Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 16 grants totaling $1,872,486, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Illinois.
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis at a glance
In short: Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis gave $1.9M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $117K), mostly in Illinois. 63% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,872,486
- +11.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -15.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $117,030
- +32.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,250
- Total assets
- $3,830,693
- -30.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (10 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (96% 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 Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis
- How to Apply
-
Contact Bryan C. Cressey. No special forms are required. Only major public charities are considered.
- Review Cycle
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Deadline
- There are no submission deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Bryan C Cressey
Mailing address: 155 N Wacker Dr Ste 4500, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 897-8900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Above Beyond Family Recovery Center ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 84 grants of 101 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 3% to recipients in Washington, DC, and 1% to recipients in Massachusetts. The filing also lists Virginia and California at 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 16 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $249K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $27K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 745% of 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 $1.5M (2021) to $1.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Above Beyond Family Recovery Center Chicago, IL | Unrestricted Use | $1,400,786 |
| Avocet Polymer Technologies Inc Chicago, IL | Research | $260,000 |
| Healthsperien Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Lake Forest Academy Lake Forest, IL | Unrestricted Use | $30,000 |
| UIC Department of Surgery Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Chicago Institute for Rebt Mt Prospect, IL | Unrestricted Use | $28,000 |
| Harvard Law School Cambridge, MA | Unrestriced Use | $25,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $12,500 |
| Gateway for Cancer Research Chicago, IL | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| PCRM Inc Washington, DC | Unrestriced Use | $5,000 |
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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 | $3,830,693 | $209,587 | $1,906,034 | $1,872,486 | 16 | $1,872,486 | $209,587 | $251,416 |
| 2024 | $5,527,140 | $2,116,405 | $1,678,070 | $1,674,070 | 19 | $1,674,070 | $2,161,535 | $294,129 |
| 2023 | $5,088,805 | $204,331 | $1,896,498 | $1,856,598 | 23 | $1,856,598 | $204,331 | $286,906 |
| 2022 | $6,780,972 | $6,644,979 | $1,792,263 | $1,776,054 | 22 | $1,776,054 | $1,226,338 | $151,371 |
| 2021 | $1,928,256 | $574,649 | $1,499,985 | $1,495,148 | 21 | $1,495,148 | $1,159,123 | $140,112 |
| 2020 | $2,853,592 | $4,399,000 | $1,556,085 | $1,543,215 | 22 | — | — | $28,810 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis reported a distributable amount of $251K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Lake Forest Academy says it seeks to cultivate excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility in its students. Gateway for Cancer Research describes its mission as accelerating practice-changing discoveries in cancer care. Lincoln Park Conservancy says it works to preserve and enhance Chicago’s Lincoln Park, and California Community Foundation says it invests in, partners with, and amplifies the community to build a good life.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $1,872,486. Grant amounts ranged from $200 to $1,400,786; the median grant was $11,250. The largest awards included $1,400,786 to Above Beyond Family Recovery Center for unrestricted use and $260,000 to Avocet Polymer Technologies Inc for research. Other reported grants included $50,000 to Healthsperien, $30,000 each to Lake Forest Academy and UIC Department of Surgery, and $28,000 to Chicago Institute for REBT.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bryan C. Cressey as president, Iliana Sweis as treasurer, and Shelby Caparelli as secretary.
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis is led by Bryan C. Cressey, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bryan C. Cressey
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Iliana Sweis
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Shelby Caparelli
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis
How much does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis give each year?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis gave $1.9M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 19 grants.
What is Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's typical grant size?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's median grant in 2025 was $11,250, and its average grant was $117,030, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis that year got $38K on average.
Where does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis give grants?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis gives mostly in Illinois: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (8 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis give general operating support?
Yes: 81% of Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's largest grantees?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's largest 2025 grantees include Above Beyond Family Recovery Center ($1,400,786), Avocet Polymer Technologies Inc ($260,000) and Healthsperien ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $251K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Lake Forest Academy says it seeks to cultivate excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility in its students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis?
Contact Bryan C. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's EIN?
Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-3694159. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/bryan-cressey-and-iliana-sweis-morg_1726fa459a2d49c3b52a2079cd3f8129
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_833694159_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/bryan-cressey-and-iliana-sweis-morg_1726fa459a2d49c3b52a2079cd3f8129},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis'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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