Foundations that fund organizations in Lake Forest, Illinois
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Lake Forest nonprofits
312 private foundations gave $19M to Lake Forest organizations in their latest filings; 19 of the 100 that say either way accept applications.
696 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Lake Forest around $25K. 69 of these funders are based in Illinois; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 312
- Accept applications
- 19
- of 100 that state a policy
- Dollars to Lake Forest
- $19M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 696
- Typical median grant
- $25K
- Based in IL
- 69%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Lake Forest organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wonderful Life Foundation | West Palm Beach, FL | 4 | $4.0M | $1.0M | Preselected only | General support |
| John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy | Lake Forest, IL | 2 | $3.2M | $1.6M | Preselected only | Scholarships; Capacity Building |
| Lumw Foundation | Pleasant Prairie, WI | 3 | $1.1M | $53K | Preselected only | General |
| The Charmm'd Foundation | Buffalo Grove, IL | 1 | $1.1M | $1.1M | Preselected only | Endowment grant for leadership center |
| Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund | Holland, MI | 2 | $760K | $380K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Wilemal Fund C/O Briar Hall LLC | Chicago, IL | 5 | $635K | $25K | Preselected only | For the general, scientific or education purpose |
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $604K | $604K | Yes | To support a humanities for all times project |
| Garrett Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 10 | $565K | $3,847 | Preselected only | Charity's exempt purpose |
| David B and Pamela M Waud Foundation | Chicago, IL | 6 | $485K | $86K | Preselected only | General operating fund |
| Butler Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 9 | $288K | $13K | Yes | General charitable, religious, educational or scientific pu… |
| Sunshine Charitable Foundation | Libertyville, IL | 7 | $274K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General Support Grant |
| The Negaunee Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 8 | $272K | $14K | Preselected only | Unrestricted use; Unrestricted; Restricted use |
| The Buchanan Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 14 | $268K | $15K | Preselected only | General, operating, endowment or capital. |
| Fletcher Family Foundation | Edina, MN | 9 | $266K | $12K | Preselected only | General purposes |
| Hunter Family Foundation C/O Financial Investment Corp | Chicago, IL | 8 | $260K | $25K | Preselected only | General support; Scholarship programs&teacher prof. development; Health professions program |
| Robin and Sandy Stuart Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 5 | $229K | $42K | Preselected only | Pledge Payment; General Support |
| The Okner-Robbins Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 20 | $204K | $10K | Yes | Support; Supportsupport |
| The Jeffrey and Marianne Silver Family Fdn | Albany, NY | 1 | $200K | $200K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Marsteller Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 33 | $200K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General support; Scholarship fund; Marsteller internship program |
| Louis M Plansoen Char Tr U10th Par | St Louis, MO | 2 | $150K | $75K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Schultz Family Private Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 2 | $132K | $66K | Yes | General fund |
| The Denicolo Family Foundation Inc | Lake Forest, IL | 5 | $113K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General charitable support |
| Mrb Foundation Inc | Lake Geneva, WI | 1 | $110K | $110K | Preselected only | Educational |
| Mary and Ralph Gesualdo Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 2 | $110K | $55K | Yes | To accomplish the organization's activities |
| Mary and Daniel Dolan Family Foundation | Vero Beach, FL | 3 | $104K | $125 | Preselected only | All contributions for unrestricted purposes |
| Red Bird Hollow Foundation C/O Paula Lillard | Lake Forest, IL | 6 | $102K | $13K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| John & Nancy Hughes Charitable Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 2 | $100K | $50K | Preselected only | Operating fund |
| The Chabraja Family Foundation Inc | Naples, FL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | To Support Church of Holy Spirit's activities |
| Sherman Fairchild Foundation Inc | Chevy Chase, MD | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Summer Stipend Program |
| Zafirovski Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $90K | $90K | Preselected only | General charitable purposes |
| Harold M & Adeline S Morrison Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 9 | $84K | $4,000 | Preselected only | General support; Conservation leadership & engagement; "next" campaign |
| The Brinson Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $72K | $72K | Yes | Class of '93 scholarship fund for high school students and… |
| Center for Illinois Politics Nfp | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $70K | $70K | Preselected only | General operations |
| Rice Foundation | Skokie, IL | 1 | $70K | $70K | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Mason Foundation Inc | Chicago, IL | 4 | $69K | $12K | Preselected only | Annual fund; Forester fund; General charitable purposes |
| Ed Uihlein Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 8 | $65K | $7,500 | Preselected only | General |
| Reichert Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 6 | $65K | $6,250 | Preselected only | General Operations; Work Trip; Ganeral Operations |
| Damico Family Foundation C/O Cerity Partners | Cleveland, OH | 2 | $60K | $30K | Preselected only | General support |
| The Kadens Family Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $60K | $60K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| The Boyce Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | Religious activities; Health care services and education |
| The Donnelley Foundation | Chicago, IL | 11 | $53K | $1,500 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Ray R Irani and Ghada Raslan Irani Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Cretors Family Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | To pursue cultural consciousness throughout our organizatio… |
| Ebr Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $50K | $25K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Mitsubishi Corporation Foundation for the Americas | New York, NY | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | To train community leaders to safeguard and sustainably man… |
| The Pruina Corporation | Northfield, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| The Dick Family Foundation | Washington, DC | 5 | $47K | $10K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Henry T and Clarissa H Chandler Foundation | Po Box Ch, IL | 5 | $47K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General support |
