Foundations that fund organizations in River Forest, Illinois
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for River Forest nonprofits
90 private foundations gave $4.2M to River Forest organizations in their latest filings; 29 of the 90 that say either way accept applications.
116 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to River Forest around $8,500. 56 of these funders are based in Illinois; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 90
- Accept applications
- 29
- of 90 that state a policy
- Dollars to River Forest
- $4.2M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 116
- Typical median grant
- $8,500
- Based in IL
- 62%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to River Forest organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $750K | $750K | Yes | To support graduate student internships in community-based… |
| Westlake Health Foundation | Oakbrook Terrace, IL | 3 | $545K | $100K | Preselected only | Warrior wellness program; Nursing scholarship program 1st of 5 annual payments; General operating support |
| The Anvil Administrators Ltd | Chicago, IL | 3 | $325K | $150K | Preselected only | Tuition Assistance |
| Barr Foundation | Boston, MA | 1 | $250K | $250K | Preselected only | To support ednavigator's continued operations in the boston… |
| Carequest Foundation Inc | Boston, MA | 1 | $211K | $211K | Yes | The purpose of this grant is to support The American Instit… |
| Russell and Josephine Kott Memorial Charitable Trust | Oak Park, IL | 2 | $200K | $100K | Yes | Support |
| Ida M Brechtel Charitable Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $187K | $187K | Preselected only | Program support |
| The John C and Carolyn Noonan Parmer Private Foundation | Winnetka, IL | 1 | $150K | $150K | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Daniel P Haerther Charitable Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $148K | $148K | Yes | General purposes |
| Walter C Dissen Charitable Trust | Lake Forest, IL | 1 | $125K | $125K | Preselected only | Capital projects, operating grant |
| The Deletto Family Foundation | Glenview, IL | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Facility improvements |
| The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | To support the Free Enterprise Center |
| Mitchell J and Mary Ellen Lamka Foundation | River Forest, IL | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | Capital and technology improvements and equipment |
| Driehaus Design Initiative | Chicago, IL | 1 | $75K | $75K | Preselected only | To support production and presentation of student work in G… |
| Arthur J Schmitt Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $65K | $65K | Yes | Student Scholarships & leadership development |
| Good Heart Work Smart Foundation | Oak Park, IL | 3 | $62K | $22K | Preselected only | Exempt Purpose of Organization |
| Solomon Family Foundation | River Forest, IL | 2 | $62K | $31K | Preselected only | Donation to church; Various small amount donations |
| James P and Brenda S Grusecki Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $55K | $28K | Preselected only | General operating support & wellness; General operating support |
| Dk Kim Foundation Inc | Ontario, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | To support various philanthropy causes |
| Ernest Wentcher Educational Fund | Chicago, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | Education |
| Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation | Rosemont, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Education |
| The Renaissance Foundation | Portland, OR | 2 | $35K | $17K | Yes | Scholarships |
| The Christopher Family Foundation | Westmont, IL | 1 | $33K | $33K | Yes | General support |
| Rzepa Scholarship Fund | Eagan, MN | 1 | $32K | $32K | Preselected only | General operating |
| George and Arlene Rusch Memorial Foundation | River Forest, IL | 3 | $27K | $13K | Preselected only | To provide ministry & staff support.; To support the church & youth ministry.; To provide educational scholarships, textbooks, classroom s… |
| Eleanor & George Kokiko Sr Foundation Inc | Washington, DC | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Carol Bernick Family Foundation C/O Polished Nickel Capital Mgmt | Chicago, IL | 2 | $20K | $10K | Preselected only | General fund |
| Fulk Family Foundation Inc | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | In support of the wind symphony orchestra |
| Field Foundation of Illinois | Chicago, IL | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | Project - funding for a specific project or program |
| Andrew Torok Foundation | Hobart, IN | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General |
| Foundation for Education & Research in Neurological Emergencies | River Forest, IL | 1 | $18K | $18K | Preselected only | Education |
| Helen's Hope Foundation | West Chicago, IL | 1 | $16K | $16K | Preselected only | Humanitarian aid |
| Walter S Mander Foundation C/O Goschi & Goschi | Chicago, IL | 1 | $15K | $15K | Preselected only | To further the purpose of the organization |
| Amateur Radio Digital Communications | San Diego, CA | 1 | $13K | $13K | Preselected only | Parks on the air and summits on the air to give students pr… |
| Kimberly a Foundation Corp | Longboat Key, FL | 1 | $12K | $12K | Preselected only | Education |
| Joseph R & Helen Shaker Family Foundation | Oak Park, IL | 5 | $12K | $1,000 | Preselected only | To further charitable work; To further religious work; To further educational work |
| Nazurus Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | Ecological Restoration |
| The Arthur Family Foundation | Greenville, DE | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Charitable activities |
| Dr Scholl Foundation | Northbrook, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | Scholarships for International Baccalaureate students |
| Koch Foundation Inc | Gainesville, FL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Yes | To support a leadership development and faith formation pro… |
| Bomher Family Foundation C/O Francis & Jan Bomher | Clarendon Hills, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Community |
