Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation
The Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1984 with proceeds from the sale of Ridgeway Hospital—a nonprofit psychiatric facility that served low-income adolescents—the foundation has evolved into a significant funder of health care and housing services for economically disadvantaged populations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.7M
+16.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+3.8% YoY
Grant Count
80
+11.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
-6.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide grants and program-related investments primarily in the areas of health, mental and physical disability, and social services, with emphasis on children and youth.
In late 2017, the foundation refined its funding focus to concentrate on two primary areas:
- Health Care Services: Supporting nonprofit agencies that provide medical and psychological services to economically disadvantaged individuals, with particular attention to addressing social and economic barriers that cause health disparities
- Housing and Homeless Services: Funding programs that provide access to prevention, treatment, and support services for individuals experiencing homelessness, recognizing housing as a critical social determinant of physical and mental health
The foundation is committed to supporting organizations that serve low-income, uninsured, and medically underserved communities.
Grantmaking
Average Grant
of approximately $15,000.
How to Apply
**: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis (outside of the current pause period).
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides support geographically within Chicago and six collar counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. The foundation also funds projects in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $23,651,528 (as of 2024)
Annual Giving: $1,084,500 (2024 fiscal year)
Total Revenue: $834,038 (2024)
Total Expenses: $1,545,351 (2024)
Giving Rate: 6.6%
Staff: 2 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,651,528 | $20,372,256 | $19,742,479 |
| Revenue | $834,038 | $-23,482 | $523,475 |
| Expenses | $1,545,351 | $1,513,147 | $1,551,461 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,462,876 | $1,410,977 | $1,420,181 |
| Net Investment Income | $695,640 | $334,183 | $320,508 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,093,235 | $1,022,898 | $1,128,967 |
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
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center on Halsted (formerly Horizons Community Services) ($20,000), Connections for the Homeless ($20,000), Franciscan Outreach Association ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AIDS Legal Council of Chicago Chicago, IL | AIDS Legal Council of Chicago | $10,000 |
| Alexian Brothers Housing & Health Alliance Bolingbrook, IL | Alexian Brothers Housing & Health Alliance | $15,000 |
| Alternatives Inc Chicago, IL | Alternatives, Inc. | $12,500 |
| Anew Building Beyond Violence & Abuse (formerly South Suburban Family Shelt Homewood, IL | Anew: Building Beyond Violence & Abuse (formerly South Suburban Family Shelter) | $10,000 |
| Antioch Area Health Accessibility Alliance (AAHAA) Antioch, IL | Antioch Area Health Accessibility Alliance (AAHAA) | $10,000 |
| Become Inc Chicago, IL | Become Inc | $10,000 |
| Between Friends Chicago, IL | Between Friends | $15,000 |
| Bridge Communities Glen Ellyn, IL | Bridge Communities | $15,000 |
| Bridge Youth & Family Services PALATINE, IL | Bridge Youth & Family Services | $10,000 |
| BUILD Inc Chicago, IL | BUILD, Inc. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sandra Swantek, MD – President
- Serena L. Moy – Executive Director
- Laura Romero – Grants Manager
- Pierre LeBreton – Vice President
- Esther Nieves – Secretary
- Jennifer Arwade – Trustee
- Rebekah Azar Rashidfarokhi – Trustee
- Ponda Barnes – Trustee
- Angel Beltran – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandra Swantek MD | President | 4 | $5,000 |
| Pierre LeBreton | Vice President | 4 | $5,000 |
| Esther Nieves | Secretary | 4 | $5,000 |
| Allen Wesolowski | Treasurer - End 06/2024 | 4 | $5,000 |
| Edward Jacob | Trustee - End 06/2024 | 4 | $5,000 |
| Jennifer Arwade | Trustee | 4 | $5,000 |
| Rebekah Azar Rashidfarokhi | Trustee | 4 | $5,000 |
| Serena Moy | Executive Director | 40 | $110,897 |
| Ponda Barnes | Trustee - Start 06/2024 | 4 | — |
| Angel Beltran | Trustee - Start 06/2024 | 4 | — |
| Elizabeth L Carter | Trustee - Start 06/2024 | 4 | — |
Recent Grant Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grantees include:
RefugeeOne – $20,000 (2024)
Connections for the Homeless – $20,000 (2024)
South Suburban PADS – $20,000 (2024)
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (Youth Futures Legal Clinic) – $15,000 (2023)
YWCA Evanston/North Shore – $15,000 (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to provide grants and program-related investments primarily in the areas of health, mental and physical disability, and social services, with emphasis on children and youth. In late 2017, the foundation refined its funding focus to concentrate on two primary areas: • **Health Care Services**: Supporting nonprofit agencies that provide medical and psychological services to economically disadvantaged individuals, with particular attention to addressing social and econo…
How do I apply for a grant from Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $2,150 to $20,000, with a median grant amount of $15,000 and an average grant of approximately $15,000. **Recent Activity**: As of September 30, 2023, the foundation had provided $42.5 million in cumulative grants and program-related investments. In the most recent reporting year (2024), the foundation made 146 grants totaling $1,084,500. **Application Status**: The foundation is temporarily pausing acceptance of applications from new organizations, …
Where does Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides support geographically within Chicago and six collar counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. The foundation also funds projects in Colorado.
What size grants does Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation award?
In 2024, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation awarded 80 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation's EIN?
Blowitz-Ridgeway Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2488355. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Blowitz-Ridgeway 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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