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Best Walter & Edith Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Best Walter & Edith Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$308k
Granted FY2025still arriving
39
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2025.

Health$950kHuman Services$727kArts & Culture$105kCrime & Legal$100kHousing & Shelter$94kEducation$76kYouth Development$60kReligion$57kOther$0
02FY2025 · 39 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k29 grants · $146k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $163k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$4.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NORTHWEST COMMUNITY HOSPITAL$20,000
LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL$20,000
SHIRLEY RYAN ABILITY LAB$20,000
Northwestern Memoral Foundation$20,000
ASCENSION AUTISM SPECTRUM (ASDDRC)$17,500
CATHOLIC CHARITIES - CHICAGO$15,000
CASA KANE COUNTY$15,000
MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER$15,000
EDWARD FOUNDATION$10,000
FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE$10,000
PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST$8,000
MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME$7,000
FOX VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACTION$6,000
LAZARUS HOUSE$5,760
ASSOCIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–25, $657k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 54% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 9%KIDS MATTER INC: $5k → 17%FOX VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACTION: $6k → 8%Beacon Place: $5k → 8%KIDS MATTER INC: $5k → 17%FOX VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACTION: $6k → 8%Beacon Place: $5k → 8%Love Moves Us Inc: $5k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $6k → 8%Beacon Place: $5k → 8%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%Beacon Place: $5k → 8%MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME: $5k → 7%MY JOYFUL HEART: $5k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%Mothers Trust Foundation: $10k → 8%MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME: $5k → 7%MY JOYFUL HEART: $5k → 7%FOX VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACTION: $5k → 8%Mothers Trust Foundation: $10k → 8%FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE: $10k → 7%The Cancer Support Center: $5k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%FOX VALLEY CHRISTIAN ACTION: $5k → 8%FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE: $8k → 7%FAMILY SHELTER SERVICE: $8k → 7%MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME: $7k → 8%MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME: $7k → 8%MARKLUND CHILDREN'S HOME: $7k → 8%Little Friends: $10k → 7%Little Friends: $7k → 7%FAMILY RESCUE: $7k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY TREASURE CHEST: $8k → 14%THE HARBOUR: $7k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%THE HARBOUR: $6k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%THE HARBOUR: $6k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $15k → 14%MISERICORDIA HEART OF MERCY CENTER: $10k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.1M · 69 repeat orgs$126k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +26% since the first grant, against +26% for those funded once.

69 repeat relationships: 35 still active in FY2025, 34 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

69
17

Total granted

$2.1M
$93k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+26%
+26%

Still filing today

77%
41%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $33k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthEducationArts & CultureHousing & ShelterCrime & LegalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • NC
    Northwest Community Hospital
    7× · 2018–2025 · $155k · revenue +25%
  • MH
    MISERICORDIA HOME
    8× · 2018–2025 · $115k · revenue +70%
  • RI
    Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    4× · 2022–2025 · $85k · revenue +10%

Funded once

  • SJ
    ST JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL
    one grant, 2020 · $10k
  • RI
    REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • AC
    ADVOCATE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $8k · revenue -10%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Lakeside Community Committee

To enhance the quality of life for children and families by inspiring hope and empowerment and growth within all whom we serve.

Human Services
2
The Family Institute

Our mission is to strengthen and heal families and individuals from all walks of life through clinical service, education and research.

—
3
Center for Family Services

Administering an array of critical, intensive therapeutic interventions and/or facilitation services to emotionally and behaviorally disturbed clients for whom DCFS is legally responsible in order to stabilize their traditional or home of…

Human Services
4
Childrens Advocacy Center of East Central Illinois

To assist children who have been victims of abuse

Crime & Legal
5
Child Link Inc

Child Link provides foster care, family counseling, and therapy services to Chicago area adolescents who are at risk of homelessness. Child Link also refers adolescents to other agencies that are able to provide additional resources and…

Human Services
6
United Children's Services of Bennington County Inc

Children's services

Human Services
7
Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation
Human Services
8
Chicago Family Health Center Inc

Chicago family health center will promote health, work to prevent disease and provide treatment through the delivery of quality, accessible primary healtcare that is culturally sensitive, affordable, and responsive to community and…

—
9
Chicago Children's Advocacy Center

The chicago children's advocacy center unites public, private, and community partners to ensure the safety, health, and well-being of abused children.

