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First Look for Charity Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Community foundation

First Look for Charity Foundation

The FIRST LOOK FOR CHARITY FOUNDATION is organized to operate exclusively for charitable, cultural, and educational purposes.

$2.2M
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$443k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$7.2MHuman Services$6.2MYouth Development$2.3MReligion$1.3MPublic Safety & Disaster$1.3MRecreation & Sports$1.1MHousing & Shelter$683kEmployment$637kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k3 grants · $103k
  • $50k–250k14 grants · $1.6M
  • $250k+1 grant · $443k
$107,230
Median grant
2
States reached
$26k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MISERICORDIA$443,286
FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY BENEFIT SERVICES$171,461
ANN & ROBERT H LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO FOUNDATION$162,220
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY$155,925
SERTOMA STAR SERVICES$137,234
ADVOCATE HEALTH CARE$115,998
TURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION$115,333
100 CLUB OF CHICAGO$109,084
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS$107,230
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO$103,708
LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION$103,498
CAL'S ANGELS$102,668
ALS ASSOCIATION$102,264
JESSE WHITE TUMBLING TEAM$72,027
SUSAN G KOMEN - CHICAGO$65,920
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 (FY17–25, $5.5M) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 79% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%MISERICORDIA: $516k → 14%Misericordia: $467k → 14%MISERICORDIA: $443k → 14%Misericordia: $398k → 14%Misericordia: $379k → 14%Misericordia: $371k → 14%MISERICORDIA: $344k → 14%MISERICORDIA: $266k → 14%Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: $187k → 7%Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: $175k → 7%Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: $172k → 7%Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: $165k → 7%TURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $141k → 7%TURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $121k → 7%TURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $115k → 7%TURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $104k → 7%Clearbrook: $158k → 14%Clearbrook: $128k → 14%Clearbrook: $121k → 14%Clearbrook: $111k → 14%Lydia Home Association: $130k → 14%Lydia Home Association: $113k → 14%LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $103k → 14%LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $97k → 14%LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $85k → 14%Lydia Home Association: $75k → 14%LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $31k → 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.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$21M · 27 repeat orgs$190k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +24% for those funded once.

27 repeat relationships: 16 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

27
1

Total granted

$21M
$105k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+24%

Still filing today

93%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $85k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’22’23’24’25
HealthHuman ServicesEducationYouth DevelopmentReligionRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • MH
    MISERICORDIA HOME
    8× · 2017–2025 · $3.2M · revenue +76%
  • Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation
    5× · 2017–2025 · $1.5M · revenue +7%
  • BA
    BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO
    8× · 2017–2025 · $1.4M · revenue +39%

Funded once

  • RG
    RAY GRAHAM ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
    one grant, 2017 · $105k · revenue +24%
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
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
2
Lurie Children's Surgical Foundation Inc

Provide pediatric and subspecialty surgical, research, and educational services.

—
3
Children's Hospital Corporation

Provider of pediatric healthcare, education, research & community service

Health
4
Children's Hospital of Chicago Medical Center

We are dedicated to the health and well-being of all children. as the pediatric teaching facility for the northwestern university feinberg school of medicine, this commitment drives us to be a leader in: -pediatric health care delivery…

Health
5
Uchicago Medicine Network Inc

Uchicago medicine network, inc. supports and encourages health and human service by providing support, directly or indirectly to ingalls memorial hospital, the university of chicago medical center, and other related tax-exempt…

Health
6
Children's Home & Aid Society of Ill

Founded in 1883, brightpoint (formerly known as children's home & aid) is a leading statewide organization supporting families so children can thrive.

Human Services
7
Mercy Foundation Inc

We, mercy health system of chicago and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.mercy foundation is a member of mercy health system of chicago…

Philanthropy
8
Loyola University Medical Center

We, loyola university health system and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.lumc is a member of loyola university health system and trinity…

Health
9
Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare

Edward-Elmhurst Healthcare follows the mission of Endeavor Health to "help everyone in our communities be their best."

Health
10
Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago

Create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite and empower the promise of youth. we nurture children, strengthen communities and believe that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life.

