Francis Beidler Foundation
Chicago, IL · EIN 36-4260449. Reported 476 grants totalling $4,560,000 to 119 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. Francis Beidler 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 $3,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $6,500; the smallest was $500 and the largest $285,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voter Participation Center | Washington, DC | $1,214,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Youth Centers | Chicago, IL | $376,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood | Chicago, IL | $210,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Childrens Museum | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Giant Steps Il | Burr Ridge, IL | $150,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Public Interest Law Initiative | Chicago, IL | $129,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Audubon Society | Harleyville, SC | $125,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Better Government Assoc | Chicago, IL | $116,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Project on Government Oversight | Washington, DC | $106,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Girls Play Sports | Evanston, IL | $83,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Wbez Chicago Public Radio | Chicago, IL | $75,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston Township High School Health Center | Evanston, IL | $73,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Erie Family Health Center | Evanston, IL | $73,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chapin Hall Center for Children | Chicago, IL | $68,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Start Early | Chicago, IL | $64,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston YWCA | Evanston, IL | $58,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Independent Foundation | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Chicago Public Schools - J Beidler Elementary School | Chicago, IL | $49,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $48,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| All Our Childrens Advocacy Center | Justice, IL | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nwestern Univ Law School | Chicago, IL | $45,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Volunteer Legal Serv | Chicago, IL | $41,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Everytown for Gun Safety Support | New York, NY | $35,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Moran Cntr for Youth Advocacy | Evanston, IL | $32,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Kuumba Evanston | Evanston, IL | $32,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Howard Brown Health Broadway Center | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Alliancementally Ill | Arlington, VA | $30,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Rush Presbytst Lukes Hospital | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Urban Education Initiative | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shriver National Center of Poverty Law | Chicago, IL | $28,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Wttw Channel 11 Chicago Educational Tv Assoc | Chicago, IL | $28,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Family Institute | Evanston, IL | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Gateway Foundation | Chicago, IL | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lake Forest College | Lake Forest, IL | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| National Immigrant Justice Center | Chicago, IL | $24,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Family Focus | Chicago, IL | $22,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Global Giving - Juconi | Washington, DC | $22,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Thresholds | Chicago, IL | $22,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Legal Aid Chicago | Chicago, IL | $20,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| ACLU-Roger Baldwin Foundation | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Namiflorida | Tallahassee, FL | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Namipalm Beach County | Lake Worth, FL | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nwestern Univ Law-Entrepreneurship Program | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Catholics for a Free Choice | Washington, DC | $19,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Learning Bridge | Evanston, IL | $19,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Domestic Peace | Chicago, IL | $18,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Hill Fund | Pottstown, PA | $17,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ploughshares Fund | San Francisco, CA | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| YMCA of Evanston | Evanston, IL | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Children Advocates for Change | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Curt's Cafe | Evanston, IL | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| International African American Museum | Charleston, SC | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| ACLU Foundation | New York, NY | $14,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Foundation for Women | Chicago, IL | $14,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lgbt Fund of Chicago Comm Trust | Chicago, IL | $14,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cabrini Green Legal Aid Fund | Chicago, IL | $13,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bens Education Fund | Washington, DC | $13,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jacob Beidler Elementary School | Chicago, IL | $13,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| CASA Central | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Deerfield Academy Scholarship Fund | Deerfield, IL | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lincoln Park Zoological Society | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shorefront | Evanston, IL | $12,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Youth Organizations Umbrella | Evanston, IL | $12,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Glessner House Museum | Chicago, IL | $11,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Association House of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston School Childrns Clothing Assn | Evanston, IL | $10,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hanover Charities | St Helena Island, SC | $10,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Center on Halsted | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Advocates for Change | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chicago Legal Clinic | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cradle the | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Foundation 65 | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nwestern Univ Department of Neurobiology | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Youth Guidance | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Youth Job Center of Evanston | Evanston, IL | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Childcare Network-Evanston | Evanston, IL | $9,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Eths District Foundation | Evanston, IL | $9,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Trade Collective | Evanston, IL | $9,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Landmarks Illinois | Chicago, IL | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Evanston School Childrens Clothing Assn | Evanston, IL | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Northshore Foundation -Evanston Hospital | Evanston, IL | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre-Evanston | Evanston, IL | $6,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Harvard University | Cambridge, MA | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Chicago Architecture Center | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Congaree Land Trust | Columbia, SC | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston History Center | Evanston, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston Hospital | Evanston, IL | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hadley School for the Blind | Winnetka, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Impact Behavioral Health Partners | Evanston, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lake Forest Hospital | Lake Forest, IL | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Metro Squash | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Musc Foundation Childrens Hospital | Charleston, SC | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| South Carolina Nature Conservancy | Columbia, SC | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Greater Chicago Legal Clinic | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Partners for Sacred Places | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Books and Breakfast | Evanston, IL | $3,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Evanston Grows | Evanston, IL | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Eths Booster Club | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Evanston Park Foundation | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Evanston Scholars | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Ptrsp for Public Service | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Franciscan Health Found - Dr John Lanman Clinic | Crown Point, IN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Forward | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hammond Education Fund | Hammond, IN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Hines Fisher House-Va Hospital | Hines, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Insight Center-Commeducdevel | Oakland, CA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Landmarks Preservation Council | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Legacy Foundation - Lake County in Veterans Treatment | Merrillville, IN | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Literature for All of US | Evanston, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Meals on Wheels Ne Il | Evanston, IL | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Operation Gratitude | Encino, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Results Education Fund | Washington, DC | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Margaret Mercy - Mcauley Clinic | Hammond, IN | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Metro Battered Women's Network | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Evanston Community Foundation - Cares Action Fund | Evanston, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Justin Wynn Foundation | Evanston, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
106 of 119 (89%) 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 94%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. 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.
- Voter Participation Center
GENERAL, RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL OR SCIENTIFIC - Books and Breakfast
GENERAL. RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL OR SCIENTIFIC
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 172 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 | 101 | $781,500 | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 96 | $983,000 | $4,000 |
| 2023 | 93 | $892,000 | $3,500 |
| 2024 | 92 | $896,000 | $3,000 |
| 2025 | 94 | $1,007,500 | $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
61% 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 $3,500. 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 Francis Beidler Foundation'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: 53 W Jackson 530, Chicago, IL, 60604. 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 36-4260449 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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