Bryan Cressey and Iliana Sweis

CHICAGO, IL EIN: 83-3694159

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

14states
+6 more states

Cities

AtlantaBarringtonBostonCambridgeChicagoColumbusDallasDenverDrumsGlenwoodHaydenLake ForestMechanicsburgMt ProspectNaplesNashvilleNew OrleansNew YorkSan RafaelSteamboat Springs

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$5M$7M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$464K$928K$1M$2M22 grants202021 grants202122 grants202223 grants202319 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

ABOVE BEYOND FAMILY RECO…$1.3MST JAMES CATHEDRAL CHURCH$160KTHE DEPARTMENT OF GLOBAL…$40KADLER PLANETARIUM$25KHARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL$25KREVIVE CENTER FOR HOUSIN…$25KLAKE FOREST ACADEMY$25KPCRM INC$23KJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT$20KEPISCOPAL CHARITIES$10K

Grant Size Distribution

107 grants across all recorded years

90<$50K4$50–100K8$100–250K$250–500K2$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
BRYAN C CRESSEYPresident
ILIANA SWEISTreasurer
SHELBY CAPARELLISecretary

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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