| Chott Family Foundation | Burr Ridge, IL | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Education |
| Dolan Family Foundation C/O Harry Dolan | Wilmette, IL | 2 | $10K | $5,000 | Preselected only | General and unrestricted |
| Nancy Lf Davis Family Foundation | Lincoln, NE | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Community support |
| Synchrony Foundation | Stamford, CT | 1 | $10K | $10K | Preselected only | Funding supports general operations and programming. |
| 1 17 Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $8,953 | $8,953 | Preselected only | donation |
| Kejr Foundation Inc | Salina, KS | 1 | $8,500 | $8,500 | Preselected only | To support the mission of the organization |
| Alfredo and Ada Capitanini Foundati on | Chicago, IL | 2 | $7,500 | $3,750 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| The Turano Foundation C/O Lisa Turano | Berwyn, IL | 1 | $7,500 | $7,500 | Yes | Charity |
| Irish Woods Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $7,500 | $3,750 | Preselected only | To support the mission of the charitable organization. |
| Fh & Jw Summerower Educational Trust | Dallas, TX | 1 | $7,000 | $7,000 | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Master Educational Assistance Foundation | Oak Park, IL | 2 | $7,000 | $3,500 | Yes | Contributior |
| The Haugh Family Foundation | Wilmette, IL | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | Unsolicited contribution to further education work |
| Wallace & Irene Bronner Family Charitable Foundation | Frankenmuth, MI | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Yes | General Unrestricted |
| Graham R Putnam Family Foundation | Dexter, MI | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | Religious |
| Adjlm Foundation | Oak Park, IL | 1 | $6,000 | $6,000 | Preselected only | Charitable |
| Ryder System Charitable Foundation Inc | Alpharetta, GA | 2 | $6,000 | $3,000 | Yes | Matching gift for contribution |
| Hazard Family Foundation | Boston, MA | 3 | $5,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Sam & Mary Palumbo Family Foundation | Hillside, IL | 1 | $5,500 | $5,500 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Tully Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Education |
| Chicago Board of Trade Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Poterucha Family Foundation | Rochester, MN | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Unrestricted gift |
| Edwardson Family Foundation | Boca Grande, FL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operations |
| The van Grinsven Family Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | General |
| The Ottowhalley Family Foundation Inc C/O Metropolitan Agents Inc | Bethesda, MD | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | General operating support |
| Leo Adler Trust | Chicago, IL | 1 | $4,500 | $4,500 | Yes | General Support |
| Laughing Acres Family Foundation Inc | Chicago, IL | 2 | $4,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | All contribution are made to further the charitable goals o… |
| Hazel & Henry S Grace Foundation | Wichita Falls, TX | 1 | $4,000 | $4,000 | Yes | Operations |
| The Lawlor Foundation C/O Hackbarth & Hudson Pc | Chicago, IL | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Preselected only | General fund |
| Project Projects Chicago Nfp | Chicago, IL | 1 | $2,764 | $2,764 | Preselected only | Genearl support |
| The Clinton Family Fund | Chicago, IL | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | General support |
| Komarek-Hyde-McQueen Foundation | Orland Park, IL | 1 | $2,500 | $2,500 | Preselected only | GeneralCharitable Purpose |
| John and Dorothy Geyer Scholarship Fd | Chicago, IL | 1 | $2,478 | $2,478 | Yes | Scholarship |
| Mereo Foundation | Naperville, IL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | To disseminate among the nations a knowledge of definite sc… |
| Frawley Family Foundation | Addison, IL | 1 | $2,000 | $2,000 | Preselected only | Operating |
| Benjamin & Bettina van Cleave Charitable Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $1,500 | $1,500 | Yes | Charitable |
| Alliant Credit Union Foundation | Chicago, IL | 2 | $1,500 | $750 | Yes | Employee/team philanthropy; Community leadership award |
| John Marshall Family Foundation | Palatine, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| Shodeen Family Foundation | Geneva, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Donation |
| Bernadine Tosetti Hines Foundation Inc | Hinsdale, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Operating Expense |
| Glen Ellyn Titans Foundation | Glen Ellyn, IL | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Yes | General support |
| Robert E Dillon Foundation C/O James M Dillon | Bridgton, ME | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Unrestricted |
| H & R Charitable Foundation | Sarasota, FL | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General support |
| Robert J & Loretta W Cooney Family Fdtn C/O Robert J Cooney Jr | Chicago, IL | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | General charitable |
| The Northrop Grumman Foundation | Falls Church, VA | 1 | $250 | $250 | Yes | General operating grants & matching gifts. |
| Edward Jones Foundation | St Louis, MO | 1 | $200 | $200 | Preselected only | Educational institutions and related |
| The Kraus Family Foundation Co Emanuel V Dinatale | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | $200 | $200 | Preselected only | General operations |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $150 | $150 | Preselected only | Matching contribution (general operating support) |
| Baird Foundation Inc | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | $100 | $100 | Preselected only | Health and human services |
| Pentair Foundation | Golden Valley, MN | 1 | $42 | $42 | Yes | Matching Gift |
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 River Forest, Illinois?
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation, Westlake Health Foundation, The Anvil Administrators Ltd, Barr Foundation, Carequest Foundation Inc and 85 others reported grants to River 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 River Forest. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.