Chicago Public Education Fund logo

Chicago Public Education Fund

Public charity · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 36-4279013 Website

The Chicago Public Education Fund (the fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves public schools in chicago by investing in the talented educators who lead them.

Chicago Public Education Fund at a glance

In short: Chicago Public Education Fund gave $927K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $66K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$926,584
+67.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
14
+100.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$66,185
-16.2% vs 2023
Median grant
$49,375
Total assets
$39,662,525
-5.2% vs 2023
Primary geography
Illinois (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.

How to apply to Chicago Public Education Fund

Who Chicago Public Education Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Illinois - Chicago: $214KUniversity of Illinois -Chicago$214KNew Leaders Inc: $182KNew Leaders Inc$182KChicago Public Schools: $144KChicago Public Schools$144KLeadership & Design: $70KLeadership & Design$70KUniversity of Washington: $57KUniversity of Washington$57KNational Sam Innovation Project: $52KNational Sam InnovationProject$52KLatino Leadership Pipeline: $50KLatino Leadership Pipeline$50KMikva Challenge: $49KMikva Challenge$49KAccelerate Institute: $31KAccelerate Institute$31KNortheastern University: $27KNortheastern University$27K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Illinois - Chicago ($214K). Together the top 10 received $876K.

Grant Size Distribution

25 grants across all recorded years

11<$50K8$50–100K4$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 25 (44%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoBostonLos GatosSeattleLouisvilleNew HavenNew YorkSpringfieldWashington

How Chicago Public Education Fund gives

  • 43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 133% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M1 grant2019 1 grant2020 2 grants2021 1 grant2022 7 grants2023 14 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $19K (2019) to $927K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $927K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Illinois - Chicago Chicago, ILSupport the Malott Educator Fellowship and Leadership Bridge.$214,000
New Leaders Inc New York, NYLeadership Bridge Program Partner$182,089
Chicago Public Schools Chicago, ILWinning Design Challenge Schools, Network Professional Development Grants$144,000
Leadership & Design Los Gatos, CADesign Program Partner$70,000
University of Washington Seattle, WAProvide professional development services including training and coaching to cps network chiefs.$56,500
National Sam Innovation Project Louisville, KYSponsorship for Principal Professional Development$52,335
Latino Leadership Pipeline Chicago, ILAffinity Group Program Partner$50,000
Mikva Challenge Chicago, ILChicago Board of Education Information Sessions$48,750
Accelerate Institute Chicago, ILLeadership Bridge Program Partner$30,880
Northeastern University Boston, MAPLC & Leadership Bridge Programs Partner$27,150
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Chicago Public Education Fund?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$39,662,525$3,626,203$7,039,776$926,58414$636,250
2023$41,819,615$6,923,244$6,453,836$552,7387$395,618
2022$40,657,031$24,687,762$5,895,317$391,5001$-300,138
2021$21,727,022$5,321,467$5,548,637$398,5002$-38,710
2020$21,173,102$2,833,776$4,727,727$35,2751$249,985
2019$23,045,007$6,280,980$5,085,823$18,6001$221,057

About Chicago Public Education Fund

Based on IRS filings

Chicago Public Education Fund is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $39.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $927K. Net investment income was $636K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Chicago Public Education Fund is led by Heather Y. Anichini, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 7 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Heather Y. Anichini

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2019

    55 hrs/week

    $333K (2019) → $377K (2024)

  • Brent Gledhill

    Chair

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Annie Bringewatt

    Director, Data & Strategy

    Director & Data → Director, Data & Strategy, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $111K (2022) → $146K (2024)

  • Esther Lee

    Director, People & Operations

    Senior Manager & Educator Supports → Director, People & Operations, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $100K (2022) → $121K (2024)

  • Julie Burnett

    Director, Partnership & Innovation

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $161K (2023) → $187K (2024)

