Katherine L Olson Charitable Foundation
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 36-6857384 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$396K
Organizations funded58
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$9.7M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $2,000 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
32% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unicef | New York, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $25,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $24,000 |
| Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violen | San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Kenilworth Union Church | Kenilworth, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Sarah's Circle | Chciago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Advancement Offic | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| WBEZ Chicago Public Radio | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Women's Board of Northwestern Mem Hosp | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Wttw | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $15,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Women's Board Education Department | $10,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Friends of Kafika House | San Francisco, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International | Atlanta, GA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Misericordia | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Scripps College | Claremont, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Teach for America | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| The Anti-Cruelty Society | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Foundation | Madison, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Williams College | Williamstown, MA | Alumni Fund | $10,000 |
| Women's Board Art Institute | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $10,000 |
| Mainstay Therapeutic Farm | Richmond, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $7,500 |
| Heifer International | Little Rock, AR | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $6,000 |
| American Red Cross | Boone, IA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| C J Jung Center | Evanston, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Chicago Coalition for the Homeless | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| McCormick Theological Seminary | Chicago, IL | The Bowen Scholarship Fund | $5,000 |
| Noble Network of Charter Schools | Chicago, IL | Summer of a Lifetime | $5,000 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | The Women's Board Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | Block Art Museum | $5,000 |
| Planned Parenthood of America | New York, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Rogers Park Montessori School | Chicago, IL | Annual Fund | $5,000 |
| The ALS Association | Boone, IA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| The ALS Association | Boone, IA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $5,000 |
| Angelic Organics Learning Center Inc | Caledonia, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Bay City News Foundation | Berkeley, CA | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Bozeman Public School Foundation | Bozeman, MT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Hatch Inc | Brattleboro, VT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Music Institute of Chicago | Evanston, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Safer Foundation | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Special Olympics Illinois | Lombard, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Writers Theater | Glencoe, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $3,000 |
| Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons | New York, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $2,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Eagle Mount- Bozeman | Bozeman, MT | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Evanston Art Center | Evanston, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Family Institute at Northwestern Univ | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Goodman Theatre | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Lakeland University | Plymouth, WI | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Meals on Wheels | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Merit School of Music | Chicago, IL | Music Education | $1,500 |
| North Shore Senior Center | Northfield, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,500 |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,000 |
| Parenting for Non Violence | Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Charitable Gift | $1,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $396,500 | 58 |
| 2023 | $357,500 | 53 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Jul 21, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202542029349100209
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 36-6857384
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.