Blazer Foundation
The Blazer Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation located in Rockford, Illinois. Established in 1986 by Cedric W. Blazer, the foundation was originally known as the CWB Foundation before adopting its current name. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting individuals with mental or physical disabilities in the Rockford area and surrounding northern Illinois counties.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.7M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$922K
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
25
+38.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-27.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To improve the lives of individuals with mental or physical disabilities living in Winnebago County and adjoining counties of northern Illinois. The Foundation supports local initiatives in research and development, as well as programs designed to directly support those individuals with disabilities.
The foundation's primary focus areas include:
- Support for individuals with mental or physical disabilities
- Research and development initiatives
- Direct service programs benefiting people with disabilities
- Charitable, social welfare, educational, and medical organizations serving the greater Rockford area
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with regular board meetings to review and approve grant requests. Recent grant distributions include:
Grant Range
s:**
Review Cycle
**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives in Winnebago County and adjoining counties of northern Illinois, with primary focus on the Rockford, Illinois region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Assets: $16,686,792
- Total Revenues: $1,267,006
- Total Expenses: $1,031,362
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,686,792 | $16,451,148 | $17,197,581 |
| Revenue | $1,267,006 | $362,099 | $368,453 |
| Expenses | $1,031,362 | $1,025,074 | $657,994 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $959,179 | $953,893 | $594,393 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,177,787 | $417,439 | $404,565 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,029,408 | $922,356 | $937,013 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board Members:
- Pat Shaw (Board Chair)
- Tara Blazer (Board Member, joined 2020) — wife of founder Cedric W. Blazer; brings historical perspective and knowledge of the foundation from its inception
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES W KEELING | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| MARK BLAZER | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| TARA BLAZER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SHENDET ISMAJLAJ | TREASURER/SECRETARY | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2024:** The foundation made 25 grants to organizations including the University of Illinois College of Medicine and other local agencies.
Blaze Foundation Awards $125,000 in Community Impact Grants | Blaze Credit**2020:** The Board approved over $353,000 in grants at its May meeting. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the March board meeting was cancelled, and grant reviews were consolidated into the May meeting. In addition to regular funding, the board provided emergency support to organizations affected by the pandemic. Agencies receiving grants included Barbara Olson Center of Hope, Fish-Abled Foundation, GiGi's Playhouse Rockford, Goldie Floberg Center, Milestone Inc., RAMP, Rockford Park District, Special Olympics Illinois, YMCA of the Rock River Valley, and others.
Blaze Foundation Awards $125,000 in Community Impact Grants | Blaze Credit**Supported Organizations:**
Examples of agencies that have received foundation funding in recent years include: Barbara Olson Center of Hope, Discovery Center Museum, Fish-abled Foundation, Gigi's Playhouse—Rockford, Goldie Floberg Center, Lifescape Community Services, Milestone, RAMP, Rockford Park District Therapeutic Recreation Programs, Special Olympics, and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford.
PCFC Awarded $15,000 from Trail Blazers Foundation Fund of Oregon Community\Related Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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