The Illinois State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 36-6149634

Morton S Abelson Foundation

A private foundation in Highland Park, IL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 23 grants and $93,010 paid in grants.

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

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2025

    $93,010

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $176,102
  • Tax year 2024

    $39,410

    Grants listed
    18
    Assets, end of year
    $215,070
  • Tax year 2023

    $58,660

    Grants listed
    24
    Assets, end of year
    $186,762
  • Tax year 2022

    $18,000

    Grants listed
    9
    Assets, end of year
    $174,693
  • Tax year 2021

    $18,250

    Grants listed
    6
    Assets, end of year
    $185,653
  • Tax year 2020

    $16,050

    Grants listed
    12
    Assets, end of year
    $154,823
  • Tax year 2019

    $16,700

    Grants listed
    14
    Assets, end of year
    $150,577

Grants paid in 2025

23 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago FoundationChicago, IL

    General support

    $25,000
  2. Northwest Memorial FoundationChicago, IL

    General support

    $20,000
  3. Fistula FoundationSan Jose, CA

    General support

    $7,500
  4. Sparky ProductionsTelluride, CO

    General support

    $7,500
  5. Anti Defamation LeagueNew York, NY

    General support

    $5,000
  6. Back Bay RingersBoston, MA

    General support

    $5,000
  7. Jewish United FundChicago, IL

    General support

    $5,000
  8. Southern Poverty Law CenterMontgomery, AL

    General support

    $5,000
  9. Northern Illinois Food BankGeneva, IL

    General support

    $3,250
  10. World Central KitchenWashington, DC

    General support

    $2,000
  11. ACLUChicago, IL

    General support

    $1,000
  12. American Jewish CommitteeNew York, NY

    General support

    $1,000
  13. Genesys Works ChicagoChicago, IL

    General support

    $1,000
  14. Sonia Shankman Orthogenic SchoolChicago, IL

    General support

    $1,000
  15. St Jude's Children's Research HospitalMemphis, TN

    General support

    $1,000
  16. Telluride Medical Center FoundationTelluride, CO

    General support

    $1,000
  17. Everytown for Gun SafetyNew York, NY

    General support

    $500
  18. Greater Chicago Food DepositoryChicago, IL

    General support

    $250
  19. Josselyn ClinicNorthbrook, IL

    General support

    $250
  20. Project K-9 HeroWhitwell, TN

    General support

    $200
  21. St Labre Indian SchoolAshland, MT

    General support

    $200
  22. WTTWChicago, IL

    General support

    $200
  23. Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL

    General support

    $160

Where the money goes

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

  1. Health3 grants $33,50050% of the total
  2. Arts and culture2 grants $12,50018% of the total
  3. Civil rights2 grants $6,0009% of the total
  4. Crime and legal aid1 grant $5,0007% of the total
  5. Philanthropy and grantmaking1 grant $5,0007% of the total
  6. Food and agriculture2 grants $3,5005% of the total
  7. 2 other causes2 grants $2,1603% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois12 grants $62,110
  2. Colorado2 grants $8,500
  3. California1 grant $7,500
  4. Alabama1 grant $5,000
  5. Massachusetts1 grant $5,000
  6. District of Columbia1 grant $2,000
  7. New York2 grants $1,500
  8. Tennessee2 grants $1,200
  9. Montana1 grant $200

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

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

  • Susan A StarPRESIDENT, TREASURER, SECRETARY Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Michael A AbelsonVICE-PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0
  • Robert StarDIRECTOR Hours 0.5Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (health), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Marian Renee and Edward Saltzberg FoundationHighland Park, IL 9 grants Preselected only $77,000 giving
  2. Mazzetta Family FoundationHighland Park, IL 6 grants Preselected only $117,500 giving
  3. Lieber Charitable TrustHighland Park, IL 8 grants Accepts applications $70,500 giving
  4. Polen Family FoundationHighland Park, IL 35 grants Preselected only $140,700 giving
  5. Feldman Family FoundationHighland Park, IL 2 grants Preselected only $52,500 giving