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Ft Cares Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Ft Cares Foundation

To provide monetary relief and other assistance to individuals and families who have healthcare, shelter, nutrition, education, and other similar needs, and to provide grants to other exempt organizations that provide assistance for such families and individuals.

$944k
Granted FY2025still arriving
45
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$78k
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 2024.

Human Services$569kHealth$550kFood & Nutrition$333kYouth Development$234kEducation$196kCrime & Legal$183kInternational$167kHousing & Shelter$163kOther$0
02FY2025 · 45 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 45 grants below total $708,742, the rows itemized in this filing. The $944,258 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $235,516 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k14 grants · $80k
  • $10k–50k29 grants · $495k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $134k
$10,020
Median grant
7
States reached
$126k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
BY THE HAND CLUB FOR KIDS$77,702
CASA KANE COUNTY$55,858
CAL'S ALL-STAR ANGEL FOUNDATION$36,000
PEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER$34,506
THE OUTREACH HOUSE$33,200
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CTX$30,730
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK$28,552
SPECIAL SPACES$25,680
OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL$25,000
DUPAGE PADS$20,878
BRIDGE COMMUNITIES$17,500
MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES$16,722
HOMES FOR OUR TROOPS$16,702
COLLEGE OF DUPAGE FOUNDATION$15,000
NAOMI'S HEART MISSION$14,800
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, $472k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 22% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%NEADS: $5k → 11%CHARITY GLOBAL: $10k → 17%RANDOM ACTS MATTER: $10k → 8%NEADS: $5k → 11%AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $8k → 10%AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $6k → 10%NORMAL MOMENTS: $8k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%AGE OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $6k → 10%NORMAL MOMENTS: $8k → 7%NORMAL MOMENTS: $8k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%NORMAL MOMENTS: $7k → 7%CHARITY WATER: $20k → 17%NORMAL MOMENTS: $6k → 7%LAZARUS HOUSE: $5k → 8%CHARITY GLOBAL INC: $16k → 17%NORMAL MOMENTS: $6k → 7%CHARITY WATER: $13k → 17%NORMAL MOMENTS: $6k → 7%RANDOM ACTS MATTER: $4k → 8%CHARITY WATER: $10k → 17%RANDOM ACTS MATTER: $4k → 8%TRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $45k → 8%OUTREACH MINISTRIES: $18k → 7%TRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $25k → 8%MARKLUND: $12k → 8%TRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $10k → 8%PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: $8k → 10%MARKLUND: $10k → 8%MARKLUND: $8k → 8%TRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $6k → 8%NAMI OF DUPAGE COUNTY: $8k → 7%TRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $5k → 8%OUTREACH MINISTRIES: $8k → 7%OUTREACH MINISTRIES: $5k → 7%NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRY: $12k → 7%THE OUTREACH HOUSE: $33k → 7%THE OUTREACH HOUSE: $28k → 7%NEIGHBORHOOD FOOD PANTRY: $10k → 7%THE OUTREACH HOUSE: $15k → 7%THE OUTREACH HOUSE: $5k → 7%ALMOST HOME FOR KIDS: $15k → 7%LOAVES & FISHES: $10k → 7%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.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
MA
OH
CT
CA
MO
KY
VA
MD
TN
NC
DC
HI
GA
TX
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 6% of Ft Cares Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 61% of the giving stays in IL; by stated purpose, 59%.

Ft Cares Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.1M · 55 repeat orgs$351k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +21% since the first grant, against +2% for those funded once.

55 repeat relationships: 37 still active in FY2025, 18 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

55
28

Total granted

$3.1M
$297k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+21%
+2%

Still filing today

95%
89%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $54k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesFood & NutritionHealthInternationalEducationPhilanthropyOther
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

  • CK
    CASA KANE COUNTY
    8× · 2017–2025 · $224k · revenue +108%
  • BT
    By The Hand Club For Kids
    9× · 2017–2025 · $179k · revenue +54%
  • SS
    SPECIAL SPACES INC
    7× · 2019–2025 · $146k · revenue +78%

Funded once

  • PF
    PLAY FOR ALL FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2019 · $39k · revenue -6%
  • FV
    FOX VALLEY UNITED WAY
    one grant, 2024 · $20k · revenue -8%
  • FF
    FOOD FOR GREATER ELGIN INC
    one grant, 2024 · $15k · revenue +8%
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
Nourishing Hope

Nourishing hope provides food, mental health support, and social services to help all our neighbors thrive.

