The Christopher Family Foundation
Westmont, IL · EIN 36-7092282. Reported 407 grants totalling $15.9M to 153 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Christopher Family Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $25,050. Half of everything it gave fell between $6,568 and $50,000; the smallest was $75 and the largest $290,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forefront | Chicago, IL | $986,917 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Walther Lutheran High School Association Inc | Melrose Park, IL | $899,707 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | $860,000 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank | Geneva, IL | $525,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Garfield Park Community Council | Chicago, IL | $400,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Inc | Chicago, IL | $355,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $355,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago Foundation | Chicago, IL | $335,000 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Feeding America | Chicago, IL | $325,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cara Program | Chicago, IL | $320,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of River Forest | River Forest, IL | $311,000 | 12 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation | Bensenville, IL | $310,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Music Program | Minneapolis, MN | $305,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mrelief | Chicago, IL | $290,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Allies for Community Business Inc | Chicago, IL | $270,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | $270,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Facing History and Ourselves - Chicago | Chicago, IL | $260,250 | 9 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | Des Plaines, IL | $260,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chicago Zoological Society | Brookfield, IL | $250,000 | 8 | 4 | 2024 |
| Loyola University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $248,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| A Better Chicago | Chicago, IL | $245,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jane Addams Resource Corporation | Chicago, IL | $242,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $240,100 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Build Incorporated | Chicago, IL | $235,150 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| New Moms Inc | Chicago, IL | $230,300 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chicago Horticultural Society - Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $230,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Children First Fund | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The West Cook Ymcas Inc | Oak Park, IL | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mhub | Chicago, IL | $180,200 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Chicago Jesuit Academy | Chicago, IL | $180,100 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Holy Family Ministries | Chicago, IL | $180,100 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| HIRE360 | Chicago, IL | $170,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maafa Redemption Project | Chicago, IL | $165,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Leonard's Ministries | Chicago, IL | $160,600 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries Inc | Chicago, IL | $160,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Gray Matter Experience | Chicago, IL | $155,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Revolution Workshop | Northbrook, IL | $155,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Youth Guidance | Chicago, IL | $155,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Calvin University | Grand Rapids, MI | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Maywood Fine Arts Association | Maywood, IL | $145,050 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kids First Chicago for Education | Chicago, IL | $145,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Inspiration Corporation | Chicago, IL | $140,100 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bright Promises Foundation | Chicago, IL | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| River City Community Development Center | Chicago, IL | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Scripted Inc | New York, NY | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Childrens Place Association | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lawrence Hall | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Field Museum of Natural History | Chicago, IL | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ucan | Chicago, IL | $115,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chicago Jobs Council | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse | Evanston, IL | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Manufacturing Renaissance | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Health and Medicine Policy Research Group | Chicago, IL | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Illinois Science and Technology Institute | Chicago, IL | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Women Initiating New Directions | Evanston, IL | $87,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $76,000 | 3 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bridge Teen Center Nfp | Orland Park, IL | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sunshine Enterprises | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Horticultural Society - Chicago Botanic Ga | Glencoe, IL | $71,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Refugeeone | Chicago, IL | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chicago Public Education Fund | Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Teachers Supporting Teachers | Chicago, IL | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Accion Chicago Inc | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Calvin College | Grand Rapids, MI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Christopher House | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hephzibah Childrens Association | Oak Park, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hope Grows Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lutheran World Relief Inc | Northbrook, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lutheran World Relief Inc | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tides Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bright Star of Bethlehem Nfp | Rockford, IL | $49,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools | Saratoga Spgs, NY | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Timothy Christian Schools | Elmhurst, IL | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Women Employed | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Youth Centers | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Data for Good | Los Angeles, CA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Refushe Inc | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| University of Illinois Foundation | Chicago, IL | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Latin Center | Chicago, IL | $37,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Institute of Positive Education | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Nantucket Boys & Girls Club Inc | Nantucket, MA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nantucket Interfaith Council | Nantucket, MA | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Neighborspace | Chicago, IL | $25,050 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| A Million Dreamz Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Aaabna | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Blessings in a Backpack Inc | Louisville, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boys Club of Palm Springs Inc | Palm Springs, CA | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Circle Urban Ministries | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Communities in Schools of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Defy Ventures | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund Inc | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Harmony Community Cares Nfp | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lutheran Church Charities Fund | Northbrook, IL | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Skills for Chicagolands Future | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Small Business Majority Foundation Inc | Elk Grove, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Austin Coming Together | Chicago, IL | $20,875 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Openlands | Chicago, IL | $20,075 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oak Park & River Forest Day Nursery | Oak Park, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Stone Cdc | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Teen Parent Connection Inc | Glen Ellyn, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Reading Legacies | San Diego, CA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Misercordia Foundation | Chicago, IL | $13,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Impacting Veterans Lives Inc | Wadsworth, IL | $12,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (elca) | Saint Paul, MN | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Norwood Life Care Foundation | Chicago, IL | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation | Oak Park, IL | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bookworm Gardens | Sheboygan, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Blackhawks Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Christian Relief Services Charities Inc - American | Alexandria, VA | $10,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friends of the Forest Preserves | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Heshima Association | Wheaton, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Theater for Young Audiences Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Women in Philanthropy | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Cool Ministries | Waukegan, IL | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Concordia University Chicago | River Forest, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food in Need of Distribution Inc | Indio, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girls in the Game Nfp | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grand Island Community Foundation | Grand Island, NE | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Carter Center Inc | Atlanta, GA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gap Community Center | Chicago, IL | $3,726 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Christian Appalachian Project Inc | Mount Vernon, KY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Housing Forward | Maywood, IL | $2,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Camp Awesum Inc | St Germain, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mayo Clinic | Rochester, MN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Misericordia Family Association | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| North Lakeland Discovery Center Inc | Manitowsh Wtr, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Peak Grant Making | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Thrive Counseling Center | Oak Park, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Arthritis Foundation Inc | Atlanta, GA | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| St James Lutheran Church | Chicago, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Community House | Hinsdale, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | Bethesda, MD | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Feed My Starving Children | Coon Rapids, MN | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Moody Bible Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ray Graham Association for People With Disabilitie | Lisle, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Texas Academy 4 | Fort Worth, TX | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wellness House | Hinsdale, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Donorschooseorg | New York, NY | $529 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Trevor Project Inc | West Hollywood, CA | $300 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry | Elmhurst, IL | $275 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Faith in Place | Chicago, IL | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Books for Africa Inc | Saint Paul, MN | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National Audubon Society Inc | New York, NY | $125 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Life Is Work | Maywood, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ocean Conservancy | Washington, DC | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Gardenworks Project | Chicago, IL | $100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Beyond Hunger | Oak Park, IL | $75 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
88 of 153 (58%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 73%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Forefront
FRESH TASTE - MANAGED FUNDS - Walther Lutheran High School Association Inc
WALTHER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIPS - Chicago Community Foundation
FUND FOR EQUITABLE BUSINESS GROWTH - Garfield Park Community Council
WEST SIDE NATURE PLAY INITIATIVE - Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of River Forest
GRACE SCHOOL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN - Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County Inc
STAFF/OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 278 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 112 | $3,065,206 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 109 | $4,276,963 | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 105 | $4,082,799 | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 81 | $4,516,136 | $50,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 90% of this one's giving went to organizations in Illinois. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $25,050. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Christopher Family Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 640 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL, 60559. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-7092282 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.