Chicago Blackhawks Foundation
The Chicago Blackhawks Foundation is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports programs and institutions in Illinois, with a stated emphasis on creating a better tomorrow for youth and improving the lives of local citizens.
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation at a glance
In short: Chicago Blackhawks Foundation gave $2.4M across 40 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in Illinois. 70% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,425,065
- +283.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 40
- +110.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,627
- +82.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $21,500
- Total assets
- $9,895,240
- +20.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 70% first-time grantees (28 of 40, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chicago Blackhawks Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online system. Organizations must be based in Illinois, have a tax ID number, submit no more than one request per year, and apply at least eight weeks in advance. Requests sent by email, fax, mail, or phone are not considered. The foundation does not grant requests for preschools, nursery schools or private schools; individual participation fundraisers; in-kind raffle, prize, or incentive donations; third-party requests or organizational campaigns; recreational activities; political or religious groups; advocacy or special-interest groups; travel, conferences, seminars, or workshops; audio, video, or film productions; or organizations that may conflict with Blackhawks goals, programs, or affiliations. Donations are fulfilled at the foundation’s discretion and depend on item inventory.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1901 West Madison St, Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 455-7000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chicago Blackhawks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Robert McCormick Foundation ($583K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
167 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 129 grants of 167 (77%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing states that it supports programs and institutions throughout Illinois. In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois; other reported shares went to New York (8%), Oklahoma (3%), California (2%), and Indiana (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 40 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Chicago Blackhawks Foundation open to new grantees?
70%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 28 of 40 grantees (70%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $76K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $40K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $632K (2024) to $2.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 40 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Robert McCormick Foundation Chicago, IL | Health and Welfare | $583,251 |
| A Better Chicago Chicago, IL | Health and Welfare | $345,000 |
| Sustainable Markets Fdn New York, NY | Health and Welfare | $200,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Chicago, IL | Education | $159,000 |
| John Spry Community School Chicago, IL | Education | $139,816 |
| True Chicago Chicago, IL | Health and Welfare | $100,000 |
| Tunica Biloxi Tribe Chicago, IL | Health and Welfare | $75,000 |
| Sac and Fox Tribe of OK Stroud, OK | Health and Welfare | $67,750 |
| Cancer for College Grant San Diego, CA | Education | $50,000 |
| Chicago Storm Special Hockey Schererville, IN | Health and Welfare | $50,000 |
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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 | $9,895,240 | $4,357,095 | $3,063,520 | $2,425,065 | 40 | $205,660 |
| 2024 | $8,203,030 | $5,120,874 | $1,432,552 | $632,425 | 19 | $113,985 |
| 2023 | $6,104,886 | $3,490,978 | $1,975,420 | $1,377,417 | 37 | $32,290 |
| 2022 | $4,872,361 | $2,995,296 | $3,062,556 | $1,966,186 | 36 | $8,485 |
| 2021 | $4,080,561 | $2,213,717 | $1,756,602 | $1,512,856 | 35 | $17,216 |
| 2020 | $4,077,937 | $2,452,293 | $2,346,082 | $1,876,444 | 35 | $24,977 |
| 2019 | $3,862,820 | $2,852,000 | $2,302,256 | $2,022,499 | 36 | $14,896 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
In its 2024 filing, the foundation stated that it supports programs and institutions throughout Illinois that work toward a better future for youth. Its stated principles include aiding people who are homeless, ill, abused, or otherwise at risk; supporting people affected by physical injury; promoting health, fitness, and teamwork; reducing risk-related behavior; and facilitating positive educational experiences. The filing also describes support for Dreams for Kids programs and other programs serving youth and disadvantaged individuals.
The foundation’s donation-request information identifies Education and Health and Wellness as its two focus areas. Its website also describes West Side programs, including One West Side, a partnership with A Better Chicago and United that provides financial and management resources to community-embedded nonprofits, and Support West, which offers financial and business-development opportunities to small minority-owned businesses.
Examples of organizations it supported in 2025 illustrate the range of grantees. A Better Chicago describes its work as investing in ideas that create opportunities for youth while changing how Chicago fights poverty. Chicago Warriors says it provides veterans who were wounded, injured, or disabled during service with an environment suited to practicing and competing in ice hockey. Nourishing Hope describes providing food, mental health support, and social services, while Life Decisions says it creates mentoring opportunities for young people to build skills and support for healthy, productive lives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 40 grants totaling $2,425,065. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $583,251, with a median of $21,500. The largest reported grants included $583,251 to Robert McCormick Foundation for Health and Welfare, $345,000 to A Better Chicago for Health and Welfare, $200,000 to Sustainable Markets Fdn for Health and Welfare, $159,000 to Boys and Girls Club for Education, and $139,816 to John Spry Community School for Education. Other recipients included True Chicago ($100,000), Tunica Biloxi Tribe ($75,000), and Sac and Fox Tribe of OK ($67,750).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Danny Wirtz as president, Meg Sullivan as treasurer, and Marcus LeBeouf as secretary. Directors listed are Sara Guderyahn, Matthew Gray, Jaime Faulkner, Kyle Davidson, and Jerry Ferguson.
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation is led by Danny Wirtz, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Danny Wirtz
President
Director → Vice Chairman, 2020
Vice Chairman → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jaime Faulkner
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sara Guderyahn
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Ferguson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kyle Davidson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Gray
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcus LeBeouf
Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meg Sullivan
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: TJ Skattum (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jaime Spencer (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: W Rockwell Wirtz (2019–2023) — Chairman
- Former: Jay Blunk (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Clifford A Harstad (2019–2020) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: David Americus (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Pete Hassen (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John McDonough (2019) — Vice President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Chicago Blackhawks Foundation
How much does Chicago Blackhawks Foundation give each year?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation gave $2.4M across 40 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $632K across 19 grants.
What is Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's typical grant size?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $21,500, and its average grant was $60,627, across 40 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chicago Blackhawks Foundation that year got $54K on average.
Where does Chicago Blackhawks Foundation give grants?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (18 grants) and Rockford, IL (10 grants).
Does Chicago Blackhawks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 40 grants with a stated purpose on Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Health and Welfare" (23 grants), "Education" (9 grants) and "Health and Wellness" (5 grants).
Who are Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's largest grantees?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Robert McCormick Foundation ($583,251), A Better Chicago ($345,000) and Sustainable Markets Fdn ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chicago Blackhawks Foundation?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.4M.
What does Chicago Blackhawks Foundation fund?
In its 2024 filing, the foundation stated that it supports programs and institutions throughout Illinois that work toward a better future for youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicago Blackhawks Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests through its online system. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's EIN?
Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3871291. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Chicago Blackhawks Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 22, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Blackhawks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chicago Blackhawks Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-blackhawks-foundation-morg_338dae109f0648ceb2261277d5e721d0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203871291_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chicago Blackhawks Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-blackhawks-foundation-morg_338dae109f0648ceb2261277d5e721d0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Blackhawks 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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