Best Portion Foundation
Best Portion Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. In 2024, it reported 15 grants totaling $1,146,148 to charitable organizations, including education, youth, and climate-innovation organizations.
Best Portion Foundation at a glance
In short: Best Portion Foundation gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $76K), mostly in Illinois. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,146,148
- -11.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $76,410
- -5.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $15,434,653
- +4.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (3 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Best Portion Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1550 N State Pkwy Unit 902, Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 486-1000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Best Portion Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Chicago Scholars Foundation ($540K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 90 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 9% to Virginia, 7% to New York, 4% to Massachusetts, and 2% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Best Portion Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 15 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $91K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 73% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 33% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2024) to $1.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Scholars Foundation Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $539,663 |
| Randolph College Lynchburg, VA | PUBLIC | $100,732 |
| A Better Chicago Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $100,472 |
| Teach for America New York, NY | PUBLIC | $75,416 |
| Kids First Chicago Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $54,910 |
| School Year Abroad North Andover, MA | PUBLIC | $50,000 |
| Partnership for College Completion Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $49,871 |
| Evergreen Climate Innovations Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $35,000 |
| Dream for Kids Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $25,000 |
| Invest for Kids Chicago, IL | PUBLIC | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Best Portion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $15,434,653 | $1,471,835 | $1,307,659 | $1,146,148 | 15 | $1,159,053 | $1,323,229 | $1,015,152 |
| 2023 | $14,724,147 | $1,118,797 | $1,437,242 | $1,288,383 | 16 | $1,300,843 | $982,408 | $934,743 |
| 2022 | $14,737,256 | $1,021,306 | $1,573,408 | $1,368,819 | 19 | $1,380,699 | $858,958 | $988,055 |
| 2021 | $15,348,119 | $1,489,321 | $1,884,960 | $1,703,600 | 22 | $1,714,900 | $1,320,319 | $1,053,558 |
| 2020 | $15,709,784 | $667,021 | $1,646,357 | $1,447,085 | 18 | — | $516,212 | $997,333 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Best Portion Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose missions, as described by those organizations, include helping first-generation college students succeed (The Chicago Scholars Foundation), creating opportunities for Chicago youth (A Better Chicago), and advancing climate technology in the Greater Midwest (Evergreen Climate Innovations).
Other 2024 grantees described missions involving educational opportunities for high school students (School Year Abroad), raising funds for Chicago-area children’s charities (Invest for Kids), and finding, developing, and supporting leaders to teach underserved students (Teach for America).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $1,146,148. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $539,663, with a median of $35,000.
Its largest 2024 grants included $539,663 to The Chicago Scholars Foundation, $100,732 to Randolph College, $100,472 to A Better Chicago, $75,416 to Teach for America, and $54,910 to Kids First Chicago. Other grants included $50,000 to School Year Abroad, $49,871 to Partnership for College Completion, and $35,000 to Evergreen Climate Innovations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists M Gail Waller as president; Timothy Schwertfeger as vice president and secretary; and Andrew Schwertfeger as director.
Best Portion Foundation is led by M. Gail Waller, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
M. Gail Waller
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Schwertfeger
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Schwertfeger
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Best Portion Foundation
How much does Best Portion Foundation give each year?
Best Portion Foundation gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.3M across 16 grants.
What is Best Portion Foundation's typical grant size?
Best Portion Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $76,410, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Best Portion Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does Best Portion Foundation give grants?
Best Portion Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (9%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants).
Does Best Portion Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Best Portion Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Public" (15 grants).
Who are Best Portion Foundation's largest grantees?
Best Portion Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include The Chicago Scholars Foundation ($539,663), Randolph College ($100,732) and A Better Chicago ($100,472), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Best Portion Foundation?
Best Portion Foundation reported $15.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Best Portion Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Best Portion Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Best Portion Foundation's EIN?
Best Portion Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0894840. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Best Portion 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Best Portion Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Chicago Community Trust
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$7.1B
Grants
4,316
Total Given
$1.2B
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
897
Total Given
$115.2M
Finnegan Family Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Finnegan Family Foundation funds education, youth opportunity, and community health, with most of its giving going to Illinois organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $27,500. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$42.3M
Grants
100
Total Given
$4.3M
The Joyce Foundation
Chicago, IL
The Joyce Foundation funds policy research, development, and advocacy advancing racial equity and economic mobility, across areas including education, the environment, democracy, culture, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism. Its grants primarily support work in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; the 2024 median grant was $80,000, with awards ranging from $685 to $1 million. It accepts online letters of inquiry year-round, but formal proposals are by invitation only.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
470
Total Given
$52.2M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Frank Family Foundation
Deerfield, IL
The Frank Family Foundation supports schools, youth-serving nonprofits, colleges, and civic and community organizations, with most 2024 grant dollars going to Illinois and 14% to New Hampshire. Its 88 grants ranged from $500 to $13.6 million, with a median of $25,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$117.9M
Grants
88
Total Given
$34.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Illinois
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Best Portion Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/best-portion-foundation-morg_680ead8bbff34d59aa0c3118ee940be3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260894840_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Best Portion Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/best-portion-foundation-morg_680ead8bbff34d59aa0c3118ee940be3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Best Portion 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.
Best Portion Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?