IL | $45,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $36,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF BROWARD COUNTY | DAVIE, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| BBYO INTERNATIONAL OFFICE | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| COLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNITIES | DEERFIELD, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ISRAEL PARASPORT CENTER | NORTHFIELD, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ISRAEL TENNIS & EDUCATION CENTERS FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-FT LAUDERDALE | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $7,500 | 2025 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $139,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| OHR TORAH STONE | NEW YORK, NY | $120,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | CHICAGO, IL | $84,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| US HOLOCAUST MUSEUM | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS | CHICAGO, IL | $45,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| IMPACT ISRAEL | NEEDHAM, MA | $42,500 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL | CHICAGO, IL | $30,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE | NEW YORK, NY | $26,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF BROWARD COUNTY | DAVIE, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH NATIONAL FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| COLLEGE BOUND OPPORTUNITIES | DEERFIELD, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JCC ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-FT LAUDERDALE | FT LAUDERDALE, FL | $7,500 | 2024 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $139,100 | 2023 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
| WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2023 | CIVIC & SOCIAL |
OHR TORAH STONE
$120,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
$100,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$82,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS
$50,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
IMPACT ISRAEL
$47,500CIVIC & SOCIAL
NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS
$45,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$45,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL
$39,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
INSTITUTE FOR JEWISH SPIRITUALITY
$25,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$24,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-SOREF
$7,500CIVIC & SOCIAL
OHR TORAH STONE
$120,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
$100,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$84,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
IMPACT ISRAEL
$45,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS
$45,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL
$36,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
BBYO INTERNATIONAL OFFICE
$25,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$20,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ISRAEL PARASPORT CENTER
$15,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-FT LAUDERDALE
$7,500CIVIC & SOCIAL
OHR TORAH STONE
$120,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
$100,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$84,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
US HOLOCAUST MUSEUM
$50,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
NORTON & ELAINE SARNOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS
$45,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
IMPACT ISRAEL
$42,500CIVIC & SOCIAL
ALAIN LOCKE CHARTER SCHOOL
$30,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
FIEDLER HILLEL AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
$20,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
$20,000CIVIC & SOCIAL
JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER-FT LAUDERDALE
$7,500CIVIC & SOCIAL
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE
$100,000CIVIC & SOCIAL