| Grace Elizabeth Groner Scholarship Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 9 | $45K | $5,033 | Yes | Service learning opportunity: falmouth hertage renewal |
| Mesa Foundation | Naples, FL | 2 | $45K | $23K | Preselected only | Charitable support |
| Gurtz Family Foundation C/O Gurtz Electric Company | Arlington Heights, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Exempt purpose operations |
| Sobecki Family Foundation | Jackson, WY | 1 | $39K | $39K | Preselected only | General support |
| Reed Family Foundation Inc | Lake Geneva, WI | 10 | $38K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Cmb Foundation | Mettawa, IL | 10 | $38K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Conservation; Educational; Civic |
| Louis Plansoen Fdn Co-Ttee | St Louis, MO | 1 | $37K | $37K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Finley Barrell | Chicago, IL | 1 | $37K | $37K | Preselected only | General support |
| Edwards Family Cjlj Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 5 | $35K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Donation - athletic support organization.; Donation - educational institution prek-8.; Donation - supporting the mission of the organization; the… |
| D & R Legacy Fund C/O Martin Rosenthal | Northfield, IL | 1 | $35K | $35K | Preselected only | Civic & Social |
| Wp & Hb White Foundation | Northfield, IL | 1 | $35K | $35K | Yes | General Support |
| Sheffield Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 7 | $34K | $3,000 | Preselected only | General operations; General Operations |
| Barker Mary for R&m Barker Fdn2-Tr Xxxxx2004 | Chicago, IL | 1 | $33K | $33K | Preselected only | General |
| The Mericos Foundation | Pasadena, CA | 3 | $30K | $10K | Preselected only | Property improvements and the endowment fund; General operating support; Forest park beach pathway project |
| John and Wilma Bolden Trust Xxx-Xx-Xxxx | Evansville, IN | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Program support |
| From His Hand Foundation | Sycamore, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Preselected only | Where most needed |
| Grant Hospital of Chicago D/B/A Grant Healthcare Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | General operating support |
| Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $30K | $30K | Yes | Unrestricted use |
| Clarks Fork Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 13 | $29K | $2,000 | Preselected only | General operations |
| Granger Farwell Charitable Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $28K | $28K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Determan Balk Family Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 3 | $28K | $10K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| The Abdula Family Foundation | Waukegan, IL | 1 | $28K | $28K | Preselected only | To support leading-edge health care |
| Kiwanis Foundation of Lake Bluff & Lake Forest | Lake Bluff, IL | 8 | $28K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Unrestricted donation |
| The Macdougal Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 5 | $27K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operation support |
| Carney Family Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 2 | $27K | $14K | Preselected only | To further the exempt purpose of the organization |
| Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund | Winnetka, IL | 1 | $27K | $27K | Preselected only | Support program |
| Kathleen and David Kennedy Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Religious; Assistance |
| John R Halligan Charitable Fund C/O Norman Kellerman | Bannockburn, IL | 2 | $26K | $13K | Preselected only | Unrestricted for general use of charity |
| William H & Lois J McEssy Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General use of charity |
| The Renaissance Foundation | Portland, OR | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | Scholarships |
| Holly Palmer Foundation | Holland, MI | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Fund operations |
| The Brock Family Foundation the Northern | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General support |
| Margaret Baker Foundation Co David Snyder | Northfield, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Help single monthers unable to afford health necessities |
| Beatrice P Delany Char Tr Xxxxx7003 | Chicago, IL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Yes | General |
| Findlay T Schl Tuia | Orlando, FL | 1 | $24K | $24K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Enchanted Backpack | Chicago, IL | 1 | $24K | $24K | Yes | In-kind donation of clothing and home goods |
| Scott Family Foundation | Hobe Sound, FL | 5 | $23K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Education; Public Charity Support; Drug Awareness |
| Young Womens Christian Assoc Lake F | Lake Bluff, IL | 5 | $23K | $5,000 | Preselected only | Croya retreat, work trip, work stay; Children's learning ctr teacher sup; Ccl program |
| Lee Family Foundation | Lake Bluff, IL | 10 | $21K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Alvin and Louise Myerberg Family Foundation | Annapolis, MD | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | General support |
| The Robert E Gallagher Charitable Trust | Glenview, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General |
| Vivo Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | To further the mission of the donee |
| Dr Scholl Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 4 | $20K | $5,000 | Yes | Keep Elawa Growing Campaign; Tutoring and summer school programs; Adaptive sports as a pathway to college for disabled studen… |
| Magistro Family Foundation Inc | Pennington, NJ | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Unrestricted general |
| McCloskey Family Charitable Trust | Greenwood Village, CO | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General Donation |
| Oberweiler Foundation | Barrington, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Restoration ecology college summer internship program |
| The Azek Cares Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Modestus Bauer Foundation | Chicago, IL | 4 | $20K | $1,750 | Preselected only | General charitable use |
| Geraldine & Roland Ford Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 3 | $19K | $1,000 | Preselected only | General unrestricted use |
| Staley Family Foundation | Avon, CO | 2 | $17K | $8,500 | Preselected only | General support |
| Crain-Maling Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Exempt purpose of the organization |
| Irene M & Milton R Weed Foundation | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Indigent needs |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Lake Forest, Illinois?
Wonderful Life Foundation, John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy, Lumw Foundation, The Charmm'd Foundation, Peter & Penelope West Charitable Fund and 95 others reported grants to Lake Forest organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Lake Forest. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.