The Illinois State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 38-2877392

The Karla Scherer Foundation

A private foundation in Chicago, IL. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 18 grants and $318,297 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. It still lists the details below.

Contact
Karla Scherer
737 North Michigan Avenue Suite, 2330
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 943-9191
Form and materials
N/A
Deadlines
N/A
Restrictions
N/A

Assets and giving by year

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

    $318,297

    Grants listed
    18
    Assets, end of year
    $2,148,172
  • Tax year 2024

    $281,553

    Grants listed
    19
    Assets, end of year
    $8,252,673
  • Tax year 2023

    $249,650

    Grants listed
    23
    Assets, end of year
    $7,400,987
  • Tax year 2022

    $272,320

    Grants listed
    21
    Assets, end of year
    $7,142,929
  • Tax year 2021

    $150,700

    Grants listed
    15
    Assets, end of year
    $6,788,277
  • Tax year 2020

    $165,501

    Grants listed
    14
    Assets, end of year
    $5,569,589
  • Tax year 2019

    $208,443

    Grants listed
    15
    Assets, end of year
    $5,643,573
  • Tax year 2018

    $186,831

    Grants listed
    17
    Assets, end of year
    $5,194,708

Grants paid in 2025

18 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Health Network FoundationCleveland, OH

    General fund

    $78,797
  2. University of ChicagoChicago, IL

    General fund

    $75,000
  3. Project FreediveChicago, IL

    General fund

    $51,110
  4. Planned ParenthoodChicago, IL

    General fund

    $28,890
  5. Newberry LibraryChicago, IL

    General fund

    $20,000
  6. Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago, IL

    General fund

    $10,000
  7. Field MuseumChicago, IL

    General fund

    $10,000
  8. Lyric Opera of ChicagoChicago, IL

    General fund

    $10,000
  9. Thomas Jefferson FoundationCharlottesvle, VA

    General fund

    $10,000
  10. Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, IL

    General fund

    $5,000
  11. Committee of Arts of the AmericasChicago, IL

    General fund

    $5,000
  12. Leader Dogs for the BlindRochester HLS, MI

    General fund

    $5,000
  13. Providence St Mel SchoolChicago, IL

    General fund

    $5,000
  14. ACLUChicago, IL

    General fund

    $1,000
  15. Kbach Friends of Public Radio ArizonaTempe, AZ

    General fund

    $1,000
  16. Salvation ArmyAlexandria, VA

    General fund

    $1,000
  17. WFMTChicago, IL

    General fund

    $1,000
  18. Michigan Supreme Court Historical SocietyChicago, IL

    General fund

    $500

Where the money goes

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

  1. Education3 grants $100,00054% of the total
  2. Human services2 grants $56,11030% of the total
  3. Arts and culture3 grants $30,00016% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Illinois13 grants $222,500
  2. Ohio1 grant $78,797
  3. Virginia2 grants $11,000
  4. Michigan1 grant $5,000
  5. Arizona1 grant $1,000

Officers, directors and trustees

3 people as filed

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

  • Karla SchererCHRM-BD, CEO & TRUSTEE Hours 20Pay $0
  • Hadley KimberlinTREASURER Hours 2Pay $0
  • Amanda McKenzieSECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

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

  1. The Simon Bros Family FDTN XXXXX3003Chicago, IL 8 grants Preselected only $326,000 giving
  2. Clark Charitable Foundation XXXXX2003Chicago, IL 5 grants Accepts applications $310,000 giving
  3. Roberti Helen Charitable TrustChicago, IL 10 grants Accepts applications $308,000 giving
  4. Green Family FoundationChicago, IL 9 grants Preselected only $329,200 giving
  5. Ida M Brechtel Charitable TrustChicago, IL 4 grants Preselected only $304,964 giving