—
11
Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare Group

The elmhurst memorial healthcare group follows the mission of endeavor health (f/k/a ns-ee holdings). the mission of endeavor health is to "help everyone in our communities be their best." central to this mission is a commitment to…

—
12
Mchc Chicago Hospital Council

The mission of mchc chicago hospital council is to foster, promote, support, develop and encourage charitable, educational, scholastic and scientific purposes; promote cooperative effort and action between hospitals and other health care…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is March of Dimes Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation 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

28 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. 28 of the 30 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
23/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS: $1,275,822 · OtherTHE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOISCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: $1,198,835 · OtherCatholic Charities of the Archdioces…SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS: $1,054,070 · OtherSPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOISCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET: $692,128 · OtherCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF…CHICAGOLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JAMES HARRIS TREASURER: $683,239 · OtherCHICAGOLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JAM…The Cradle Society: $447,784 · OtherThe Cradle SocietySusan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: $317,464 · OtherFRANCISCAN HEALTH OLYMPIA FIELDS: $277,308 · OtherGLENWOOD ACADEMY: $239,161 · OtherFIRST LOOK FOR CHARITY FOUNDATION: $350,047 · Other+4 more: $405,201 · Other+4 moreMISERICORDIA HOME: $3,184,300 · Human ServicesMISERICORDIA HOMETURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $1,180,937 · Human ServicesTURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDAT…LYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $633,603 · Human ServicesLYDIA HOME ASSOCIATIONCLEARBROOK: $518,204 · Human ServicesCLEARBROOKAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation: $1,485,984 · HealthAnn & Robert H Lurie Chi…ADVOCATE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $1,283,465 · HealthADVOCATE CHARITABLE FOUN…ALS UNITED GREATER CHICAGO: $446,138 · HealthALS UNITED GREATER CHICA…Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $421,486 · HealthAnn & Robert H Lurie Chi…MARCH OF DIMES INC: $337,341 · HealthMARCH OF DIMES INCThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $301,033 · HealthThe Susan G Komen Breast…BREAKTHROUGH T1D: $278,907 · HealthBREAKTHROUGH T1D+1 more: $42,844 · HealthBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO: $1,353,077 · Youth DevelopmentFranciscan Community Benefit Services: $1,309,880 · ReligionJESSE WHITE TUMBLING TEAM INC: $979,719 · Recreation & SportsSERTOMA STAR SERVICES INC: $636,862 · Employment
Other$6,941,059Human Services$5,517,044Health$4,597,198Youth Development$1,353,077Religion$1,309,880Recreation & Sports$979,719Employment$636,862

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 budgetMISERICORDIA HOME: $3,184,300 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation: $1,485,984 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO: $1,353,077 over 8y, 2.0% of budgetFranciscan Community Benefit Services: $1,309,880 over 8y, 83% of budgetADVOCATE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $1,283,465 over 8y, 1.0% of budgetTHE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS: $1,275,822 over 8y, 16% of budgetCatholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago: $1,198,835 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTURNING POINTE AUTISM FOUNDATION: $1,180,937 over 8y, 6.7% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS: $1,054,070 over 8y, 1.9% of budgetJESSE WHITE TUMBLING TEAM INC: $979,719 over 8y, 49% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET: $692,128 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetCHICAGOLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY JAMES HARRIS TREASURER: $683,239 over 5y, 14% of budgetSERTOMA STAR SERVICES INC: $636,862 over 6y, 0.8% of budgetLYDIA HOME ASSOCIATION: $633,603 over 7y, 2.0% of budgetCLEARBROOK: $518,204 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetThe Cradle Society: $447,784 over 3y, 3.0% of budgetALS UNITED GREATER CHICAGO: $446,138 over 5y, 5.1% of budgetAnn & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago: $421,486 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFIRST LOOK FOR CHARITY FOUNDATION: $350,047 over 2y, 9.3% of budgetMARCH OF DIMES INC: $337,341 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $301,033 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $278,907 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGLENWOOD ACADEMY: $239,161 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetCAL'S ALL-STAR ANGEL FOUNDATION INC: $201,197 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetRAY GRAHAM ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: $104,797 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL: $57,243 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetFOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION: $41,964 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

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 Chicago Community…AbbVie FoundationJpmorgan Chase Founda…Charities Aid Foundat…Baird Foundation IncThe Coleman Foundatio…Northwestern Memorial…Enterprise Holdings F…The Dupage Community …United Way of Metropo…Arthur J Gallagher Fo…Motorola Solutions Fo…
The Chicago Community TrustIL19.4× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · AbbVie Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Charities Aid Foundation America · Baird Foundation Inc · The Coleman Foundation Inc · Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Group · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · The Dupage Community Foundation · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · Arthur J Gallagher Foundation · Motorola Solutions Foundation

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 First Look for Charity Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from First Look for Charity Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%23%51%90%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    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 30 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 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 First Look for Charity’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