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Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 36-3991208

The Acorn Foundation

A private foundation in Chicago, IL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 29 grants and $43,700 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

6 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $43,700

    Grants listed
    29
    Assets, end of year
    $414,631

  • Tax year 2024

    $87,000

    Grants listed
    33
    Assets, end of year
    $465,138

  • Tax year 2023

    $0

    Grants listed
    0
    Assets, end of year
    $556,312

  • Tax year 2022

    $45,000

    Grants listed
    32
    Assets, end of year
    $607,044

  • Tax year 2021

    $40,000

    Grants listed
    1
    Assets, end of year
    $646,018

  • Tax year 2020

    $47,500

    Grants listed
    28
    Assets, end of year
    $669,615

Grants paid in 2025

29 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Museum of Science and IndustryChicago, IL

    Museum

    $8,000
  2. Colby CollegeWaterville, ME

    Educational

    $2,500
  3. Depaul College PrepChicago, IL

    Educational

    $2,500
  4. The Fund for Sarah Lawrence - Sarah Lawrence CollegeBronxville, NY

    Educational

    $2,500
  5. University of Iowa FoundationIowa City, IA

    Educational

    $2,500
  6. OrganiceyeLa Farge, WI

    Advocacy

    $2,400
  7. CharitywaterFranklin, TN

    Environmental

    $2,000
  8. Latin School of ChicagoChicago, IL

    Educational

    $1,500
  9. Action Against Hunger-UsaNew York, NY

    Human services

    $1,200
  10. Hillel InternationalWashington, DC

    Human services

    $1,200
  11. The Actors' Fund of AmericaNew York, NY

    Cultural

    $1,200
  12. The Jarrett Meeker FoundationLa Mesa, CA

    Human services

    $1,200
  13. Anshe Emet SynagogueChicago, IL

    Religious

    $1,000
  14. Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago, IL

    Cultural

    $1,000
  15. Field MuseumChicago, IL

    Museum

    $1,000
  16. Friends of Lincoln Park HighChicago, IL

    Educational

    $1,000
  17. Honeybee Research Facitlity-Wsu FoundationPullman, WA

    Environmental

    $1,000
  18. Jewish Family Services of San DiegoSan Diego, CA

    Human services

    $1,000
  19. KPBS TVFMSan Diego, CA

    Cultural

    $1,000
  20. Planned Parenthood Federation of America IncNew York, NY

    Advocacy

    $1,000
  21. Ronald McDonald HouseChicago, IL

    Human services

    $1,000
  22. School Year Abroad - Office of AdvancementNorth Andover, MA

    Educational

    $1,000
  23. Stanford UniversityStanford, CA

    Educational

    $1,000
  24. Tufts UniversityMedford, MA

    Educational

    $1,000
  25. Birthright Israel FoundationNew York, NY

    Educational

    $1,000
  26. Adler PlanetariumChicago, IL

    Museum

    $500
  27. Federalist SocietyWashington, DC

    Advocacy

    $500
  28. Interlochen Center for the ArtsInterlochen, MI

    Cultural

    $500
  29. Steppenwolf TheatreChicago, IL

    Cultural

    $500

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture4 grants $10,00040% of the total
  2. Education4 grants $6,00024% of the total
  3. Food and agriculture1 grant $2,40010% of the total
  4. International aid2 grants $2,2009% of the total
  5. Human services1 grant $2,0008% of the total
  6. Mutual benefit1 grant $1,2005% of the total
  7. 1 other causes1 grant $1,0004% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois10 grants $18,000
  2. New York5 grants $6,900
  3. California4 grants $4,200
  4. Iowa1 grant $2,500
  5. Maine1 grant $2,500
  6. Wisconsin1 grant $2,400
  7. Massachusetts2 grants $2,000
  8. Tennessee1 grant $2,000
  9. District of Columbia2 grants $1,700
  10. Washington1 grant $1,000

Officers, directors and trustees

5 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Ralph WangerPRESIDENT Hours 0Pay $0
  • Kathleen TuckerTREASURER Hours 0Pay $0
  • Eric David WangerDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Leonard Ralph WangerDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0
  • Debra Jane WangerDIRECTOR Hours 0Pay $0

The return

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