Chicago Beyond Inc
Chicago Beyond Inc is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It addresses systemic inequity by backing solutions led by people closest to the issues, using flexible funding and partnership support.
Chicago Beyond Inc at a glance
In short: Chicago Beyond Inc gave $9.9M across 30 grants in 2024 (avg $332K), top state Illinois. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,949,333
- -4.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 30
- -26.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $331,644
- +29.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $880,091
- +3.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (19 of 30, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (45% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chicago Beyond Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Chicago Beyond does not accept unsolicited requests. It is not reviewing unsolicited nominations for funding at this time and identifies potential partners through its investing team’s ongoing discussions, community connections, and research.
- Contact
Mailing address: 227 W Monroe St Ste 5000, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 244-6980
Website: https://chicagobeyond.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chicago Beyond Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chicago South Side Birth Center ($1.5M). Together the top 10 received $6.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
179 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 179 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Chicago Beyond is based in Chicago, and its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Illinois accounted for 45% of grant dollars, followed by Massachusetts (14%), Colorado (10%), California (6%), and Florida (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Chicago Beyond Inc open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 30 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $329K; repeat grants $337K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 163% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.8M (2021) to $10.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 30 grants totaling $9.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago South Side Birth Center Glenwood, IL | General Support | $1,500,000 |
| Resist Inc Boston, MA | General Support | $1,400,000 |
| Life After Justice Center Chicago, IL | General Support | $1,000,000 |
| Elephant Circle Palisade, CO | General Support | $969,333 |
| Southern Birth Justice Network Miami, FL | General Support | $475,000 |
| Centro Sanar Chicago, IL | General Support | $380,000 |
| Breath of My Heart Birth Place Espanola, NM | General Support | $300,000 |
| Cultural Brokers Inc Fresno, CA | General Support | $300,000 |
| Dreamtree Academy 573 Columbia, MO | General Support | $300,000 |
| Exonerated Nation Inc Vallejo, CA | General Support | $300,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Chicago Beyond Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $880,091 | — | $15,132,573 | $9,949,333 | 30 | $9,949,333 | $53,503 |
| 2023 | $854,585 | $500,000 | $15,911,491 | $10,465,381 | 41 | $10,465,381 | $48,404 |
| 2021 | $1,837,444 | — | $7,459,881 | $3,787,129 | 71 | $3,787,129 | $15,284 |
| 2020 | $1,083,700 | $120 | $8,580,057 | $5,294,188 | 37 | — | $23,208 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chicago Beyond Inc reported a distributable amount of $54K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Chicago Beyond’s stated mission is to “address systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues.” Its investment criteria emphasize leaders’ lived experience and proximity to an issue, community-rooted evidence of impact, accountability to the people served, undervalued ideas, and potential to influence systems.
Its 2024 grants included organizations working in areas such as birth and reproductive care, mental health, justice, and community safety. For example, Centro Sanar describes its mission as providing accessible, high-quality, non-medicalized mental health services; the Southern Birth Justice Network says it works to provide midwife services and make care accessible, especially to marginalized communities; and the Organization of Exonerees says it provides services and support to exonerees and people who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, Chicago Beyond reported 30 grants totaling $9,949,333. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,500,000, with a median of $250,000. The largest grants included $1,500,000 to Chicago South Side Birth Center, $1,400,000 to RESIST Inc, $1,000,000 to Life After Justice Center, and $969,333 to Elephant Circle. Each was listed for general support.
Other 2024 grants included $475,000 to Southern Birth Justice Network and $380,000 to Centro Sanar. RESIST Inc describes its work as supporting movements for justice and liberation through resource redistribution and storytelling. Elephant Circle says it works toward a world where everyone has a circle of support throughout the perinatal period.
Chicago Beyond describes its multiyear investments as flexible funding paired with partnership support, with investments of up to $5 million. It also offers a Seeding Fund with one-time investments of $100,000–$300,000 and a Rapid Response Fund that provides unrestricted grants to hyperlocal organizations and individuals. The website says its investing team identifies potential partners through discussions with grant partners, community connections, and research.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth Dozier as president and Mark R. Walter and Kimbra D. Walter as directors.
Chicago Beyond Inc is led by Elizabeth Dozier, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Dozier
President
Managing Director & President → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$338K (2020) → $450K (2024)
Kimbra D. Walter
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark R. Walter
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $450K, to Elizabeth Dozier (President).
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Beyond Inc
How much does Chicago Beyond Inc give each year?
Chicago Beyond Inc gave $9.9M across 30 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.5M across 41 grants.
What is Chicago Beyond Inc's typical grant size?
Chicago Beyond Inc's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $331,644, across 30 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chicago Beyond Inc that year got $329K on average.
Where does Chicago Beyond Inc give grants?
Chicago Beyond Inc's top state is Illinois, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (14%) and Colorado (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants) and Glenwood, IL (2 grants).
Does Chicago Beyond Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Chicago Beyond Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (30 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Chicago Beyond Inc's largest grantees?
Chicago Beyond Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Chicago South Side Birth Center ($1,500,000), Resist Inc ($1,400,000) and Life After Justice Center ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Chicago Beyond Inc?
Chicago Beyond Inc reported $880K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $54K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Chicago Beyond Inc fund?
Chicago Beyond’s stated mission is to “address systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicago Beyond Inc?
Chicago Beyond does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chicago Beyond Inc's EIN?
Chicago Beyond Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5610834. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Chicago Beyond Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chicago Beyond Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-beyond-inc-morg_abc18755cc1a429ea9a164c32cfec568
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_475610834_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chicago Beyond Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-beyond-inc-morg_abc18755cc1a429ea9a164c32cfec568},
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 Chicago Beyond Inc'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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