The Robert & Terri Cohn Family Foundation concentrates its giving on arts—particularly jazz performance and preservation—and a smaller stream supporting technology-driven education/innovation. It makes a few mid-sized grants to mission-specific nonprofits, favoring hands-on cultural organizations and educational programs that empower changemakers.
The Robert & Terri Cohn Family Foundation’s grantmaking shows a clear commitment to jazz presentation and preservation, paired with selective support for medical research and education-oriented community programs. Among its larger recent awards are $40,000 to Jazz Artist Resources in Chicago for the presentation of jazz performances and $38,000 to the same organization in 2024 for preservation of jazz performances. The foundation also backed field-specific research with $32,000 to the MPN Research Foundation in Chicago and $25,000 to the Glaucoma Research Foundation in San Francisco. Beyond arts and research, the foundation has supported organizations working with children, teachers, and neighborhood programs. Recent awards include $40,000 to Whitfield Foundation for Success in St. Louis for technology, innovation, and education, as well as $23,000 to Elyssas Mission Nfp in Northbrook for youth safety. It has also funded programs that connect arts education to youth development, including Live The Spirit Residency in Chicago for the Englewood Jazz Festival and an after-school jazz education program. Across these grants, the foundation favors hands-on nonprofits with clearly defined program purposes.
Jazz remains the clearest throughline in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $40,000 to Jazz Artist Resources in Chicago to support the presentation of performances by jazz artists, and another $38,000 to Jazz Artists Resource for preservation of performances by jazz artists. In medical research, the foundation gave $32,000 to MPN Resarch Foundation in Chicago to stimulate original research in pursuit of new treatments and eventually a cure for MPNs, and $25,000 to Glaucoma Research Foundation in San Francisco for innovative research and educational materials about glaucoma. Its education and youth-related grants point to practical program support. Whitfield Foundation for Success in St. Louis received $40,000 to inspire and empower changemakers through technology, innovation, and education, while Live The Spirit Residency in Chicago received $10,500 for the Englewood Jazz Festival and an after-school jazz education program.
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,500, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,125. The pattern includes repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, such as several grants to Live The Spirit Residency, the MPN Research Foundation, and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The foundation is a family foundation, and its filings indicate it funds individuals. It does not make program-related investments.
$378K
$13.6M
$7.2M
$412K
Most grants fall between $2K and $11K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$11K
About 6% of grants go to recipients in IL.
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Concentrated giving: a very small number of mid-sized grants (~$38–40k) spread across 2–3 recipients, including repeat support to jazz-focused organizations; mixes arts preservation/performance with one targeted education/innovation grant.
Notable grantees: Jazz Artist(s) Resource (jazz performance and preservation), Whitfield Foundation for Success (technology & education innovation)
Grantmaking is national, with all recent grants going to U.S. recipients. Chicago is a major hub in the recent grant list, alongside repeated awards in St. Louis and Fort Myers. Minnesota is the top state by grant count, even though Florida is the headquarters state and received 8% of grants. Named non-U.S. recipient countries do not appear in the recent-grants data.
Its recent grants concentrate on jazz performance and preservation, with additional support for medical research, youth safety, food security, and education-oriented community programs. Named grants include support for jazz artists, MPN research, glaucoma research, and programs for children and changemakers.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Live The Spirit Residency, the MPN Research Foundation, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Harry Chapin Food Bank. That pattern suggests the foundation makes repeated awards to some grantees rather than only one-time gifts.
The distribution centers on relatively small to mid-sized grants: the 25th percentile is $1,500, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,125. Recent awards also include larger exceptions at $40,000 and $38,000.
Its top state by grant count is Minnesota. Recent grants also land in Illinois, Missouri, Florida, California, New York, Colorado, and Arizona, showing a national footprint rather than a single-region focus.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAZZ ARTISTS RESOURCE | CHICAGO, IL | $45,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MPN RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $31,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AMPLIFYMO | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ELYSSA'S MISSION NFP | NORTHBROOK, IL | $22,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2026 | I AM STL & GALLERY STL SUPPORT |
| JUVENILE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $15,000 | 2026 | COHN FELLOWSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS INC | CHICAGO, IL | $13,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $13,000 | 2026 | LURIE CANCER CENTER SUPPORT |
| LIVE THE SPIRIT RESIDENCY | CHICAGO, IL | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF COLLIER COUNTY INC | NAPLES, FL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL CHILDREN'S CHARITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FAIRGROUND PARK FOR ALL | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | RICHARD T. SILVER, M.D. MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS CENTER SUPPORT |
| EASTER SEALS SERVING CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $9,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MPN RESEARCH FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $6,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK | BRIDGETON, MO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MEALS OF HOPE INC | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HADLEY INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | WINNETKA, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE INC | HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO FIRE FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN | COON RAPIDS, MN | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BIG SHOULDERS | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NOURISHING HOPE | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $4,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $3,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY | CHICAGO, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DREAM BUILDERS 4 EQUITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | CHARLES DILLON MD SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT |
| ILLINI MEDIA COMPANY | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CANCER WELLNESS CENTER | NORTHBROOK, IL | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | WBEZ SUPPORT |
| BUTLER UNIVERSITY | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $2,000 | 2026 | LACY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS SUPPORT |
| HADLEY INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | WINNETKA, IL | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INDIANA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | BLOOMINGTON, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | KELLEY LEADERSHIP FUND SUPPORT |
| OUR PLACE OF NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP INC | WINNETKA, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREAT LAKES ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOC | LAKE FOREST, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPECIAL GIFTS THEATRE | NORTHBROOK, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CASA LAKE COUNTY INC | VERNON HILLS, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ART CENTER HIGHLAND PARK | HIGHLAND PARK, IL | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MPN Resarch Foundation | Chicago, IL | $47,000 | 2025 | Stimulate original research in pursuit of new treatments and eventually cure for the MPNs. |
| Jazz Artists Resource | Chicago, IL | $41,000 | 2025 | Support the preservation of performances by jazz artists. |
| AmplifyMO | Brooklyn, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | Help teachers inspire and create high-quality programs |
| Elyssas Mission Nfp | Northbrook, IL | $22,000 | 2025 | Creating a safer today for our youth. |
| Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Winnetka, IL | $21,000 | 2025 | Continuing education. |
| Glaucoma Research Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $21,000 | 2025 | Innovative research and provided educational materials about glaucoma. |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois Inc | Chicago, IL | $16,000 | 2025 | Create life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses |
JAZZ ARTISTS RESOURCE
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
AMPLIFYMO
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ELYSSA'S MISSION NFP
$22,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM
$20,000I AM STL & GALLERY STL SUPPORT
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$13,000LURIE CANCER CENTER SUPPORT
LIVE THE SPIRIT RESIDENCY
$12,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FAIRGROUND PARK FOR ALL
$10,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WEILL MEDICAL COLLEGE OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY
$10,000RICHARD T. SILVER, M.D. MYELOPROLIFERATIVE NEOPLASMS CENTER SUPPORT
EASTER SEALS SERVING CHICAGO
$9,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MEALS OF HOPE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE INC
$5,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
ILLINI MEDIA COMPANY
$3,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
OUR PLACE OF NEW TRIER TOWNSHIP INC
$1,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GREAT LAKES ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOC
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SPECIAL GIFTS THEATRE
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE ART CENTER HIGHLAND PARK
$1,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Stimulate original research in pursuit of new treatments and eventually cure for the MPNs.
Jazz Artists Resource
$41,000Support the preservation of performances by jazz artists.
AmplifyMO
$25,000Help teachers inspire and create high-quality programs
Elyssas Mission Nfp
$22,000Creating a safer today for our youth.
Innovative research and provided educational materials about glaucoma.
Create life changing wishes for children with critical illnesses