Chicago Freedom Trust
Chicago Freedom Trust is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $20K in total assets. In 2025, it made $850 in qualifying distributions.
Chicago Freedom Trust at a glance
- Total assets
- $20,092
- -7.8% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $850
- -95.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $1,700
- -91.9% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Chicago Freedom Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
How Chicago Freedom Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 105% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2020) to $22K (2019). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mustard Seed Communities Medfield, MA | Providing Basiccare for Vulnerablecommunities | $4,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | Clinic on Enterpreneurshipat Univ of Chicago | $2,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa Martinez, CA | Meals for Homebound | $2,000 |
| World Orphan Fund Randolph, WI | Providingassistance to Orphaned Children | $2,000 |
| Chicago Hope Academy Chicago, IL | School Grant | $2,000 |
| Center for Urban Teaching Mikwaukee, WI | Identify, Prepare Andsupport High-Performingurban Teachers | $2,000 |
| Wenatchee Valley Museum Wenatchee, CA | Preserving & Presentinghistory of Communities | $2,000 |
| Christian Home Educators of Midland Midland, MI | Speech & Debaterhetorical Skillsfor Students | $2,000 |
| Christian Home Educators of Midland Midland, MI | Robotics Club-Engineering, PROGRAMMING,PROBLEM Solving | $2,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,092 | — | $1,700 | — | — | $850 | $810 |
| 2024 | $21,792 | $2,000 | $20,910 | $20,000 | 9 | $20,000 | $1,425 |
| 2023 | $40,702 | $50,000 | $20,905 | $20,000 | 9 | $20,015 | $1,523 |
| 2022 | $11,607 | $24,000 | $21,184 | $20,000 | 9 | $20,359 | $570 |
| 2021 | $8,791 | $25,000 | $20,640 | $20,000 | 10 | $20,640 | $223 |
| 2020 | $4,431 | $25,000 | $21,395 | $20,000 | 10 | — | $411 |
| 2019 | $826 | $10,000 | $22,512 | $22,000 | 10 | — | $534 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chicago Freedom Trust reported a distributable amount of $810 for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Chicago Freedom Trust's 2025 filing lists 5 officers; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Adam Meyerson
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Joseph G. Lehman
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Leonard Leo
Primary Trustte & Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Graves
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracie Sharp
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 Freedom Trust
How large is Chicago Freedom Trust?
Chicago Freedom Trust reported $20K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $850 in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $810 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
Where does Chicago Freedom Trust operate?
Chicago Freedom Trust has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Virginia, Wisconsin.
What is Chicago Freedom Trust's EIN?
Chicago Freedom Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4123223. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Freedom Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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