Castaways Foundation
Castaways Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in 1991. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and maintains a focus on supporting environmental conservation, education, and human services initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$180K
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
80
-1.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-1.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation funds programs in the following areas:
- Wildlife conservation, including WildAid's elephant program
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Unrestricted children's environmental science education programs
- Naturalist programs
- Environmental initiatives related to conservation and waste
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Colorado, Illinois, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $2,622,338
- Total revenues: $440,314
- Total expenses: $215,207
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include High Line Canal Conservancy ($30,000), Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation ($10,000), Canine Therapy Corps ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BEAUTIFUL LIFE STOLEN FLEMING ISLAND, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| A WAY OUT CARBONDALE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ACTION IN AFRICA ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| ALPINE LEGAL SERVICES GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER SNOWMASS VLG, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| ASCENDIGO CARBONDALE, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ASPEN ANIMAL SHELTER ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ASPEN FILM ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ASPEN HOPE CENTER BASALT, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO ASPEN, CO | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is listed as "C/O Bruce A Crown," indicating Bruce A Crown serves as a key contact or administrator for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONNA LYNN CROWN | PRES/DIR | 1 | — |
| BRADLEY D CROWN | V.P./DIR | 1 | — |
| BRUCE A CROWN | TREAS/DIR | 5 | — |
| LAURIE J CROWN | SEC/DIR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation's most recent tax filing was completed on December 1, 2024, reflecting current grantmaking activity through that date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Castaways Foundation fund?
The foundation funds programs in the following areas: • Wildlife conservation, including WildAid's elephant program • Vocational rehabilitation • Unrestricted children's environmental science education programs • Naturalist programs • Environmental initiatives related to conservation and waste
How do I apply for a grant from Castaways Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 84 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical grant awards range from $250 to $30,000 • Recent notable grants include: • High Line Canal Conservancy: $30,000 (unrestricted) • Dawg Nation Hockey Foundation: $10,000 (unrestricted) • Tulane University School of Medicine - AOA Chapter: $7,500 (Mildred and Herman Crown Memorial Scholarship) **Total Giving:** • Total grants made: $180,000 (2024 fiscal year)
Where does Castaways Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Colorado, Illinois, and New York.
What size grants does Castaways Foundation award?
In 2024, Castaways Foundation awarded 80 grants totaling $180K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Castaways Foundation's EIN?
Castaways Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3738769. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Castaways 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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