The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable
The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1985 in Illinois and currently based in Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$92.3M
+66.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.3M
+198.4% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.3M
+198.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enhance and empower medical advancement, neurodivergent populations, underserved communities, Jewish organizations, and women and children, while honoring the legacy of the founders, Jules and Gwen Knapp.
Primary funding interests include:
- Medical advancement and health
- Education
- Women and girls
- Community and economic development
- Religion and Judaism
- International human rights
- Human services
- Philanthropy and voluntarism
Grantmaking
Applications should be submitted in writing.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
$5,000–$14,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Florida, Illinois, New York, and California. Florida, Illinois, and New York account for approximately 72% of all grants, with grantmaking reaching organizations across eight states.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $92,294,274
- Total revenues: $20,472,907
- Total expenses: $2,856,242
- Total grants and contributions: $17,508,748
- Investment income and dividends: $1,679,968
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.4 million in 2011 to $92.3 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $92,294,274 | $55,585,230 | $52,329,597 |
| Revenue | $20,472,907 | $53,565 | $50,880,522 |
| Expenses | $2,856,242 | $1,268,006 | $226,007 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,523,192 | $956,157 | $225,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,664,298 | $1,559,123 | $213,111 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,518,553 | $2,815,995 | $541,769 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include See Detailed Statement ($2,262,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SEE DETAILED STATEMENT PALM BEACH, FL | GENERAL PURPOSE | $2,262,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Susan K. Schulman – President ($120,000 compensation, 2024)
- Elyse Knapp Sollender – Treasurer/Vice President ($120,000 compensation, 2023)
The foundation employs two staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELYSE KNAPP SOLLENDER | PRESIDENT, TREASURER | 40 | $120,000 |
| SUSAN KNAPP SCHULMAN | VICE-PRESIDENT | 40 | $120,000 |
| JOHN W RANDOLPH JR | DIRECTOR | 0.3 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made a $25 million gift to the University of Chicago to support the construction of a 10-story medical research facility, reflecting its commitment to advancing medical research and innovation.
$25 million gift from Jules and Gwen Knapp will help build 10-story medicalFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable fund?
The foundation's mission is to enhance and empower medical advancement, neurodivergent populations, underserved communities, Jewish organizations, and women and children, while honoring the legacy of the founders, Jules and Gwen Knapp. Primary funding interests include: • Medical advancement and health • Education • Women and girls • Community and economic development • Religion and Judaism • International human rights • Human services • Philanthropy and voluntarism
How do I apply for a grant from The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Total assets: $92.3 million (as of 2024) • Annual giving: $758,000 (2023) • Average grant size: $5,000–$14,000 • Median grant: $500 • Typical awards range: $757,950–$2,262,000 • The foundation has made 114 grants totaling $1.6 million to 65 unique organizations **Application Process:** Applications should be submitted in writing.
Where does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in Florida, Illinois, New York, and California. Florida, Illinois, and New York account for approximately 72% of all grants, with grantmaking reaching organizations across eight states.
What size grants does The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable award?
In 2024, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable awarded 1 grants totaling $2.3M — an average of about $2.3M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable's EIN?
The Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3381401. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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