—
2
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
3
United Food Bank

United Food Bank unites communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
4
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri

The food bank for central & northeast missouri is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of meals each year to help neighbors get the food they need to thrive. (continued on schedule o)the…

Food & Nutrition
5
Feeding San Diego

On a mission to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. through direct service and community partnerships, feeding san diego provides more than 26 million meals each year to children, families,…

Food & Nutrition
6
Care for Real

To foster a healthy and equitable community by helping vulnerable neighbors overcome food insecurity with dignity. with locations in edgewater and rogers park, cfr provides food, clothing, pet food, referral, and additional services with…

Human Services
7
Cares of Farmington Hills Inc

To provide comprehensive support services for individuals and families that are in need of everyday necessities due to insufficient financial resources or family instabilty. c.a.r.e.s. will offer food, clothing, job education and training…

Food & Nutrition
8
Feeding Texas

To lead a unified effort for a hunger-free texas.

Community Improvement
9
Greater Chicago Food Depository

The greater chicago food depository is the nonprofit food bank serving cook county. our mission - is to end hunger. we believe food is a basic human right. to achieve our mission, we work in partnership with a network of community-based…

Food & Nutrition
10
Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Inc

The mission of the regional food bank of oklahoma is to lead a network that provides nutritious food and pathways to self-sufficiency for people facing hunger. our vision is an oklahoma where no one goes hungry.

Food & Nutrition
11
Feeding Illinois

Feeding illinois is a coalition of eight feeding america food banks that provide food to over 2,400 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters that feed nearly 1.4 million residents across the entire state of illinois.

Food & Nutrition
12
Central California Food Bank

Ccfb is dedicated to ending hunger, working with over 200 partner agencies to provide food to those experiencing hunger. our mission: transforming lives together, in the passionate pursuit to end hunger in central ca - one meal, one…

Food & Nutrition
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans Inc; the most unlike its peers is One Million Wells Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

90 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 90 of the 91 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)
87/90
Grantees still filing
57/90
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

By The Hand Club For Kids: $179,102 · OtherBy The Hand Club For KidsPEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER: $122,506 · OtherPEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTERBUILD INC: $120,055 · OtherBUILD INCVINCARE SERVICES OF AUSTIN FOUNDATION: $66,366 · OtherMY HALF: $54,187 · OtherNAOMIS HEART MISSION ASSOCIATION INC: $50,750 · OtherDUPAGE PADS INC: $73,343 · OtherMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC: $105,386 · OtherMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INCDUPAGE CARE CENTER FOUNDATION: $76,861 · OtherTEAM RUBICON INC: $58,930 · Other+33 more: $580,414 · Other+33 moreTRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $90,500 · Human ServicesTRICITY FAMILY …THE OUTREACH HOUSE: $81,681 · Human ServicesTHE OUTREACH HO…CHARITY GLOBAL INC: $78,114 · Human ServicesCHARITY GLOBAL …Normal Moments Inc: $48,724 · Human ServicesNormal Moments …OUTREACH COMMUNITY MINISTRIES: $30,000 · Human ServicesOUTREACH COMMUN…MARKLUND CHILDRENS HOME: $29,000 · Human ServicesMARKLUND CHILDR…Neighborhood Food Pantries: $22,000 · Human ServicesAUSTIN GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY: $18,700 · Human ServicesRandom Acts: $17,100 · Human Services+6 more: $65,836 · Human Services+6 moreSPECIAL SPACES INC: $145,680 · HealthSPECIAL SPACES…RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS INC: $130,730 · HealthRONALD MCDONAL…VOICES OF SEPTEMBER 11 INC: $77,809 · HealthVOICES OF SEPT…Rush Copley Foundation: $20,800 · HealthThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $17,900 · Health+4 more: $37,978 · Health+4 moreCAL'S ALL-STAR ANGEL FOUNDATION INC: $123,365 · EducationCAL'S ALL-…DONORSCHOOSEORG: $100,352 · EducationDONORSCHOO…BARTLETT LEARNING CENTER INC: $55,000 · EducationBARTLETT L…COLLEGE OF DUPAGE FOUNDATION: $40,000 · EducationCOLLEGE OF…DOODLEBUG WORKSHOP VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER INC: $15,000 · EducationNORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK: $111,342 · Food & NutritionCentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $88,090 · Food & NutritionWAYNE TOWNSHIP PANTRY AND SENIOR SERVICES NFP: $18,500 · Food & NutritionFOOD FOR GREATER ELGIN INC: $15,000 · Food & NutritionFeeding America: $12,500 · Food & Nutrition+4 more: $26,091 · Food & NutritionCASA KANE COUNTY: $223,748 · Civil RightsCASA OF KENDALL COUNTY: $20,000 · Civil RightsOPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US: $125,817 · InternationalAMERICARES FOUNDATION INC: $23,502 · InternationalSave The Children Federation Inc: $22,716 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $18,027 · InternationalWORLD RELIEF CORP OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS: $15,000 · InternationalDIRECT RELIEF: $13,820 · InternationalCONVOY OF HOPE: $13,000 · International+1 more: $5,250 · International
Other$1,487,900Human Services$481,655Health$430,897Education$333,717Food & Nutrition$271,523Civil Rights$243,748International$237,132

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCASA KANE COUNTY: $223,748 over 8y, 1.4% of budgetBy The Hand Club For Kids: $179,102 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetSPECIAL SPACES INC: $145,680 over 7y, 1.8% of budgetRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL TEXAS INC: $130,730 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetOPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US: $125,817 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetCAL'S ALL-STAR ANGEL FOUNDATION INC: $123,365 over 6y, 0.8% of budgetPEOPLE'S RESOURCE CENTER: $122,506 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetBUILD INC: $120,055 over 7y, 0.7% of budgetNORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK: $111,342 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC: $105,386 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetDONORSCHOOSEORG: $100,352 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTRICITY FAMILY SERVICES: $90,500 over 7y, 1.5% of budgetCentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $88,090 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetTHE OUTREACH HOUSE: $81,681 over 4y, 3.9% of budgetCHARITY GLOBAL INC: $78,114 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetVOICES OF SEPTEMBER 11 INC: $77,809 over 6y, 3.6% of budgetDUPAGE CARE CENTER FOUNDATION: $76,861 over 6y, 25% of budgetDUPAGE PADS INC: $73,343 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetVINCARE SERVICES OF AUSTIN FOUNDATION: $66,366 over 8y, 1.2% of budgetTEAM RUBICON INC: $58,930 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetBARTLETT LEARNING CENTER INC: $55,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetMY HALF: $54,187 over 2y, 17% of budgetNormal Moments Inc: $48,724 over 8y, 18% of budgetHOMES FOR OUR TROOPS INC: $45,542 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWESTERN DUPAGE SRA FOUNDATION: $45,201 over 4y, 3.2% of budgetRAY GRAHAM ASSOCIATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: $44,218 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCOLLEGE OF DUPAGE FOUNDATION: $40,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetPLAY FOR ALL FOUNDATION INC: $38,760 over 1y, 25% of budgetCOURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF TRAVIS COUNTY: $36,859 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetOUTREACH COMMUNITY MINISTRIES: $30,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetMARKLUND CHILDRENS HOME: $29,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetDAN GIBBONS TURKEY TROT FOUNDATION NFP: $26,150 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetOPERATION SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - AMERICA INC: $23,807 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetLAKEVIEW POLAR BEAR CLUB NFP DBA Chicago Polar Bear Club: $23,549 over 3y, 11% of budgetAMERICARES FOUNDATION INC: $23,502 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $22,716 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTFK Chicago Voyagers: $22,530 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetNeighborhood Food Pantries: $22,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetRush Copley Foundation: $20,800 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetMcDermott Center: $20,254 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFOX VALLEY UNITED WAY: $20,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetCASA OF KENDALL COUNTY: $20,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetAUSTIN GROUPS FOR THE ELDERLY: $18,700 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetWAYNE TOWNSHIP PANTRY AND SENIOR SERVICES NFP: $18,500 over 7y, 2.1% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $18,027 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Gardenworks Project: $18,000 over 3y, 4.8% of budgetThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $17,900 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBRIDGE COMMUNITIES INC: $17,500 over 1y, 0.2% 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 Dupage Community …The Bersted FoundationNorthwestern Memorial…Topfer Family Foundat…Community Foundation …Northern Illinois Foo…Motorola Solutions Fo…United Way of Metropo…Arthur J Gallagher Fo…The Chicago Community…The Rich FoundationAustin Community Foun…
The Dupage Community FoundationIL43.3× affinity19 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Dupage Community Foundation · The Bersted Foundation · Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Group · Topfer Family Foundation · Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley · Northern Illinois Food Bank · Motorola Solutions Foundation · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · Arthur J Gallagher Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · The Rich Foundation · Austin Community Foundation Inc

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 Ft Cares Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ft Cares Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 30%
  • World Relief Corp of National Association of Evangelicals: 67% of income from government
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • Neads Inc: 1% of income from government
  • Americares Foundation Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
27report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
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 91 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 Ft Cares’ 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