Private foundation · EIN 36-3449960 · Sycamore, Illinois · Education

Ideal Industries Foundation

Should you approach them?

Don't send a cold proposal. The foundation reports that it only gives to preselected organizations; an introduction through a current grantee or board member is the realistic route.

From the 2025 Form 990-PF: 95 grants paid, $1.1M total, median $1,500. 68% of grants stayed in Illinois.

Accepts applications
No
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2025
95
$1.1M
Median grant
$1,500
Stays in IL
68%
of grants
Deadline
—
Assets
$6.5M

Grants paid in 2025

Top 53 of 95 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
Habitat for HumanityAmericus, GAGeneral support$344K
Philadephia Youth BasketballPhiladelphia, PAGeneral support$125K
Rebuilding TogetherWashington, DCGeneral support$100K
Family Services AgencyDekalb, ILGeneral support$78K
Junior AchievementColorado Springs, COGeneral support$50K
Lowes FoundationMooresville, NCGeneral support$50K
The Home Depot FoundationAtlanta, GAGeneral support$44K
Hope HavenDekalb, ILGeneral support$26K
Rooted for GoodDekalb, ILGeneral support$26K
Safe Passage IncDekalb, ILGeneral support$21K
Dekalb County Economic Development CorpDekalb, ILGeneral support$20K
Boys & Girls Club Finchburg LeominsterLeominster, MAGeneral support$19K
Adverture WorksDekalb, ILGeneral support$19K
CASA DekalbSycamore, ILGeneral support$19K
Kshwaukee YMCASycamore, ILGeneral support$19K
Montachusett Regional Vocational School DistrictFitchburg, MAGeneral support$18K
Niu FoundationDekalb, ILGeneral support$10K
Dress for SuccessChicago, ILGeneral support$5,000
Northwestern Memorial FoundationChicago, ILGeneral support$5,000
Worcester County Food BankShrewsbury, MAGeneral support$5,000
Historic Fair HillPhiladelphia, PAGeneral support$4,808
Future Construction Leaders FoundationSan Diego, CAGeneral support$4,111
American Cancer SocietyAtlanta, GAGeneral support$3,000
Nashville Rescue MissionNashville, TNGeneral support$2,500
Sowa Goat SanctuaryHarvard, MAGeneral support$2,205
St JudeMemphis, TNGeneral support$2,000
Nine PBS St Louis Regional Public Media IncSt Louis, MOGeneral support$1,722
Compassion International IncColorado Springs, COGeneral support$1,015
Youth in NeedSt Charles, MOGeneral support$1,015
We Care Pregnancy CenterDekalb, ILGeneral support$765
Mercer County Historical SocietyAledo, ILGeneral support$511
Epilepsy Foundation of AmericaBowie, MDGeneral support$510
Food in Need of Distribution IncIndio, CAGeneral support$510
Project HelpingCentennial, COGeneral support$500
Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County IncWaukesha, WIGeneral support$307
MovemberSanta Monica, CAGeneral support$300
Saint Andrews Lutheran ChurchChicago, ILGeneral support$255
Wgbh Educational FoundationBoston, MAGeneral support$205
Goodfellows of DekalbSycamore, ILGeneral support$200
Feeding AmericaChicago, ILGeneral support$154
Friends of Mvyradio IncWest Tisbury, MAGeneral support$153
Trio Animal FoundationChicago, ILGeneral support$153
Dekalb County Community FoundationSycamore, ILGeneral support$128
College of the Holy CrossWorcester, MAGeneral support$102
Doctors Without BordersNew York, NYGeneral support$102
Joliet Catholic AcademyJoliet, ILGeneral support$102
NAMI Cape Cod IncHyannis, MAGeneral support$102
Naperville Humane Society IncNaperville, ILGeneral support$102
National Society Daughters of the American RevolutionGilbert, AZGeneral support$102
NPR FoundationWashington, DCGeneral support$102
Paws ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral support$102
Tails Humane SocietyDekalb, ILGeneral support$102
Illinois Right to Life CommitteeChicago, ILGeneral support$77

By state: Georgia 3 · Illinois 65 · Pennsylvania 2 · District of Columbia 2 · Colorado 3 · North Carolina 1

About this foundation

Ideal Industries Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Sycamore, Illinois, administered in care of Ideal Industries Inc, tax-exempt since 1987. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.

All filings on ProPublica

Does Ideal Industries Foundation accept grant applications?

No. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation checked that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Look for an introduction through a current grantee.

How much does Ideal Industries Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2025 it paid $1.1M across 95 grants, a median of $1,500.

Where does Ideal Industries Foundation give?

Georgia (3 grants), Illinois (65 grants), Pennsylvania (2 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.

More foundations near Sycamore that accept applications

All in Illinois
FoundationBased inGrants paidMedian grantAccepts applicationsAssets
From His Hand Foundationsince 2009 Sycamore, IL $1.2M60 grants · 2025 $16KPreselected only $23M
Douglas C and Lynn M Roberts Family Foundationsince 2008 Sycamore, IL $248K4 grants · 2025 $43KPreselected only $4.3M
Bickner Family Foundationsince 1995 Sycamore, IL $190K18 grants · 2025 $5,000Preselected only $2.3M
Howard G Buffett Foundationsince 1999 Decatur, IL $699M1 grants · 2025 $699MPreselected only $721M
John D & Catherine T Macarthur Foundationsince 1971 Chicago, IL $356M1,086 grants · 2024 $160KPreselected only $8.7B
Arie and Ida Crown Memorialsince 1962 Chicago, IL $115M897 grants · 2024 $55KYes $2.4B
Builders Initiativesince 2017 Chicago, IL $97M392 grants · 2024 $150KPreselected only $1.7B
Joyce Foundationsince 1949 Chicago, IL $52M470 grants · 2024 $80KYes $1.2B
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