Cabaa Educational Foundation
CABAA Educational Foundation is a private foundation based in Downers Grove, Illinois. It supports business aviation through scholarships, training awards, and case-by-case grants for projects, educational events, and professional development that benefit people or organizations based in the Chicagoland area.
Cabaa Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Cabaa Educational Foundation gave $73K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $73,450
- -9.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,246
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $49,175
- -53.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (72% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Cabaa Educational Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts requests through its grant request form for special projects, educational events, and professional development opportunities. Scholarship applicants submit applications online.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists May 31 each year for scholarship applications. The website’s 2026 scholarship application window is closed.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists May 31 each year for scholarship applications.
- Contact
Application contact: Steven Kowalski
Mailing address: 20941 W Ardmore Circle, Plainfield, IL 60544
Phone: (708) 552-1851
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cabaa Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lewis University ($8K).
Organizations only. It also paid 13 grants to individuals ($65,450), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 26 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says special grant requests must benefit an organization or individual based in the Chicagoland area. The 2024 filing states a preference for Chicagoland/Illinois residents and students, followed by residents and students of surrounding states. In 2025, 72% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 18% to Indiana, 7% to Nebraska, and 3% to Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
How Cabaa Educational Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $73K (2025) to $81K (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $73K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis University Romeoville, IL | Business Aviation Scholarship | $8,000 |
| 13 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $65,450 |
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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 | $49,175 | $33,737 | $89,355 | $73,450 | 14 | $89,355 | $23 | $3,791 |
| 2024 | $104,793 | $11,994 | $118,046 | $81,000 | 12 | $118,032 | $44 | $7,583 |
| 2023 | $210,845 | $77,007 | $43,530 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $177,367 | $110,016 | $55,615 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | $122,967 | $11 | $40,922 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $163,876 | $36,957 | $28,531 | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cabaa Educational Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CABAA says the foundation raises funds to advance interest in corporate aviation through educational programs and scholarships. Its grantmaking includes collegiate scholarships, professional training and development awards, and support for projects and educational events. The foundation’s website describes special requests as being considered case by case.
In 2025, the foundation gave Lewis University $8,000 for a business aviation scholarship. Lewis University describes its own mission as providing liberal and professional education grounded in its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, and promoting the development of the complete person through the pursuit of wisdom and justice.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $73,450. Grant amounts ranged from $1,950 to $8,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest listed awards included $8,000 to Lewis University for a business aviation scholarship and $8,000 each to four individual recipients for collegiate or maintenance committee scholarships. Other listed awards supported a memorial scholarship, general financial awards, training, and professional development.
The foundation’s website says special grant requests from organizations and individuals are considered case by case and must benefit an organization or individual based in the Chicagoland area. Its 2024 filing says scholarship applications are submitted online and describes requirements including a typed essay of up to 1,000 words, at least three recommendation letters, and at least one recommendation from someone currently involved in business aviation. The filing also states that applicants should demonstrate commitment to aviation and a desire to work in business aviation. It describes preference for Chicagoland/Illinois residents and students, followed by residents and students of surrounding states, and notes that some scholarships serve professionals already working in the field while others are for college or university students.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2025 filing lists Carl Robst as president, Ryan Canfield as treasurer, Julie Marella as secretary, and Alex Kwiatkowski as vice president. Directors listed are Pam Kavenaugh, Bill Madary, Marc Pozdol, and Mark Retterer.
Cabaa Educational Foundation is led by Carl Robst, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carl Robst
President
Treasurer → Vice President & Treasurer, 2023
Vice President & Treasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Madary
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marc Pozdol
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Retterer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pam Kavenaugh
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Kwiatkowski
Vice President
Director → Board Member, 2024
Board Member → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Marella
Secretary
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Canfield
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Brian Zankowski (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Mark A. Jackson (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Laura Heft (2022–2024) — Compliance
- Former: George J. Yundt (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Alan L. Farkas (2020–2021) — Legal Representative
- Former: Jim Donath (2020–2021) — Director
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 Cabaa Educational Foundation
How much does Cabaa Educational Foundation give each year?
Cabaa Educational Foundation gave $73K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $81K across 12 grants.
What is Cabaa Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Cabaa Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,246, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Cabaa Educational Foundation give grants?
Cabaa Educational Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 72% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (18%) and Nebraska (7%).
Does Cabaa Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 21% of Cabaa Educational Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Collegiate Scholarship" (3 grants) and "Training Award" (3 grants).
How large is Cabaa Educational Foundation?
Cabaa Educational Foundation reported $49K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $89K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cabaa Educational Foundation fund?
CABAA says the foundation raises funds to advance interest in corporate aviation through educational programs and scholarships. Its grantmaking includes collegiate scholarships, professional training and development awards, and support for projects and educational events. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cabaa Educational Foundation?
The foundation accepts requests through its grant request form for special projects, educational events, and professional development opportunities. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cabaa Educational Foundation's EIN?
Cabaa Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4565107. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cabaa Educational Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cabaa-educational-foundation-morg_1302d9ddfaa84a3ebc313157a92a39fc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204565107_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cabaa Educational Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cabaa-educational-foundation-morg_1302d9ddfaa84a3ebc313157a92a39fc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Cabaa Educational Foundation'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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