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Illinois · Private foundation

Simons Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$174k
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
37
Grants FY2025
45
Organizations funded FY2024
33%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$8,000
Largest grant, FY2025
$20,000
Organizations funded a year
37 to 83
FY2018 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
10
Total assets, FY2025
$1.5M
Applications
Preselected organizations only
Per its most recent filing; check its own site

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 33% of the organizations Simons Family Foundation funded were first-time grantees, receiving 18% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 82% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $30k went to new ones.

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

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesHealthInternationalYouth DevelopmentEmploymentOther
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.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2025still arriving36$174k28%
FY202445$162k33%
FY202337$142k35%
FY202266$139k27%
FY202183$132k45%
FY202050$50k38%
FY201948$40k15%
FY201849$22k24%
97% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Religion$284kEducation$143kHuman Services$139kHealth$73kHousing & Shelter$61kFood & Nutrition$46kRecreation & Sports$40kYouth Development$35kOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
MN
IL
WI
NY
MA
OR
IN
PA
NJ
CT
CA
CO
NE
MO
VA
MD
DE
AZ
AR
TN
DC
LA
GA
TX
FL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2017 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Avenues to Independence$31,00050%
Marquette University$30,00050%
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church$29,5005n/a
Refugeeone$29,00050%
Horizons for Youth$27,00040%
Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep$27,00040%
St Sabina Church$27,0004n/a
Greater Chicago Food Depository$24,00050%
One Million Degrees$24,00040%
Big Shoulders Fund$23,00040%
Show all 95 grantees
All grantees of Simons Family Foundation by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Avenues to Independence$31,00050%
Marquette University$30,00050%
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church$29,5005n/a
Refugeeone$29,00050%
Horizons for Youth$27,00040%
Cristo Rey St Martin College Prep$27,00040%
St Sabina Church$27,0004n/a
Greater Chicago Food Depository$24,00050%
One Million Degrees$24,00040%
Big Shoulders Fund$23,00040%
La Casa Norte$22,00030%
Wings Program Inc$22,00030%
Net Ministries Foundation$16,0002n/a
Morning Star Mission Ministries Inc$16,00020%
Star Legacy Foundation$16,00021%
Women Employed$9,00020%
Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness$8,00020%
Taller de Jose$8,00012%
The Needy Family Fund$5,000111%
Our Lady of Mount Carmel$4,4005n/a
Guadalupe Center Inc$4,00040%
Homeboy Industries$4,00020%
St Matthews House Inc$3,80060%
Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida Inc$3,60060%
Neighborhood Health Clinic Inc$3,20040%
Save the Music Foundation$2,50010%
Hypersomnia Foundation Inc$2,50011%
Our Lady of Tepeyac High School$2,0002n/a
Society of the Little Flower$1,7006n/a
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School$1,6004n/a
Guadalupe Centers Inc$1,50020%
Loyola Academy$1,5001n/a
Medecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc$1,40030%
High Atlas Foundation$1,40020%
Mission Haiti Inc$1,35060%
Progress Valley Inc$1,30060%
Little by Little Inc$1,3002n/a
American Cancer Society Inc$1,20060%
Food for the Poor Inc$1,20060%
Sharing and Caring Hands Inc$1,20060%
Independent Arts & Media$1,20020%
The Saint Paul Seminary$1,2006n/a
Seeds of Peace Inc$1,10020%
Agate Housing & Services Inc$1,05050%
Cristo Rey Network$1,00010%
Mdrc$1,00010%
Parkinson's Foundation Inc$1,00010%
International Dominican Foundation$1,0001n/a
Breakthrough T1d$1,00010%
Muscular Dystrophy Association Inc$1,00050%
Hodan Community Services Inc$1,00010%
Musicians on Call Inc$1,00010%
CaringBridge$1,00050%
Youth Frontiers Inc$80040%
Triangle Education Foundation$80050%
Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc$80030%
Buildon Inc$70020%
Dreams for Kids Inc$70022%
St Anthony Foundation$6002n/a
Judicial Watch Inc$60030%
The National Children's Cancer Society$60030%
Minnesota Stroke Association$50010%
Chicago Youth Centers$50010%
Colorado Children's Campaign$50010%
The Grace Place Inc$4502n/a
Amigos For Christ Inc$40010%
Inspiration Corporation$40010%
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation$40010%
American Heart Association Inc$40020%
St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc$30010%
Canine Companions for Independence Inc$30010%
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home$25010%
George Mason University Foundation Inc$20010%
Patrick Henry College$20010%
Endeavor Health Clinical Operations$2001n/a
The Heritage Foundation$2001n/a
Seton Heritage Ministries Inc$2001n/a
Muttville$20010%
National Legal and Policy Center$2001n/a
The Foundation for a Christian Civilization Inc$20010%
Unto Inc$2002n/a
Catholic Charities$2001n/a
University High School$2001n/a
Town School for Boys$20010%
Americas Prayer Network Inc$20010%
Young America's Foundation$20010%
Urban School of San Francisco$20010%
Highland Community Church$1251n/a
Casa Jacinta y Francisco$10011%
Conservative Partnership Institute$10010%
Media Research Center$10010%
Lighthouse$1001n/a
Americares Foundation Inc$10010%
Capital Research Center$1001n/a
American Indian Youth Running Strong Inc$5010%

What it could do for these grantees

Plus 86 recipients with no EIN on record ($416k), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Each grantee by its size and the share of its budget Simons Family Foundation supplied at peak.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetAvenues to Independence: $31,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMarquette University: $30,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetRefugeeone: $29,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetHorizons for Youth: $27,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetCristo Rey St Martin College Prep: $27,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGreater Chicago Food Depository: $24,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOne Million Degrees: $24,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBig Shoulders Fund: $23,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLa Casa Norte: $22,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetWings Program Inc: $22,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetMorning Star Mission Ministries Inc: $16,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetStar Legacy Foundation: $16,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetWomen Employed: $9,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetChicago Coalition to End Homelessness: $8,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTaller de Jose: $8,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetThe Needy Family Fund: $5,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetGuadalupe Center Inc: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetHomeboy Industries: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSt Matthews House Inc: $3,800 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetHarry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida Inc: $3,600 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetNeighborhood Health Clinic Inc: $3,200 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSave the Music Foundation: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHypersomnia Foundation Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetGuadalupe Centers Inc: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMedecins Sans Frontieres USA Inc: $1,400 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHigh Atlas Foundation: $1,400 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMission Haiti Inc: $1,350 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetProgress Valley Inc: $1,300 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Cancer Society Inc: $1,200 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetFood for the Poor Inc: $1,200 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetSharing and Caring Hands Inc: $1,200 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetIndependent Arts & Media: $1,200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSeeds of Peace Inc: $1,100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAgate Housing & Services Inc: $1,050 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCristo Rey Network: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMdrc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetParkinson's Foundation Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBreakthrough T1d: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMuscular Dystrophy Association Inc: $1,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetHodan Community Services Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMusicians on Call Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCaringBridge: $1,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetYouth Frontiers Inc: $800 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTriangle Education Foundation: $800 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFlorida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Inc: $800 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBuildon Inc: $700 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDreams for Kids Inc: $700 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetJudicial Watch Inc: $600 over 3y, 0.0% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 72.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

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 Service Club of ChicagoIL15.5× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Service Club of Chicago · Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation · Helen V Brach Foundation · AbbVie Foundation · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · The Chicago Community Trust · Pulte Family Charitable Foundation · Dr Scholl Foundation · Robert R McCormick Foundation · Baird Foundation Inc · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Conrad N Hilton 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.

Compare Simons Family Foundation with peer funders

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Simons Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Simons Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

About Simons Family Foundation

How much does Simons Family Foundation give?
Simons Family Foundation reported 37 grants totaling $174,140 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 37 and 83 organizations a year over FY2018 to FY2024.
What does Simons Family Foundation fund?
By grant dollars over FY2017 to FY2025, its largest causes are Religion (32%), Education (16%), Human Services (16%).
Who are Simons Family Foundation's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2017 to FY2025: Avenues to Independence ($31k), Marquette University ($30k), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church ($30k).
Does Simons Family Foundation fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 33% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Does Simons Family Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Its most recent filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and does not take unsolicited requests. Check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.
Which funders back the same organizations as Simons Family Foundation?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include The Service Club of Chicago, Fifth Third Chicagoland Foundation, Helen V Brach Foundation.
Where is Simons Family Foundation based?
Simons Family Foundation is based in IL.

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 184 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

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