Lavin Family Foundation
Chicago, IL · EIN 36-6106074. Reported 197 grants totalling $16.0M to 117 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. Lavin 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 $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $40,000; the smallest was $200 and the largest $1,750,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulane University | New Orleans, LA | $3,813,000 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Enchanted Backpack | Chicago, IL | $3,000,000 | 8 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | $2,260,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Andrew C Langert Family Foundation | Oak Brook, IL | $1,005,000 | 2 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Humane Technology | San Francisco, CA | $1,000,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewish United Fund | Chicago, IL | $900,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cast Water Safety Foundation | Chicago, IL | $785,200 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Big Shoulders | Chicago, IL | $300,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Anti-Defamation League | New York, NY | $260,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Hope Academy | Chicago, IL | $140,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Farm Aid | Cambridge, MA | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Shirley Ryan Abilitylab | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish United Fund - Ukraine Relief Fund | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oak Park & River Forest High School Imagine Foundation | Oak Park, IL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sos Children's Villages | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Campanile Foundation | San Diego, CA | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Youth Haven | Naples, FL | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum | Skokie, IL | $95,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Junior Achievement of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $80,000 | 4 | 2 | 2024 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | $80,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $76,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Navy Seal Foundation | Virginia Beach, VA | $70,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $70,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Lexington School | Lexington, KY | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sgi (soka Gakkai International-Usa) | Santa Monica, CA | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wings | Palatine, IL | $52,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Brother Rice High School | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Volunteer Florida Foundation | Tallahassee, FL | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hua Momona Foundation | Lahaina, HI | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club | Chicago, IL | $32,480 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $31,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sgi | Santa Monica, CA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Historical Society | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Icap | Santa Monica, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Amplify Horse Racing Inc | Lexington, KY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Shoulders Fund | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Navy Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City Year Chicago | Boston, MA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Help Agency of the Forest Inc | Silver Spgs, FL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Academy of Illinois | Springfield, IL | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maryville Academy | Des Plaines, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine | Evanston, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oak Park Temple | Oak Park, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ucan | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, TN | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| YWCA Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Children's Home Aid | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ingenuity | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Planning Council | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Millennium Park Foundation | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northwestern Healthcare Total | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Civic Federation | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wingssweet Home Chicago | Palatine, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Hhplift | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| After School Matters | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| American Cancer Society | Atlanta, GA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| College Possible | Saint Paul, MN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Digestive Health Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Florida Gulf Coast Univ | Fort Myers, FL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Florida Gulf Coast University | Fort Myers, FL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Genesys Works Chicago | Houston, TX | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Housing Forward | Maywood, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kentucky Equine Education Project Foundation | Lexington, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lazarus House | St Charles, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Millenium Park Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Veterans Art Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Off the Street Club | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Unites States Holocaust Museum | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Evans Scholars Foundation | Glenview, IL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Fire Department Foundation | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Better Government Association | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Public Library Foundation | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Clint Clymer & Friends | Loveland, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Geneva Lake Conservancy | Fontana, WI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Imerman Angels | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Josephinum Academy | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Junior Acheivement of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Marine Corp Scholarship | Alexandria, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| New World Symphony | Miami Beach, FL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund | Elmhurst, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sentinels of Freedom | San Ramon, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Tutoring Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| USA Cares Inc | Louisville, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Family Institute | Evanston, IL | $3,120 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Depaul College Prep | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Midtown Educational Foundation | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Angelman Syndrome Foundation | Aurora, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Council on Global Affairs | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Glenwood Academy | Glenwood, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Jdrf Illinois | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Jewish Community Council of Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Museum of Science & Industry | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Chicago High School for the Arts | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| U of I Foundationedgar Fellows | Urbana, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fayette County Public Schools | Lexington, KY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lincoln Presidential Foundation | Springfield, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Yerkes Future Foundation | Williams Bay, WI | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lemont Baseball & Softball Club | Lemont, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | Rye Brook, NY | $1,200 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Advance Illinois | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Never Say Never | Lake Geneva, WI | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| West Suburban Community Pantry | Woodridge, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Charity Water | New York, NY | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Reining Liberty Ranch | Traverse City, MI | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sylvia's Place | Allegan, MI | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Keep Collier Beautiful Inc | Naples, FL | $200 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
40 of 117 (34%) 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 34%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. 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.
- Northwestern Memorial Foundation
PLEDGE PAYMENT 1 OF 7 (NM PHYSICIAN & EMPLOYEE WELLNESS FUND) - Anti-Defamation League
GENERAL OPERATIONS CIVIL RIGHTS/SOCIAL ACTION - The Campanile Foundation
LAIVN ENTREPRENEURSHIP CENTER STARTUP FUND (5 OF 5) - Lexington School
ONE PROJECT - PLEDGE PAYMENT 5 OF 5 - Amplify Horse Racing Inc
GENERAL FUND ANIMAL WELFARE - Chicago Navy Memorial Foundation
GENERAL FUND MILITARY/VETERANS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 132 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | $2,827,300 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 69 | $4,704,600 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 46 | $4,826,000 | $10,500 |
| 2024 | 41 | $3,654,400 | $10,000 |
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. 62% 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 $10,000. 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 Lavin 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: 155 N Wacker Drive Ste 1680, Chicago, IL, 60606. 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 36-6106074 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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