ChiArts Foundation
Support and promotion of arts education programs at chicago high school for the arts. The organization may also support other educational activities in furtherance of the arts.
ChiArts Foundation at a glance
In short: ChiArts Foundation gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $2.5M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,487,591
- -16.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,487,591
- -16.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,487,591
- Total assets
- $2,028,599
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who ChiArts Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Chiarts High School ($2.5M).
Grant Size Distribution
4 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 4 grants of 4 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.0M (2021) to $3.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Chiarts High School Chicago, IL | To Support Various Arts Program | $2,487,591 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,028,599 | $3,388,423 | $3,390,453 | $2,487,591 | 1 | $18,006 |
| 2024 | $1,959,134 | $3,020,667 | $4,099,986 | $2,972,613 | 1 | $44,900 |
| 2023 | $2,872,519 | $1,910,555 | $3,284,859 | $2,246,082 | 1 | $47,901 |
| 2021 | $4,911,639 | $6,204,679 | $1,882,319 | $1,040,124 | 1 | $3,708 |
| 2020 | $150,353 | $169,250 | $20,823 | — | — | — |
About ChiArts Foundation
Based on IRS filings
ChiArts Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $2.5M. Net investment income was $18K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
ChiArts Foundation is led by Johnny Merrifield, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 2 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Johnny Merrifield
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$165K (2025)
Mirja Spooner Haffner
Chairperson
Director → Chair, 2023
Chair → Chairperson, 2025
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arnett Faulkner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elissa Hamid Efroymson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronald B Grais
Director
Chairman → Board Chair, 2021
Board Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra P Guthman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Collens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amyisha Rigia
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John H Hart
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael J McIntosh II
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Johnson
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samera Syeda Ludwig
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Hurvis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chardai Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Mabie
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Duffie Adelson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Simmons
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marshall Lindsey
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Fidler
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Darrow
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Snyder
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jose O Ochoa
Former Executive Director
President → Former Executive Director & President, 2024
Former Executive Director & President → Former Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$182K (2021) → $64K (2025)
Christina Huizar
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Clifford
Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Metzner
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: John D Merrifield (2021–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: John Yonover (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Plotkin (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Sylvia Neil (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Avril Klaff (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Dana Berkowitz (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Betsy Holden (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Christine Gallagher (2023) — Director
- Former: Anthony Barash (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lori Gray Faversham (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Shruti Jayaraman (2020–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Alan Jagiello (2021) — Director
- Former: Brian Meltzer (2021) — Director
- Former: Carol Stein (2021) — Director
- Former: Gary Hopmayer (2021) — Director
- Former: James Mabie (2021) — Director -
- Former: Neal Zucker (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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $165K, to Johnny Merrifield (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about ChiArts Foundation
How much does ChiArts Foundation give each year?
ChiArts Foundation gave $2.5M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 1 grant.
How large is ChiArts Foundation?
ChiArts Foundation reported $2.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What is ChiArts Foundation?
ChiArts Foundation is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $2.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does ChiArts Foundation operate?
ChiArts Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is ChiArts Foundation's EIN?
ChiArts Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1586666. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work ChiArts Foundation funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in ChiArts Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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ChiArts Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?