Agape Foundation
Agape Foundation is a private foundation based in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 13 grants totaling $248,225 to organizations in several states, with 92% of grant dollars going to Illinois recipients.
Agape Foundation at a glance
In short: Agape Foundation gave $248K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Illinois. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $248,225
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,094
- +5.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,742,694
- -6.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (4 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Agape Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing states there is no standard application form. Submit a letter requesting a contribution with a copy of the organization’s IRS Section 501(c)(3) determination letter. Applicants must be charitable, educational, or scientific organizations as described in IRC Section 501(c)(3).
- Review Cycle
- The filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- The filing states there are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Romano
Mailing address: 205 Ambriance, Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Phone: (312) 480-8138
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Agape Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Chicago Zoological Society ($75K). Together the top 10 received $237K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 59 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 92% of grant dollars went to Illinois recipients, 6% to Ohio recipients, 2% to Connecticut recipients, and less than 1% to Georgia recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Agape Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 13 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 149% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $191K (2020) to $303K (2019). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $248K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $75,000 |
| Lurie Children's Foundation Chicago, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $70,000 |
| Folds of Honor Inverness, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $25,075 |
| Sealkids Dublin, OH | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $15,000 |
| Clearbrook Arlington Heights, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $10,000 |
| Female Strong Chicago, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $10,000 |
| Misericordia Women's League Western Springs, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $10,000 |
| St Isaac Jogues Catholic Church Hinsdale, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $10,000 |
| Ryan Licht Foundation Chicago, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $7,150 |
| Ignatia Foundation Chicago, IL | General Purposes of Donee Organization | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Agape Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,742,694 | $88,117 | $287,660 | $248,225 | 13 | $263,580 | $59,300 | $176,335 |
| 2024 | $2,946,874 | $89,924 | $262,427 | $218,150 | 12 | $218,150 | $69,960 | $173,016 |
| 2023 | $3,114,740 | $124,598 | $258,611 | $225,250 | 13 | $235,183 | $91,804 | $165,336 |
| 2022 | $3,272,978 | $-70,089 | $231,909 | $200,424 | 11 | $204,443 | $39,185 | $176,300 |
| 2021 | $3,571,970 | $499,466 | $233,783 | $209,950 | 10 | $215,446 | $481,129 | $197,512 |
| 2020 | $3,306,287 | $-8,298 | $240,352 | $191,000 | 16 | — | $52,053 | $186,739 |
| 2019 | $3,543,852 | $390,476 | $377,488 | $302,500 | 18 | — | $334,983 | $191,550 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Agape Foundation reported a distributable amount of $176K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Chicago Zoological Society describes its mission as inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. SEALKIDS says it provides academic testing, support, and enrichment to children of active, retired, reserve, and separated Naval Special Warfare personnel. Clearbrook describes providing services and support to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Female Strong describes offering programs, mentorship, and experiences to build confidence in middle- and high-school girls, including trans, gender-fluid, and non-binary youth.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $248,225 across 13 grants. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest listed grants were $75,000 to the Chicago Zoological Society and $70,000 to Lurie Children’s Foundation. Other listed recipients included Folds of Honor ($25,075), SEALKIDS ($15,000), Clearbrook ($10,000), Female Strong ($10,000), Misericordia Women’s League ($10,000), St Isaac Jogues Catholic Church ($10,000), Ryan Licht Foundation ($7,150), Ignatia Foundation ($5,000), Nazareth Academy ($5,000), and Parent Collective ($5,000). Boys & Girls Clubs of America also reports receiving $1,000 in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael J Romano III as chairman, Benita Romano as vice-chairman/treasurer, and Stephen L Golan as secretary.
Agape Foundation is led by Michael J. Romano III, Chairman on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael J. Romano III
Chairman
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benita Romano
Vice Chairman & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen L. Golan
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Agape Foundation
How much does Agape Foundation give each year?
Agape Foundation gave $248K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $218K across 12 grants.
What is Agape Foundation's typical grant size?
Agape Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,094, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Agape Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Agape Foundation give grants?
Agape Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (4 grants).
Does Agape Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Agape Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Agape Foundation's largest grantees?
Agape Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Chicago Zoological Society ($75,000), Lurie Children's Foundation ($70,000) and Folds of Honor ($25,075), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Agape Foundation?
Agape Foundation reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $264K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $176K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Agape Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, the Chicago Zoological Society describes its mission as inspiring conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Agape Foundation?
The filing states there is no standard application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Agape Foundation's EIN?
Agape Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0048185. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 1, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Agape Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Agape Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/agape-foundation-morg_3f94a88167a44e7383071e48cbd3f7ba
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320048185_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Agape Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/agape-foundation-morg_3f94a88167a44e7383071e48cbd3f7ba},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Agape Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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