The Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization, the foundation has been tax-exempt since June 2019. The foundation operates as a grantmaking entity focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+8.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.7M
-9.8% YoY
Grant Count
19
-17.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$88K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis reported a distributable amount of $294K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation provides both large strategic grants and smaller general support awards to its grantees.
Average Grant
amount: $200–$1,339,648
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated in:
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Texas
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Financial Position (2023):
- Total Assets: $5,090,000
- Total Revenue: $204,000
- Total Expenses: $1,900,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Financial Position (2024):
- Total Assets: $5,527,140
- Total Giving: $1,674,070
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no outstanding liabilities and demonstrates consistent annual grant-making activity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,527,140 | $5,088,805 | $6,780,972 |
| Revenue | $2,116,405 | $204,331 | $6,644,979 |
| Expenses | $1,678,070 | $1,896,498 | $1,792,263 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,674,070 | $1,856,598 | $1,776,054 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,161,535 | $204,331 | $1,226,338 |
| Distributable Amount | $294,129 | $286,906 | $151,371 |
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 Above Beyond Family Recovery Center ($1,289,497), St James Cathedral Church ($160,000), The Department of Global Surgery ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ABOVE BEYOND FAMILY RECOVERY CENTER CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $1,289,497 |
| ADLER PLANETARIUM CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $25,000 |
| EPISCOPAL CHARITIES CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL CAMBRIDGE, MA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $25,000 |
| JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICED USE | $20,000 |
| NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION VIRGINIA BEACH, VA | UNRESTRICTED USE | $10,000 |
| PCRM INC WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICED USE | $22,573 |
| RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $5,000 |
| ST JAMES CATHEDRAL CHURCH CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $160,000 |
| EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED USE | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRYAN C CRESSEY | President | — | — |
| ILIANA SWEIS | Treasurer | — | — |
| SHELBY CAPARELLI | Secretary | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,674,070 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) • Average grant amount: $200–$1,339,648 • The foundation demonstrates significant grant-making capacity, with documented grants ranging substantially in size **Recent Grants:** • $1,339,648 to Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center NFP (2023) for unrestricted use • $10,000 to Episcopal Charities (2024) for unrestricted use The foundation provides both large strategic grants and smaller general support awards t…
Where does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis make grants?
The foundation's grant-making activities are concentrated in: • Illinois • Virginia • Texas
What size grants does Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis award?
In 2024, Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis awarded 19 grants totaling $1.7M — an average of about $88K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis reported a distributable amount of $294K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis'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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