Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation
The Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation is a private foundation based in Palos Heights, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports contributions to 11 charitable organizations, all in Illinois, totaling $172,803.
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation at a glance
In short: Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation gave $173K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Illinois. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $172,803
- +13.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,709
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,457,454
- +6.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% 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 Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 7000 West 127Th Street, Palos Heights, IL 60463
Phone: (708) 424-3800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago ($30K). Together the top 10 received $168K.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 46 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $147K (2021) to $197K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $173K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago Cicero, IL | Contribution | $30,000 |
| Chicago Southwest Suburban Palos Park, IL | Contribution | $25,000 |
| Elms University Center Chicago, IL | Contribution | $17,803 |
| My Joyful Heart NFP Mokena, IL | Contribution | $15,000 |
| Port Ministries Chicago, IL | Contribution | $15,000 |
| Crisis Center for South Suburbia Tinley Park, IL | Contribution | $15,000 |
| Christmas Without Cancer Alsip, IL | Contribution | $15,000 |
| Second Story Foundation Crete, IL | Contribution | $15,000 |
| South Suburban Pads Chicagi Heights, IL | Contribution | $10,000 |
| Oasis for the Visually Impaired Frankfort, IL | Contribution | $10,000 |
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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 | $7,457,454 | $738,534 | $348,941 | $172,803 | 11 | $7,436,680 | $205,900 | $291,215 |
| 2024 | $6,983,709 | $568,142 | $331,019 | $151,800 | 10 | $8,269,079 | $172,601 | $331,695 |
| 2023 | $6,583,563 | $156,578 | $314,819 | $155,000 | 8 | $6,618,146 | $173,245 | — |
| 2022 | $6,053,550 | $22,282 | $363,682 | $197,000 | 9 | $6,100,047 | $216,981 | — |
| 2021 | $7,445,569 | $24,249 | $309,790 | $147,000 | 8 | $7,406,460 | $9,865 | — |
| 2020 | $6,948,119 | $378,496 | $332,623 | $156,000 | 12 | — | $173,616 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation reported a distributable amount of $291K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions address women’s education and mentoring, children in need, recovery from substance use disorder, under-resourced communities, domestic violence, and homelessness.
For example, Elms University Center says it offers education and mentoring to women. My Joyful Heart says it provides goods and services to children in need, while The Second Story Foundation says it helps people in early recovery from severe substance use disorder build full lives. The Port Ministries describes its work as addressing issues affecting under-resourced communities. Crisis Center for South Suburbia provides shelter and services for people and families affected by domestic violence, according to its mission statement. South Suburban PADS and PADS to Hope describe providing shelter or services to people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $172,803. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $30,000, with a median of $15,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $30,000 to UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, $25,000 to Chicago Southwest Suburban, and $17,803 to Elms University Center. The foundation also reported grants of $15,000 each to My Joyful Heart, Port Ministries, Crisis Center for South Suburbia, Christmas Without Cancer, and Second Story Foundation; $10,000 each to South Suburban PADS and Oasis for the Visually Impaired; and $5,000 to PADS to Hope.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel W Witous as president, James G Witous as secretary and treasurer, Aurelio Merenda as first vice president, and Thomas J Scannell as second vice president.
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation is led by Daniel W. Witous, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel W. Witous
President
Secretary & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
$8K (2020) → $30K (2025)
Aurelio Merenda
First Vice President
Director → President, 2022
President → First Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2020
$8K (2020) → $8K (2025)
James G. Witous
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
$8K (2020) → $8K (2025)
Thomas J. Scannell
Second Vice President
Director → Second Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
$8K (2022) → $8K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: George J. Witous (2020–2021) — President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to Daniel W Witous (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation
How much does Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation give each year?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation gave $173K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $152K across 10 grants.
What is Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's typical grant size?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,709, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation give grants?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Contribution" (11 grants).
Who are Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's largest grantees?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago ($30,000), Chicago Southwest Suburban ($25,000) and Elms University Center ($17,803), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $291K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations whose own missions address women’s education and mentoring, children in need, recovery from substance use disorder, under-resourced communities, domestic violence, and homelessness. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's EIN?
Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0140617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/anna-may-babe-ahern-foundation-morg_7c52cea551984561adf4a2dd33eb5ef6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_320140617_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Anna May Babe Ahern Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/anna-may-babe-ahern-foundation-morg_7c52cea551984561adf4a2dd33eb5ef6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Anna May Babe Ahern 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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