The Buckman Fun Filled Family Foundation concentrates the vast majority of its giving on cancer-related causes, with a single beneficiary, Cal's Angels, receiving over 80% of total dollars across multiple grants. Remaining support is small and locally focused — including a community foundation gift, a general-purpose youth/cancer nonprofit, and a one-off direct assistance payment — suggesting a mix of philanthropic commitment to cancer patients/families and ad hoc local or personal charitable acts. The foundation appears to be family-directed and flexible, funding both institutional cancer work and immediate, individual needs in its community.
A single beneficiary has absorbed most of the foundation’s recent dollars: Cal's Angels received $152,000 in 2024 and $100,422 in 2023 for cancer research, followed by another $11,650 in 2025. That pattern makes the Buckman Fun Filled Family Foundation’s priorities unusually easy to trace. The foundation does not spread its giving broadly; it repeatedly backs cancer-related work, while also making smaller grants for local community organizations, child-focused programs, humanitarian aid, and direct individual support. The rest of the record shows a family-directed style of philanthropy that can move from institutional support to personal assistance. In 2025, it gave $25,000 to Fekade Estiphanos for a car purchase tied to Teme Shiferaw and Eyersulen Haile, and it also supported Liv Like a Unicorn with a general-purpose grant. Smaller gifts to organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, Hope Chicago, and the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley indicate a mix of targeted and flexible giving. Individual and organizational recipients appear in the same grant history, which is a defining feature of this funder.
Cancer-related giving is the clearest throughline. Cal's Angels received the foundation’s largest recent grants for cancer research, and the organization appears more than once in the record, showing repeated support rather than a one-time gift. Outside cancer work, the foundation has backed child and family support organizations. It gave $5,000 to Shop With a Copy Lee County for holiday shopping for underprivileged kids and $5,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Elgin for general purposes. It also supported the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois with a general-purpose grant and Compassion International with humanitarian aid grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The grant list also includes place-based and community-oriented support, such as $10,309 to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley and multiple general-purpose gifts to Chicago-based youth and education groups.
Typical grant size is modest: the distribution sits at $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $2,000 at the median, and $5,000 at the 75th percentile. The distribution is skewed by a few much larger gifts, most notably the six-figure awards to Cal's Angels and a $25,000 individual asset purchase. The foundation gives both to organizations and to named individuals, including direct assistance and in-kind support. Its recent record also shows repeat recipients across years, especially Cal's Angels, Hope Chicago, Compassion International, and Guitars Over Guns Organization Inc., which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off grants.
$448K
$1.6M
$67K
$120K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $2K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$2K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 71% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Highly concentrated: one dominant grantee receives the bulk of funding through multiple gifts, while a small number of modest, discretionary grants fund local nonprofits and occasional direct assistance to individuals.
Notable grantees: Cal's Angels, Liv Like a Unicorn, Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, Fekade Estiphanos (individual / direct assistance)
Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, which accounts for 71% of grants, but the top state by grant count is Colorado. Recent Illinois recipients include St. Charles, Chicago, Elgin, Aurora, Skokie, Woodridge, and Crystal Lake. Outside Illinois, the foundation has also given in Florida, New Jersey, Iowa, California, and Colorado, with Colorado Springs appearing in humanitarian-aid grants. All recorded grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
Cancer-related work is the strongest pattern, led by repeated grants to Cal's Angels for cancer research. The recent record also includes child-focused support, humanitarian aid, general-purpose community grants, and direct assistance to named individuals.
Yes. The record includes organizational grants such as $13,731 to Liv Like a Unicorn and $5,000 to Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, alongside a $25,000 car purchase for Fekade Estiphanos tied to Teme Shiferaw and Eyersulen Haile.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is small at the center: p25 is $1,000, median is $2,000, and p75 is $5,000. Larger gifts do appear, but they are exceptions relative to the overall pattern.
