Make It Better Foundation
Wilmette, IL · EIN 27-0773475. Reported 129 grants totalling $1,693,150 to 106 recipients across tax years 2022-2024. 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. Make It Better 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 $1,500 and $20,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $125,000. 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Red Cross | Washington, DC | $131,181 | 3 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nurse Family Partnership | Denver, CO | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nurse Family Partnership Wire Not Showing Up in Gl | Denver, CO | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Catch a Fire | Claymont, DE | $60,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| A Safe Haven | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cinema Chicago | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Joffrey Ballet | Chicago, IL | $36,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Anera | Washington, DC | $30,163 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mcgaw YMCA | Evanston, IL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Chicago, IL | $28,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Goodman Theater | Chicago, IL | $28,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association Inc | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| After School Matters | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Athletes Against Anxiety & Depression | Westchester, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| City Year | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cradles to Crayon | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Good Jobs Institute | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Harris Theater | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ignatian Spiritu | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center | Skokie, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| KIPP Chicago Schools | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| NAMI Chicago | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pres and Fellows of Harvard College | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Greater Science Center Berkeley | Berkeley, CA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| US Center for Safe Sport | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Writers Theater | Glencoe, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Alzheimers Association | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| George Mark House | San Leandro, CA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois | Skokie, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lurie Children's Hospital | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lyric Opera Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Palestine Children's Relief Fund | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sarah's Circle | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| World Central Kitchen | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Samburu Project | Los Angeles, CA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Go Campaign | Santa Monica, CA | $12,000 | 3 | 1 | 2024 |
| Interfaith America | Chicago, IL | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Family Institute of Northwestern University | Chicago, IL | $11,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Twist Out Cancer | Villanova, PA | $11,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Allies for Community Business | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Amazon Watch | Oakland, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Assitance League of Diablo Valley | Walnut Creek, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Build Inc | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Blue Heron | Beverlyhills, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| California Film Institute | San Rafael, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Catchafire Inc | Claymont, DE | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Fire Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Children's Home & Aid Society of Illinois | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Elpc | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation | Schaumburg, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Goodwill Foundation of Central and Southern Indiana | Indianapolis, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Home | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hope Solutions | Pleasant Hill, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lifehouse | Dixmoor, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Marillac St Vincent Family Services | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northshore Foundation | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rehab Inst Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Schools Rule | Sanrafael, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Share Our Spare | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Shedd Aquarium | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Side By Side | San Anselmo, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Snow City Arts | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Start Early | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Volunteers in Medicine | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| YWCA | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Youth & Opportunity United (you) | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Red Cross (eoy 2023) | Washington, DC | $5,125 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Advocate Charitable Foundation | Metamora, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| City Year Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Eversight | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Middle East Children | Berkeley, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rush University Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cleveland Angels (eoy 2023) | Cleveland, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Service Center | Northfield, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sojourn Project | Millbrae, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods | Riverwoods, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| By the Hand | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Care for Real | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Volunteer Center | Winnetka, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cancer Research Institute (eoy 2023) | New York, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The City Mission of Cleveland (eoy 2023) | Cleveland, OH | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wild Salmon Center | Portland, OR | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity | London, England | $1,160 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Stargazing Farm Fund | Boyds, MD | $1,021 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Philharmonic Society | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Donorschoose Organization | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Institute (eoy 2023) | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Family Service Center (eoy 2023) | Northfield, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Feel the Beat | Englewood, CO | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mskgiving (memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New West Symphony | Thousand Oaks, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Oakland Fund Organization | Oakland, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sit Stay Read Inc | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Save Mount Diablo | Walnut Creek, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shore Community Services | Skokie, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Siena Retreat Center | Racine, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Honeycomb Project | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Record Community News Group | Wilmette, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Trevor Project Organization | West Hollywood, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
11 of 106 (10%) received money in more than one year over the 3 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 15%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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.
- American Red Cross
Unrestricted Charitable Donation
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 65 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 45 | $450,000 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 11 | $255,000 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 73 | $988,150 | $5,125 |
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
53% of its giving went to organizations in Illinois. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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 Make It Better Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 751, Wilmette, IL, 60091. 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 27-0773475 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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