John & Susan Dewan Foundation
Chicago, IL · EIN 36-4339823. Reported 227 grants totalling $1,481,419 to 82 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. John & Susan Dewan 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 $3,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,500 and $5,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $117,500. 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Jesuit Academy | Chicago, IL | $587,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart | Chicago, IL | $51,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Our Lady of Tepeyac High School | Chicago, IL | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Spark Ventures | Chicago, IL | $45,835 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Josephinum Academy | Chicago, IL | $45,150 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kiwimbi International | Gladstone, NJ | $35,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Caravan to Class | Sausalito, CA | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Gracia Inc | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| San Miguel School | Chicago, IL | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Paramedics for Children | Rock Hill, SC | $23,100 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Olancho Aid Foundation | Accord, MA | $22,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| New Moms | Chicago, IL | $20,042 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Un Mundo | Menlo Park, CA | $20,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cooperative for Education | Cincinnati, OH | $18,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Healing Art Missions | Granville, OH | $17,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Inkululeko | Lockport, NY | $16,683 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Care for Friends | Chicago, IL | $16,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Concern America | Santa Ana, CA | $16,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Strategies for International Development | Washington, DC | $15,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Central Honduran Education Fund | Chicago, IL | $14,600 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Franciscan Outreach | Chicago, IL | $14,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Sunsar Maya | San Francisco, CA | $13,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Adoption Center of Illinois | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Growing Home | Chicago, IL | $12,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Ignatian Volunteer Corps | Baltimore, MD | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sisterhouse | Oak Park, IL | $12,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Jesuit Refugee Service USA | Washington, DC | $12,010 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Centro Arte Para La Paz | Covent Station, NJ | $12,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Deborah's Place | Chicago, IL | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Franciscans for the World | Chicago, IL | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Boulevard | Chicago, IL | $11,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ignitepromise | Chicago, IL | $10,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kino Border Initiative | Nogales, AZ | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| St Nicholas Cathedral School | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Harbour Inc | Park Ridge, IL | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Unlocking Communities | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Inspiration Corporation | Chicago, IL | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pedals 4 Progress | High Bridge, NJ | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| School of Choice | Oak Park, IL | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| The Night Ministry | Chicago, IL | $8,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lincoln Park Community Services | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sarah's Circle | Chicago, IL | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Connections for the Homeless | Evanston, IL | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Carmen Pampa Fund | St Paul, MN | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Housing Opportunities for Women | Chicago, IL | $7,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Nicaraguan Education Resource Centercrea | Oakland, CA | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Piarist Fathers | Fort Lauderdale, FL | $6,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| La CASA Norte | Chicago, IL | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Sacred Valley Health | Anchorage, AK | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| L'ecole De Choix | Oak Park, IL | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Family Matters | Chicago, IL | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Revive Center for Housing | Chicago, IL | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Revive Center for Housing and Healing | Chicago, IL | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Crea | Oakland, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Loyola University School of Nursing | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Nicaraguan Education Resource Center | Oakland, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| I Grow Chicago | Chicago, IL | $4,999 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Amate House | Chicago, IL | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bonaventure House | Bolingbrook, IL | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Breakthrough Urban Ministries | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Crea Foundation | Oakland, CA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sisters of Charity of St Elizabeth | Convent Station, NJ | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Elizabeth Basic School | Rye Brook, NY | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Alexian Brothers Health & Housing Alliance | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Housing Forward | Maywood, IL | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Lakeview Pantry | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Midwest Jesuits USA | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mercy Home for Boys & Girls | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| YWCA Evanstonnorth Shore | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Come to Believe Network | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| St Elizabeth Seton Catholic School | Bronx, NY | $2,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Nourishing Hope | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Leonards' Ministries | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| St Leonard's Ministries | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Micro-Financing Partners in Africa | St Louis, MO | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Passionist Missionaries | Rye Brook, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pedals for Progress | High Bridge, NJ | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sisters of Charity of New York | Bronx, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Good News Partners | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Loyola University Rambler Brotherhood Project | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Missioners of Christ | Virginia Beach, VA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| One Family Inc | South Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
61 of 82 (74%) 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 67%, 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 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.
- Chicago Jesuit Academy
EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR NEEDY STUDENTS AND CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL EXPANSION. - Josephinum Academy
TUITION SUPPORT FOR DISADVANTAGED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS - Spark Ventures
SUPPORT FOR NEEDY SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NDOLA, ZAMBIA. - Olancho Aid Foundation
Support economic sustainability in Olancho, Honduras. - Kiwimbi International
EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR NEEDY STUDENTS IN AMAGORO, KENYA. - Paramedics for Children
provides medical care, education programs, and disaster relief to children, families, and communities in Central America.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 128 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 | 49 | $255,714 | $2,500 |
| 2022 | 53 | $331,650 | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 50 | $290,542 | $3,000 |
| 2024 | 47 | $325,600 | $3,500 |
| 2025 | 28 | $277,913 | $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
77% 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 $3,000. 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 John & Susan Dewan 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: 1501 N Oakley 214, Chicago, IL, 60622. 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 36-4339823 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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