Cal's Angels appears repeatedly, with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other repeat recipients include Hope Chicago, Compassion International, and Guitars Over Guns Organization Inc., showing that the foundation often renews support for the same groups.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEKADE ESTIPHANOS | ELGIN, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CAR PURCHASE FOR TEME SHIFERAW AND EYERSULEN HAILE |
| LIV LIKE A UNICORN | FREEHOLD, NJ | $13,731 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CAL'S ANGELS | ST CHARLES, IL | $11,650 | 2025 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| GUITARS OVER GUNS ORGANIZATION INC | MIAMI, FL | $5,200 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN | ELGIN, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SHOP WITH A COPY LEE COUNTY | WEVER, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED KIDS |
| ZION FAMILIES - PIERRE CHARITY | MIAMI, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | ASSIST HAITI REFUGEES |
| IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION | NAPLES, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOPE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ANTHONY RIZZO FAMILY FOUNDATION | PARKLAND, FL | $4,288 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPSOSE |
| MILUPA KING | ELGIN, IL | $1,730 | 2025 | DOCTORS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE |
| COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,702 | 2025 | HUMANITARIAN AID |
| BOCA SCHOOL FOR AUTISM INC | BOCA RATON, FL | $1,620 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MARY DEROSA CANCER CHARITY NFP | ELGIN, IL | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WOUNDED WARRIOR | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| URBAN INITIATIVES | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ANDREW WEISNER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $937 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CAL'S ANGELS | ST CHARLES, IL | $152,000 | 2024 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| JEWISH UNITED FUND | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| URBAN INITIATIVES | CHICAGO, IL | $6,932 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOPE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $6,583 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS | SKOKIE, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BEAT THE STREETS CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CITY YEAR | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTRAL MUSIC BOOSTER | BURLINGTON, IL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GUITARS OVER GUNS ORGANIZATION INC | MIAMI, FL | $2,650 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $2,365 | 2024 | HUMANITARIAN AID |
| CASA MCHENRY | CRYSTAL LAKE, IL | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MARY DEROSA CANCER CHARITY NFP | ELGIN, IL | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LES TURNER ALS FOUNDATION | SKOKIE, IL | $1,100 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| EMBARC CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CDBL | ELGIN, IL | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HEALTH NET FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WAYSIDE CROSS MINISTRIES | AURORA, IL | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHS BOOSTER | BURLINGTON, IL | $300 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WEST RIDGE | CHICAGO, IL | $250 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| UI DANCE MARATHON | IOWA CITY, IA | $125 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DOMINICAN LITERACY | AURORA, IL | $100 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ANDREW WEISNER FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $46 | 2024 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CAL'S ANGELS | ST CHARLES, IL | $100,422 | 2023 | CANCER RESEARCH |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE FOX RIVER VALLEY | AURORA, IL | $10,309 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| PROJECT CURE CHICAGO | WOODRIDGE, IL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HOPE CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $8,792 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| HELP WITH FIRES CALIFORNIA | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $2,671 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| KESHET | CHICAGO, IL | $2,512 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $2,280 | 2023 | HUMANITARIAN AID |
| RISING LIGHTS PROJECT | ELBURN, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN | ELGIN, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF THE ORPHANS NPH | CHICAGO, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CDBL | ELGIN, IL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
FEKADE ESTIPHANOS
$25,000CAR PURCHASE FOR TEME SHIFERAW AND EYERSULEN HAILE
LIV LIKE A UNICORN
$13,731GENERAL PURPOSE
CAL'S ANGELS
$11,650CANCER RESEARCH
GUITARS OVER GUNS ORGANIZATION INC
$5,200GENERAL PURPOSE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SHOP WITH A COPY LEE COUNTY
$5,000HOLIDAY SHOPPING FOR UNDER PRIVILEGED KIDS
ZION FAMILIES - PIERRE CHARITY
$5,000ASSIST HAITI REFUGEES
IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOPE CHICAGO
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ANTHONY RIZZO FAMILY FOUNDATION
$4,288GENERAL PURPSOSE
MILUPA KING
$1,730DOCTORS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
$1,702HUMANITARIAN AID
BOCA SCHOOL FOR AUTISM INC
$1,620GENERAL PURPOSE
MARY DEROSA CANCER CHARITY NFP
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
WOUNDED WARRIOR
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
URBAN INITIATIVES
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ANDREW WEISNER FOUNDATION
$937GENERAL PURPOSE
CAL'S ANGELS
$152,000CANCER RESEARCH
JEWISH UNITED FUND
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
URBAN INITIATIVES
$6,932GENERAL PURPOSE
HOPE CHICAGO
$6,583GENERAL PURPOSE
HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL FOUNDATION OF ILLINOIS
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BEAT THE STREETS CHICAGO
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CITY YEAR
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CENTRAL MUSIC BOOSTER
$5,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GUITARS OVER GUNS ORGANIZATION INC
$2,650GENERAL PURPOSE
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
$2,365HUMANITARIAN AID
CASA MCHENRY
$2,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MARY DEROSA CANCER CHARITY NFP
$1,500GENERAL PURPOSE
LES TURNER ALS FOUNDATION
$1,100GENERAL PURPOSE
EMBARC CHICAGO
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CDBL
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HEALTH NET FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WAYSIDE CROSS MINISTRIES
$500GENERAL PURPOSE
CHS BOOSTER
$300GENERAL PURPOSE
WEST RIDGE
$250GENERAL PURPOSE
UI DANCE MARATHON
$125GENERAL PURPOSE
DOMINICAN LITERACY
$100GENERAL PURPOSE
ANDREW WEISNER FOUNDATION
$46GENERAL PURPOSE
CAL'S ANGELS
$100,422CANCER RESEARCH
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE FOX RIVER VALLEY
$10,309GENERAL PURPOSE
PROJECT CURE CHICAGO
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
HOPE CHICAGO
$8,792GENERAL PURPOSE
HELP WITH FIRES CALIFORNIA
$2,671GENERAL PURPOSE
KESHET
$2,512GENERAL PURPOSE
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
$2,280HUMANITARIAN AID
RISING LIGHTS PROJECT
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF ELGIN
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
FRIENDS OF THE ORPHANS NPH
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CDBL
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSE