Master Educational Assistance Foundation
Oak Park, IL · EIN 36-3542174. Reported 306 grants totalling $1,880,319 to 177 recipients across tax years 2020-2025. 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. Master Educational Assistance 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 $2,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,250 and $6,500; the smallest was $300 and the largest $81,886. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Forever Foundation | Chicago, IL | $136,490 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Christ the King High School | Chicago, IL | $119,386 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| St Frances of Rome School | Cicero, IL | $84,450 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Frieda Inc | Wheeling, IL | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| University of Illinois | Urbana, IL | $77,831 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Illinois College | Jacksonville, IL | $64,762 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pilsen Promise Project | Chicago, IL | $60,513 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| University of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $57,336 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Resilience Partners | Chicago, IL | $54,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| St Agnes of Bohemia School | Chicago, IL | $47,874 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| St Pius V School | Chicago, IL | $45,270 | 7 | 6 | 2025 |
| Frieda Inc Foundation | Wheeling, IL | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Christ the King College Prep | Chicago, IL | $37,585 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Resilience Partners Nfp | Chicago, IL | $36,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Frances of Rome | Cicero, IL | $31,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| American Brain Tumor Association | Chicago, IL | $27,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lansing Catholic High School | Lansing, MI | $26,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Christ the Kng College Prep | Chicago, IL | $25,935 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Police Memorial Foundation | Chicago, IL | $25,689 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Center for Spiritual Living | Towson, MD | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| University of Maryland | Baltimore, MD | $24,863 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Christ the King College | Chicago, IL | $23,852 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Agnes of Bohemia | Chicago, IL | $22,982 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Brotherhood for the Fallen | Chicago, IL | $21,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| El Nino Rey | Northbrook, IL | $20,000 | 6 | 6 | 2025 |
| Liberty Forever | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St James Parish | Arlington Heights, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Resilience Ptnrs | Chicago, IL | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Opportunity Knocks | River Forest, IL | $16,000 | 6 | 6 | 2025 |
| Christ the King | Chicago, IL | $15,720 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Chicago Police Marine Corps Lg | Chicago, IL | $13,460 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pilsen Promise Proj | Chicago, IL | $13,004 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Windy City Athletes | Chicago, IL | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Indiana University | Bloomington, IN | $11,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Brotherhood of the Fallen | Chicago, IL | $11,310 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Dayton | Dayton, OH | $11,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Hope Family Services | Chicago, IL | $10,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| St Catherine University | St Paul, MN | $10,320 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Center for Spiritual Integ Arts | Towson, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Center for Spiritual Liv | Towson, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Christ the King Hs | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Integrated Arts | Towson, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gordon Memorial Foundation | Orland Park, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Marist High School | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Mt Carmel High School | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Abc Pilsen Athletics | Chicago, IL | $9,900 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Emerald Society | Chicago, IL | $9,500 | 6 | 6 | 2025 |
| College of Dupage | Glen Ellyn, IL | $9,249 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| House of the Good Shepherd | Chicago, IL | $8,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor | Palatine, IL | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Benito Juarez High School | Chicago, IL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Chicago Police Marine Corp Lg | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lifetough Kids Foundation | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Resurrection Project | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Amer Brain Tumor Assn | Chicago, IL | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Brain Tumor Assn | Chicago, IL | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Lansing High School | Lansing, MI | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rosary Hill Home | Justice, IL | $7,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St Andrew Lutheran School | Park Ridge, IL | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chgo Police Marines Lg | Chicago, IL | $6,700 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Gerard School | Lansing, MI | $6,700 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Hammond School | Chicago, IL | $6,600 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St Pius School | Chicago, IL | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Chgo Police Memorial Fd | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Plus V School | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ignite the Spirit | Chicago, IL | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Empowering Gardens | River Forest, IL | $5,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Gordon Memorial Fd | Orland Park, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lansing Cath Hs | Lansing, MI | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Our Corps | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Jude Hospital | Memphis, TN | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| St Vincent School | River Forest, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Police Marines Lg | Chicago, IL | $4,700 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Academy High School | Chicago, IL | $4,500 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Latin American Police Association | Chicago, IL | $4,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Memphis Music School | Memphis, TN | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Smith Music School | Nashville, TN | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| De La Salle High School | Chicago, IL | $4,400 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hvac Techincal Institute | Chicago, IL | $4,400 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Catherinest Lucy | Oak Park, IL | $4,380 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Chicago Police Marine Corps League | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Echoing Hope Ranch | Hereford, AZ | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Illinois State University | Normal, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Girard School | Lansing, MI | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ups for Downs | Schaum, IL | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Romeoville Fire Academy | Romeoville, IL | $3,900 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Chicago Hope Academy | Chicago, IL | $3,800 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Chicago Police Memorial Found | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| House of Hope | Davao | $3,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| St Grand School | Lansing, MI | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tunnel to Towers | Staten Island, NY | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Morton College | Cicero, IL | $3,490 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Associated Builders Illinois Chapter | Springfield, IL | $3,100 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Police Sgts Association | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| God Is Able Mb Church | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Northwestern University | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Savannah Tree Foundation | Savannah, GA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Shriners Hospital | Tampa, FL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| St Andrew School | Park Ridge, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Barnabas School | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Univ of Oregon | Eugene, OR | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Assoc Builders Inc Tech School | Springfield, IL | $2,600 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Andrews Luthern School | Park Ridge, IL | $2,550 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Chesterton Academy | Lisle, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cpd Marine Corps League | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Fenwick High School | Oak Park, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gerry's Cafe | Arlington Hts, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Holy Family School | Oglesby, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Indiana Univ | Bloomington, IN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Milliken Univesity | Decatur, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northridge Prep | Niles, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Paralyzed Marine | Valparison, IN | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Race Educ Fd | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Race Education Fund | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Race Educational Tech Fund | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Andrew Luth School | Park Ridge, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Gail School | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Ups for Downs Syndrome | Schaumburg, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| St Catherinest Lucy School | Oak Park, IL | $2,478 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St Ann School | Chicago, IL | $2,200 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Brotherhood Fallen | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Alliance Against Exploitation | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Fox College | Tinley Park, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| God Is Able Churh | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| ILLIN0IS Cops | Montgomery, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Illinois Cops | Montgomery, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Olivet Nazarene | Bourbonnais, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Op Police Youth | Oak Park, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Skyart | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Labre School | Ashland, MT | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Cancer Victims | Chicago, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Daughter of St Thomas | Westchester, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Empowering Garden | River Forest, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grambling State Univ | Grambling, LA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Grambling State University | Grambling, LA | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lenoir University | Hickory, NC | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Nash School | Chicago, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Race Education Foundation | Bronx, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| St Labre Indian School | Ashland, MT | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Oppd Youth Sports | Oak Park, IL | $1,250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City Colleges of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $1,022 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bibbee Animal Hospital | Bisbee, AZ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cpd Sergeants Assn | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Echo Home Ranch | Hereford, AZ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Forty Strong Kids | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Knights of Columbus | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lake Fc Soccer Club | Evanston, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mentors in Medicine | Urbana, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Minority Association Medical Studen | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Oak Park Fop | Oak Park, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Our Lady of Charity | Cicero, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Paralyzed Veterans | Westchester, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Paralyzed Veterans of America | Washington, DC | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Providence St Mel | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Providencest Mel School | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rosary Hill | Justice, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| St Labre Indian Sch | Ashland, MT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Paul Church | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Wisconsin | Madison, WI | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| US Marines Foundation | Triangle, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Oak Park Police Fop | Oak Park, IL | $930 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Catherinest Lucy Sch | Oak Park, IL | $900 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Cathst Lucy School | Chicago, IL | $900 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wagging Hearts | Hainesville, IL | $700 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Abc Pilsen | Chicago, IL | $600 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Aspire | Hillside, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Cpd Enforcers | Chicago, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Feed Our Children | Coon Rapids, MN | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Oaklawn Youth Football | Oak Lawn, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Paralyzed Veterans | Washington, DC | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| So Suburban Chiefs | Phoenix, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Suburban Unity | Oak Park, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Suburban Unity Alliance | Oak Park, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago City College | Chicago, IL | $438 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Laurence Hs | Burbank, IL | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
62 of 177 (35%) received money in more than one year over the 6 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 38%, across 5 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 kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 81 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 34 | $324,300 | $4,500 |
| 2021 | 46 | $272,007 | $2,750 |
| 2022 | 57 | $249,852 | $2,500 |
| 2023 | 60 | $320,566 | $2,500 |
| 2024 | 56 | $329,313 | $2,750 |
| 2025 | 53 | $384,281 | $3,500 |
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
88% 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 $2,500. 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 Master Educational Assistance Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 6 returns (tax years 2020-2025). 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: 747 S Euclid Ave, Oak Park, IL, 60304. 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 36-3542174 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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