Crime & Legal
10
Advocates for Illinois Children

Improve the lives of children in illinois by bringing about significant changes in public policies and programs for children through research, policy analysis and advocacy, public education and community outreach.

Human Services
11
Pediatric Faculty Foundation Inc

We value excellence and innovation in clinical and basic research, coordinated and comprehensive patient care, ongoing physician education, and evidence-based child advocacy. our goal is to provide leadership in endeavors that promote the…

Health
12
Lincoln Behavioral Services

To provide comprehensive outpatient mental health services to over 5400 individuals and their families in a consumer driven person centered delivery system. Approximately 15% of our staff members are our clients who are involved in a…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Little Friends Inc; the most unlike its peers is Pickleberry Pie Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

63 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 63 of the 90 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
16
Early backer (in before they grew)
62/63
Grantees still filing
46/63
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hosp of: $130,000 · OtherAnn and Robert Lurie Children's Hosp ofEdward Foundation: $75,000 · OtherEdward FoundationRehabilitation Institute Inc: $50,000 · OtherSPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION: $44,760 · OtherCATHOLIC CHARITIES - CHICAGO: $42,500 · OtherGIGIS PLAYHOUSE OF TINLEY PARK: $40,000 · OtherASSOCIATION FOR INDIVIDUAL: $40,000 · OtherINFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO: $35,000 · Other+39 more: $519,700 · Other+39 moreMISERICORDIA HOME: $115,000 · Human ServicesMISERICORDIA HOMEPediatric Oncology Treasure Chest: $57,350 · Human ServicesPediatric Oncology Treasure Ches…Family Shelter Service Inc: $50,000 · Human ServicesFamily Shelter Service IncLAZARUS HOUSE: $40,935 · Human ServicesLAZARUS HOUSERiverwoods Christian Center dba Fox Valley Christian Action: $37,000 · Human ServicesRiverwoods Christian Center dba …MARKLUND CHILDRENS HOME: $35,424 · Human ServicesMARKLUND CHILDRENS HOMETHE HARBOUR INC: $33,500 · Human ServicesLITTLE FRIENDS INC: $32,100 · Human ServicesFAMILY RESCUE INC: $32,000 · Human ServicesCASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION: $30,000 · Human ServicesTHE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT: $29,000 · Human Services+13 more: $165,145 · Human Services+13 moreNorthwest Community Hospital: $155,000 · HealthNorthwest Community …Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago: $85,000 · HealthRehabilitation Insti…Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $80,000 · HealthAnn & Robert H Lurie…CANINE THERAPY CORPS INC: $26,500 · HealthCANINE THERAPY CORPS…LEMONS OF LOVE INC: $20,000 · HealthBear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation: $15,000 · Health+3 more: $29,000 · Health+3 moreELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $40,991 · EducationKIDSMATTER FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 · EducationAdler University: $10,000 · EducationALEXANDER LEIGH CENTER FOR AUTISM: $6,000 · EducationIllinois College of Optometry: $5,000 · EducationCASA KANE COUNTY: $85,000 · Civil RightsPICKLEBERRY PIE INC: $22,000 · Arts & CultureREADING IN MOTION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSHARING NOTES: $3,000 · Arts & CultureAURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY: $22,000 · Food & Nutrition
Other$976,960Human Services$657,454Health$410,500Education$86,991Civil Rights$85,000Arts & Culture$35,000Food & Nutrition$22,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNorthwest Community Hospital: $155,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMISERICORDIA HOME: $115,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetRehabilitation Institute of Chicago: $85,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCASA KANE COUNTY: $85,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $80,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetEdward Foundation: $75,000 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetPediatric Oncology Treasure Chest: $57,350 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetFamily Shelter Service Inc: $50,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetSPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION: $44,760 over 7y, 0.7% of budgetELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES: $40,991 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetLAZARUS HOUSE: $40,935 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetRiverwoods Christian Center dba Fox Valley Christian Action: $37,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetMARKLUND CHILDRENS HOME: $35,424 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetINFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO: $35,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HARBOUR INC: $33,500 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetAID FOR WOMEN INC: $32,500 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetLITTLE FRIENDS INC: $32,100 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetFAMILY RESCUE