Chicago Cubs Charities
Chicago Cubs Charities is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. It supports youth, families, and communities through sports-based youth development and academic programming, investments in safe places to play, direct programming for underserved children and youth, and grants to charitable organizations in Chicago and beyond.
Chicago Cubs Charities at a glance
In short: Chicago Cubs Charities gave $3.0M across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $56K), mostly in Illinois. 28% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,993,330
- +8.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $56,478
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $15,438,275
- +16.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (15 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chicago Cubs Charities
- Contact
Mailing address: 1060 West Addison Street, Chicago, IL 60613
Phone: (773) 404-2827
Website: https://cubscharities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chicago Cubs Charities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was McCormick Foundation ($816K). Together the top 10 received $2.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
237 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 209 grants of 237 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. Other recipient states were California (9%), Massachusetts (2%), New York (2%), and Maryland (1%). The organization describes its grantmaking as serving charitable organizations in Chicago and beyond.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Chicago Cubs Charities open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 53 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $25K 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 $1.5M (2023) to $4.8M (2020). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| McCormick Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation to cubs care fund and chicago sports alliance | $815,837 |
| Brainup Inc Frankfort, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $717,500 |
| Advocate Charitable Foundation Oak Brook, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $117,000 |
| American Cancer Society Inc Atlanta, GA | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| Children's Oncology Services Chicago, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| Prostate Cancer Foundation Santa Monica, CA | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation Chicago, IL | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
| The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc Rye Brook, NY | Donation for cancer education initiatives given ccc's new cubs for a cure event | $62,550 |
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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 | $15,438,275 | $8,349,672 | $6,529,511 | $2,993,330 | 53 | $504,210 |
| 2024 | $13,255,145 | $5,602,422 | $5,788,212 | $2,762,544 | 54 | $543,433 |
| 2023 | $14,324,428 | $4,760,908 | $3,434,573 | $1,549,670 | 43 | $384,066 |
| 2022 | $13,267,620 | $4,213,572 | $3,421,300 | $1,642,227 | 39 | $8,779 |
| 2021 | $12,339,863 | $4,064,797 | $3,580,444 | $2,363,820 | 48 | $4,118 |
| 2020 | $11,765,252 | $2,315,259 | $5,755,926 | $4,821,525 | 61 | $27,545 |
| 2019 | $13,791,840 | $5,130,897 | $4,292,927 | $3,189,273 | 68 | $138,107 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Cubs Charities’ mission is to mobilize the power of sport to champion youth, families, and communities. Its stated approach includes sports-based youth development and academic programming, investment in safe places to play, and strategic grantmaking.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. BrainUp Inc. says its mission is to financially support brain cancer research conducted by university teaching hospitals in the Chicagoland area. Good Sports Inc. says it distributes sports equipment, footwear, and apparel to community organizations serving children in need. Urban Initiatives Inc. describes its work as sports-based youth development programs addressing equity gaps for Chicago students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Cubs Charities reported 54 grants totaling $2,762,544. Grants ranged from $5,156 to $847,767, with a median grant of $25,000. The organization generally provides grants to nonprofit organizations. It says applicants generally provide a breakdown of how funds will be used, and that recipient outcome reporting is requested. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 53 grants totaling $3 million.
The largest reported grants included $847,767 to McCormick Foundation for the Cubs Care Fund and Chicago Sports Alliance, and $579,714 to BrainUp Inc. for cancer education initiatives associated with the Cubs for a Cure event. Stand Up To Cancer received $210,143 for the same stated purpose. Other notable grants included $82,883 to SportsField Inc. for the Diamond Project and general support, $60,000 to Good Sports Inc. for the Diamond Project and event sponsorship, and $50,000 to Chicago Public Schools for a School All Star Grant.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Brooke Ricketts, Cecelia Ricketts, Laura M. Ricketts, Susanne Shore, Sylvie Legere, and Thomas S. Ricketts as directors. It lists Crane H. Kenney as president, Jonathan Greifenkamp as treasurer, Michael R. Lufrano as vice president/secretary, and Keri Blackwell as deputy director, strategy and programs.
Chicago Cubs Charities is led by Lea Jesse, Executive Director & Vice President on the 2025 filing; 5 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lea Jesse
Executive Director & Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$271K (2025)
Crane H. Kenney
President
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura M. Ricketts
Chair
Director → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brooke Ricketts
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cecelia Ricketts
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susanne Shore
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sylvie Legere
Director
On filings since 2019
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas S. Ricketts
Director
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Weber
Assistant Director of Development
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$51K (2023) → $120K (2025)
Jennifer Dedes-Nowak
Assistant Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$121K (2024) → $127K (2025)
Keri Blackwell
Deputy Director, Strategy & Programs
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$159K (2024) → $147K (2025)
Christopher Thompson
Senior Manager, Baseball & Softball Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
Jonathan Greifenkamp
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael R. Lufrano
V.p. & Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Alicia Gonzalez (2019–2023) — V.p. & Executive Director
- Former: J Peter Ricketts (2019–2023) — 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $271K, to Lea Jesse (Executive Director & Vice President). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Cubs Charities
How much does Chicago Cubs Charities give each year?
Chicago Cubs Charities gave $3.0M across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 54 grants.
What is Chicago Cubs Charities's typical grant size?
Chicago Cubs Charities's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $56,478, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chicago Cubs Charities that year got $23K on average.
Where does Chicago Cubs Charities give grants?
Chicago Cubs Charities gives mostly in Illinois: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (40 grants) and Mesa, AZ (2 grants).
Does Chicago Cubs Charities give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of Chicago Cubs Charities's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "School All Star Grant" (17 grants) and "Diamond Project" (7 grants).
Who are Chicago Cubs Charities's largest grantees?
Chicago Cubs Charities's largest 2025 grantees include McCormick Foundation ($815,837), Brainup Inc ($717,500) and Advocate Charitable Foundation ($117,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chicago Cubs Charities?
Chicago Cubs Charities reported $15.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.3M.
What does Chicago Cubs Charities fund?
Cubs Charities’ mission is to mobilize the power of sport to champion youth, families, and communities. Its stated approach includes sports-based youth development and academic programming, investment in safe places to play, and strategic grantmaking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicago Cubs Charities?
Chicago Cubs Charities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cubscharities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Chicago Cubs Charities's EIN?
Chicago Cubs Charities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3443543. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 24, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 24, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 23, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 18, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chicago Cubs Charities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-cubs-charities-morg_919ff4c1dcce4094b9715310d2b2e49b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363443543_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chicago Cubs Charities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chicago-cubs-charities-morg_919ff4c1dcce4094b9715310d2b2e49b},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-03. 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 Cubs Charities'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.
Chicago Cubs Charities down — hundreds of funders to go?