Special People in Need
Chicago, IL · EIN 58-1483651. Reported 371 grants totalling $1,530,291 to 150 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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. Special People in Need 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 $4,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $3,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $750 and the largest $35,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samaritan's Purse | Boone, NC | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Disabled Patriots Fund | Tinley Park, IL | $31,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Catching the Dream | Albuquerque, NM | $29,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lift-Up | Rifle, CO | $29,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Free Wheelchair Mission | Irvine, CA | $28,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Music for People With Disabilities | Missoula, MT | $28,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Feed My Sheep | Glenwoods Springs, CO | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Help Center | Bozeman, MT | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Martha's Table | Washington, DC | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pregancy Resource Center Inc | Glenwoods Springs, CO | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| So Others May Eat | Washington, DC | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Can Do Canines Assistance Dogs | New Hope, MN | $26,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bethesda Cares | Bethesda, MD | $26,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Manna Food Center | Silver Springs, MD | $26,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Haven | Bozeman, MT | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Womens Resource Center of Dillon | Dillon, MT | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $24,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Canine Support Teams | Menifee, CA | $23,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra | Carbondale, CO | $23,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Access Living | Chicago, IL | $22,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bozeman Warming Shelter | Bozeman, MT | $22,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Alice Lloyd College | Pippa Passes, KY | $21,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| St Jude Childrens Research Hospital | Memphis, TN | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Bernie's Book Bank | Lake Bluff, IL | $18,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Second Sense | Chicago, IL | $18,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ability Found | Valley City, UT | $18,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Rmh Services | Bremerton, WA | $18,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Southern Methodist College | Orangeburg, SC | $18,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Gigi's Playhouse | Tinley Park, IL | $16,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Pawpads | Lakeville, MN | $16,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Anixter Center | Chicago, IL | $15,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Hearing & Speech | St Louis, MO | $15,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Samaritans | Homer Glen, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Ansonia Music Outreach | New York, NY | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mountain States Legal Foundation | Lakewood, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Roseland Training Center | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Simple Changes Therapeutic Riding Cntr | Lorton, VA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Still Point Theatre Collective | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Kirstie Ennis Foundation | Basalt, CO | $15,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Uproot Colorado | Carbondale, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Wellspring | Detroit, MI | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Women's Bean Project | Denver, CO | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Via | Buffalo, NY | $14,761 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Horizons Inc | South Windham, CT | $14,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Camp Possibilities | Port Deposit, MD | $14,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Pathaways of Iniatives | Montgomery, AL | $14,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Wheels for Humanity | North Hollywood, CA | $14,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| International Hearing Dog Inc | Henderson, CO | $13,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Chromosome 18 Registry & Research Society | San Antonio, TX | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Virginia Union University-Lana Priester | Richmond, VA | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired | South Burlington, VT | $11,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| A Special Purpose | Broken Arrow, OK | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center | Redmond, WA | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Post Polio Support Group of Maine | West Gardner, ME | $10,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Suffer Out Loud | Bozeman, MT | $10,100 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Dogs Inc | East Palmetto, FL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ksds Assistance Dog Inc | Washington, KS | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Providence St Mel School | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Totally Positive Productions Inc | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Marklund | Bloomingdale, IL | $9,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Donka Inc | Wheaton, IL | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Paws of War | Nesconset, NY | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of the Cumberland-Cumberland College | Williamsburg, KY | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Summit Assistance Dogs | Anacortes, WA | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Tuesdays Child | Chicago, IL | $8,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of the Cumberlands | Williamsburg, KY | $8,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Helping Hands Monkey Helpers | Boston, MA | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ignite | Chicago, IL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Lincolnway Special Recreation Foundation | New Lenox, IL | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Space Coast Sled Hockey Inc | Rockledge, FL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics | Norcross, GA | $8,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Possiblity Place | Murfreeboro, TN | $7,600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| A New Leaf | Broken Arrow, OK | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Pawsitive Recovery | Aurora, CO | $7,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Encore Development Services | Clinton, IL | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Paragon Service Dogs | Longmont, CO | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Paragon Srvice Dogs | Longmont, CO | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Atlas Assistance Dogs | Obellevue, WA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Community Preparatory School | Providence, RI | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Eagle Mount-Bozeman | Bozeman, CO | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Rockland Community College -Guillermo J Smith | Suffern, NY | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Smiling Goat Ranch Inc | Carbondale, CO | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Prospector Theater | Ridgefield, CT | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Therapies for Hope | Denver, CO | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Variety (ythe Children's Charity) | St Louis, MO | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| New Horizons Disability Empowerment Center | Prescott Valley, AZ | $5,360 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Dismas of Vermont | Hyde Park, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Dutchess Community College-Ifeanyi Michael Ukejinaya | Poughkeepie, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Eagle Mount-Bozeman | Bozeman, MT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Freedom Service Dogs Inc | Englewood, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| High Fives Foundation | Truckee, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| High Fives Foundation | Blenwood Springs, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kings and Priests Ministry | New Castle, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Morehouse College -David Daniels | Atlanta, GA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Park Lawn | Oak Lawn, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| PAWS4LIBERTY | Lake Worth, FL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Simple Changes Inc | Lorton, VA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Smile Mass Inc | Sunbury, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Orchard Church | Carbondale, CO | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chesapeake Therapapeutic Riding | Abingdon, MD | $4,260 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Delores Place | Chicago, IL | $4,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Camp Possibilities | Charlottesville, VA | $4,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bridges at Worthmore | Worton, MD | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for Human Development | Springfield, MA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding | Street, MD | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Envisioning Access | Boston, MA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida Inc | Boca Raton, FL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| May We Help | Cincinnati, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Options Center for Independent Living | Bourbonnais, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Purple Heart Homes | Statesville, NC | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Return to Dirt (high Fives Foundation) | Truckee, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Special Strides | Monroe Township, NJ | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Stepen J Wampler Foundation | Coronado, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Visions for Creative Housing Solutions | Enfield, OH | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ascendigo Austism Services Inc | Carbondale, CO | $3,910 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Empowerherment Community Center | Palm Harbor, FL | $3,750 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Southeastern Guide Dogs | Palmetto, FL | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ability Consultants | Cortez, CO | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Als Northwest | Portland, OR | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Autismone | Fullerton, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Axis Dance Company | Oakland, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bozeman Senior Social Center | Bozeman, MT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Camp Mak-a-Dream | Missoula, MT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Elling House Arts & Humanities Ctr | Virginia City, MT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Freedom Golf Association | Burr Ridge, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Helping Paws | Hopkins, MN | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Kicking It Back | Beecher, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Providence St Med School | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Savannah College Art & Design - Ryan Mcneely | Savannah, GA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tellin Tales Theater | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ucp Wheels for Humanity | Chatsworth, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Walk With Me Inc | Connifer, CO | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Windrush Farm Theraputics | North Andover, MA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friedman Place | Chicago, IL | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Reach Unlimited | Cypress, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bay Area Outreach Recreation Program | Berkeley, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cat Companions | Newton Highlands, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girls Can Camp | Des Moines, IA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Montana Ballet | Bozeman, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oportuntity Knocks | Longriver Forest, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Orphan Girl Childrens Theater | Butte, MT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Practical Knowledge Inc | Flushing, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Starkloff Disbility Institute | St Louis, MO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Theatre Adventure Inc | Brattleboro, VT | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Unlimited Pay | St Peters, MO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| South Central Kentucky Chapter Council of the Blind | Bowling Green, KY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Special Equestrians | Warrington, PA | $1,100 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Futures Explored | Concord, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Thrive | Oak Lawn, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Utah Kids Foundation | Washington Terrace, UT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
86 of 150 (57%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 73%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. 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 184 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 65 | $217,350 | $3,000 |
| 2022 | 82 | $302,571 | $3,505 |
| 2023 | 70 | $310,260 | $4,000 |
| 2024 | 75 | $375,310 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 79 | $324,800 | $5,000 |
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
19% 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 $4,000. 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 Special People in Need's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). 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: 155 North Wacker Drive Suite 3200, 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 58-1483651 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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