INC: $32,000 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetCASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION: $30,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetAlexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital: $29,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetKids Above All Illinois: $29,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT: $29,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetCANINE THERAPY CORPS INC: $26,500 over 8y, 1.2% of budgetKIDSMATTER FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 5y, 1.6% of budgetPICKLEBERRY PIE INC: $22,000 over 6y, 7.6% of budgetAURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY: $22,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetOPEN HEART MAGIC: $21,000 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetThe Beacon Place NFP: $20,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetKALEIDOSCOPE INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetLEMONS OF LOVE INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetTEEN PARENT CONNECTION INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetThe Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation): $20,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetMothers Trust Foundation: $20,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetASPIRE OF ILLINOIS: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetBear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation: $15,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetBETWEEN FRIENDS: $15,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetMadonna Mission: $15,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetBRIDGE COMMUNITIES INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetBy The Hand Club For Kids: $12,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLEUKEMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $11,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetMY JOYFUL HEART NFP: $10,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetREADING IN MOTION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetUCM NETWORK DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetKIDS MATTER INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetALIVE CENTER NFP: $10,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetTRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetAdler University: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDomestic Violence Outreach: $10,000 over 2y, 1.9% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Northwest Community Hospital ↗
  • Who funds MISERICORDIA HOME ↗
  • Who funds Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds CASA KANE COUNTY ↗
  • Who funds Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds Edward Foundation ↗
  • Who funds Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest ↗
  • Who funds Family Shelter Service Inc ↗
  • Who funds SPECTRIOS INSTITUTE FOR LOW VISION ↗
  • Who funds ELIM CHRISTIAN SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds LAZARUS HOUSE ↗
  • Who funds Riverwoods Christian Center dba Fox Valley Christian Action ↗
  • Who funds MARKLUND CHILDRENS HOME ↗
  • Who funds INFANT WELFARE SOCIETY OF CHICAGO ↗
  • Who funds THE HARBOUR INC ↗
  • Who funds AID FOR WOMEN INC ↗
  • Who funds LITTLE FRIENDS INC ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY RESCUE INC ↗
  • Who funds CASA CENTRAL SOCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital ↗
  • Who funds Kids Above All Illinois ↗
  • Who funds THE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE PROJECT ↗
  • Who funds CANINE THERAPY CORPS INC ↗
  • Who funds KIDSMATTER FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds PICKLEBERRY PIE INC ↗
  • Who funds AURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY ↗
  • Who funds OPEN HEART MAGIC ↗
  • Who funds The Beacon Place NFP ↗
  • Who funds KALEIDOSCOPE INC ↗
  • Who funds LEMONS OF LOVE INC ↗
  • Who funds TEEN PARENT CONNECTION INC ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Dupage Community …United Way of Metropo…The a Montgomery Ward…The Bersted FoundationGeorge M Eisenberg Fo…The Chicago Community…WP & HB White Foundat…AbbVie FoundationDr Scholl FoundationCarl R Hendrickson Fa…Andrew and Alice Fisc…Northwestern Memorial…
The Dupage Community FoundationIL45.2× affinity20 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Dupage Community Foundation · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · The a Montgomery Ward Foundation · The Bersted Foundation · George M Eisenberg Foundation for Charities · The Chicago Community Trust · WP & HB White Foundation · AbbVie Foundation · Dr Scholl Foundation · Carl R Hendrickson Family Fdn · Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Trust · Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Group

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Best Walter & Edith Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Best Walter & Edith Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    26report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 90 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Best Walter & Edith’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home