The a Montgomery Ward Foundation
Dallas, TX · EIN 36-2417437. Reported 234 grants totalling $2,762,176 to 158 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. The a Montgomery Ward 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 $10,000; the smallest was $4,000 and the largest $62,500. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associated Colleges of Illinois | Chicago, IL | $237,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Helping Hand Center | Countryside, IL | $123,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Wings Program Inc | Palatine, IL | $87,961 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Museum of Science & Industry | Chicago, IL | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Support Services Inc | Brookfield, IL | $50,520 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Regina Dominican High School | Wilmette, IL | $50,169 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Avenues to Independence | Park Ridge, IL | $46,073 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Orchard Village | Skokie, IL | $45,200 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Center of Concern | Des Plaines, IL | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Easter Seals of Metro Chicago | Chicago, IL | $39,418 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Common Pantry | Chicago, IL | $37,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Infant Welfare Society | Chicago, IL | $36,051 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Iwc Children's Clinic | Oak Park, IL | $35,899 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Illinois | Highland, IL | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Howard Area Community Center | Chicago, IL | $31,228 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Children's Place Association | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Deborahs Place | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Erie Family Health Foundation | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Have Dreams | Park Ridge, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Tutoring Chicago | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Trinity High School | River Forest, IL | $29,200 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mercy Housing Inc | Denver, CO | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Shedd Aquarium Society | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre Company | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Field Museum of Natural History | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Window to the World Comm Inc | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Window to the World Communications | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries Inc | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| CASA Central Social Service Corp | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Chicago Childrens Advocacy Center | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Chicago Zoological Society | Brookfield, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chinese American Service League Inc | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Foundation for Hearing & Speech | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Gads Hill Center | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Greater Chicago Food Despository | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Hephzibah Childrens Assoc | Oak Park, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (home) | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| La Rabida Childrens' Hospital | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Madonna Mission | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Margaret's Village | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Maryville Academy | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank | Geneva, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Northside Housing Supportive Service | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Outreach Community Ministries | Carol Stream, IL | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Boulevard of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Chicago Lighthouse | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| The Harbour Inc | Park Ridge, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Inner Voice Inc | Chicago, IL | $19,700 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oak Park and River Forest Day Nursery | Oak Park, IL | $19,257 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mchenry County Adult Program | Crystal Lake, IL | $17,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Adler Planetarium | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| All Chicago Making Homeless History | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Childrens' Hospital | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Commons Association | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Child's Voice School | Wooddale, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Council for Jewish Elderly | Skokie, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Easter Seals - Dupage & the Fox Valley | Villa Park, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Family Rescue | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Little Brothers Friends of Elderly | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Pads to Hope Inc | Palatine, IL | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| South Suburban Pads | Chicago Heights, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Turning Pointe Autism Foundation | Naperville, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Kaa - Kids Above All Illinois | Chicago, IL | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alexian Brothers Housing & Health Alliance | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Blues Theater | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ascension Il Alexian Bros Housing | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ascension Il Alexian Brothers Housing | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Auditorium Theatre | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope of Il | Wilmette, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois | Wilmette, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| By the Hand Club for Kids | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cara Program | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Chicago Academy of Sciences | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Children's Museum | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Youth Centers | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Childrens Home & Aid Society of Illinois | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Clearbrook Center | Arlington Heights, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Communication Health Advocacy & Therapy (chat) | Lombard, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Concordia Place | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fdn | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Deborah's Place | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Donka Incorporated | Wheaton, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fdn for Hearing & Speech Rehabilitation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Franciscan Outreach | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gigi's Playhouse Mchenry | Mchenry, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hadley School for the Blind | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Harris Theate | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Harris Theater | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Haymarket Center | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hear Scholarship Foundation | Glenview, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hephzibah Children's Association | Oak Park, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Housing Forward | Maywood, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Imd Guest House | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inspiration Corporation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Journeys the Road Home | Palatine, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kaleidoscope | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kids Above All | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| La CASA Norte | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Il | Des Plaines, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Il Charitable | Des Plaines, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | Des Plaines, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Marklund Charities | Geneva, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Marklund Children's Home | Geneva, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Matthew House | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mercy Home for Boys & Girls | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mercy Homes for Boys and Girls | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Midtown Educational Foundation | Chciago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mother Mcauley High School | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| NAMI of Dupage County Illinois | Wheaton, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Operation Warm | Glen Mills, PA | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| People's Resource Center | Wheaton, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pioneer Ctr for Human Servic | Mchenry, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sit Stay Read Inc | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Snow City Arts Foundation | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Soaring Eagle Academy | Lombard, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southside Center of Hope | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Teen Parent Connection | Glen Ellyn, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tfk Chicago Voyagers | Schaumburg, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Josselyn Center for Mental Health | Northbrook, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Tuesdays Child | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Urban Rivers | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Glasa | Lake Forest, IL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Glasa | Lewisfille, TX | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Dance Center - Columbia College | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Alive Center | Naperville, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Auditorium Theatre Roosevelt University | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Enriched Living | Riverwoods, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Chicago Billingual Nurse | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Chicago Lights | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Columbia College Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Family Institute | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Giordano Jazz Dance of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girls on the Run Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Great Lk Adaptive Sports Assoc | Lake Forest, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| High Jump | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Junior Achievement | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Oil Lamp | Glenview, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Peoples Resource Center | Wheaton, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Redwood Grow Inc | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Renaissance Social Services Inc | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| School and Tutors on Wheels | Lagrange, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sharing Notes | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Snow City Arts | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Special Leisure Services Fdn | Rolling Meadows, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Urban River | Hinsdale, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Humanitarian Service | Carol Stream, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Humanitarian Service Proj | Carol Stream, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Humanitarian Service Project | Carol Stream, IL | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
56 of 158 (35%) 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 25%, 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.
- Associated Colleges of Illinois
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS - Museum of Science & Industry
FIRE SHUTTER REPLACE PROJ - Wings Program Inc
PAGING SYSTEMS AND SECURITY - Regina Dominican High School
VALVE REPLACEMENT PROJECT - The Field Museum of Natural History
PUBLIC PROG THRU SUE LING - Infant Welfare Society
ESSENTIAL MEDICAL SUPPLIES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 149 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 59 | $650,351 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 65 | $755,932 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 54 | $672,534 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 56 | $683,359 | $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. 98% 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 The a Montgomery Ward 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: Po Box 653067, Dallas, TX, 75265. 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 36-2417437 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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