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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blazer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
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Review Cycle
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rockford Park District ($402,000), Milestone Inc ($85,000), Laurent House ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BARBARA OLSON CENTER OF HOPE ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $27,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $62,500 |
| CIRCLE OF CHANGE ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| DISCOVERY CENTER MUSEUM ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| FISH ABLED FOUNDATION ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $7,500 |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE MACHESNEY PARK, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $69,393 |
| GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION ROCKFORD, IL | EDUCATIONAL | $18,026 |
| GOLDIE FLOBERG ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OGLE COUNTY OREGON, IL | CHARIABLE | $5,000 |
| HOPE REIGNS RANCH ROCKFORD, IL | CHARITABLE | $6,226 |
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\Frequently Asked Questions
What does Blazer Foundation fund?
**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 …
How do I apply for a grant from Blazer Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with regular board meetings to review and approve grant requests. Recent grant distributions include: • 2024: 25 grants distributed • 2020: Over $353,000 approved • 2017 (March): $258,954 approved • 2017 (May): $58,569 approved • 2016: Over $815,000 distributed **Grant Sizes:** Grants have ranged from $1,000 to $85,000, with recent examples including: • Milestone: $85,000 (2024) • Barbara Olson Center of Hope: $27,500 (2…
Where does Blazer Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations and initiatives in Winnebago County and adjoining counties of northern Illinois, with primary focus on the Rockford, Illinois region.
What size grants does Blazer Foundation award?
In 2024, Blazer Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $922K — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Blazer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Blazer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Blazer Foundation's EIN?
Blazer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3480054. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blazer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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