  • Mariel Laureano

    Director & Educator Support

    Director & Educator Supports → Director & Educator Support, 2024

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $176K (2023) → $181K (2024)

  • Anthony Miller

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David J Vitale

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ellen Alberding

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Smith

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gillian Darlow

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Frank

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Dugenske

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly Evans

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Penny Bender Sebring

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Siddharth Mehta

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrea Saenz

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Auyana Orr

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dandre J. Weaver

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Christina Herzog

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jesse Ruiz

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelly Howe

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stuart Lucas

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nelson Gerew

    Chief Public Affairs Officer

    Director, Data & Policy → Chief Public Affairs Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $167K (2019) → $210K (2024)

  • Sujata Kankanhalli

    Interim COO

    New on the 2024 filing

    20 hrs/week

    $154K (2024)

  • Barbara Malott Kizziah

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Helen H Zell

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jill M Garling

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (12)
  • Former: Judy Pomeranz (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Karen May (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Bridget Lee (2022–2023) — Director, Engagement & Development
  • Former: Austan Goolsbee (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Brian P Simmons (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: John Garabedian (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Kenneth C Griffin (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Chaula Gupta (2019–2021) — Vice President
  • Former: Kassie Davis (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Anna Piepmeyer (2020–2021) — Director, Program & Investments
  • Former: Andrew Lerner (2019) — Director
  • Former: Elizabeth Swanson (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "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

Heather Y Anichini — President & CEO: $377KHeather Y AnichiniPresident & CEO$377KNelson Gerew — Chief Public Affairs Officer: $210KNelson GerewChief Public Affairs Officer$210KJulie Burnett — Director, Partnership and Innovation: $187KJulie BurnettDirector, Partnership and…$187KMariel Laureano — Director, Educator Support: $181KMariel LaureanoDirector, Educator Support$181KSujata Kankanhalli — Interim COO (1/8/24-12/13/24): $154KSujata KankanhalliInterim COO (1/8/24-12/13/24)$154KAnnie Bringewatt — Director, Data & Strategy: $146KAnnie BringewattDirector, Data & Strategy$146KEsther Lee — Director, People and Operations: $121KEsther LeeDirector, People and Operations$121K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $377K, to Heather Y Anichini (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Chicago Public Education Fund

How much does Chicago Public Education Fund give each year?

Chicago Public Education Fund gave $927K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $553K across 7 grants.

What is Chicago Public Education Fund's typical grant size?

Chicago Public Education Fund's median grant in 2024 was $49,375, and its average grant was $66,185, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.

Where does Chicago Public Education Fund give grants?

Chicago Public Education Fund gives mostly in Illinois: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (20%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).

Does Chicago Public Education Fund give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Chicago Public Education Fund's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are Chicago Public Education Fund's largest grantees?

Chicago Public Education Fund's largest 2024 grantees include University of Illinois - Chicago ($214,000), New Leaders Inc ($182,089) and Chicago Public Schools ($144,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Chicago Public Education Fund?

Chicago Public Education Fund reported $39.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.6M.

What is Chicago Public Education Fund?

Chicago Public Education Fund is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $39.7M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Chicago Public Education Fund's EIN?

Chicago Public Education Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4279013. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

Data update history

(7)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 27, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 25, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 6, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 6, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Chicago Public Education Fund's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Illinois

Toshiba America Foundation

Irvine, CA

Toshiba America Foundation funds teacher-designed, project-based STEM classroom initiatives in public and private schools across the United States, with separate programs for grades K–5 and 6–12. Recent announced awards ranged from about $2,300 per project in 2024 to an average of about $4,500 in 2026; grades 6–12 applications are listed for requests up to and over $5,000. It accepts online applications from teachers.

Assets

$7.7M

Grants

1

Total Given

$348K

Unidosus

Washington, DC

UnidosUS funds programs and advocacy advancing Latino opportunity, particularly in education, workforce development, housing, and economic empowerment. Its 2025 grants had a median of $54,454, with awards ranging from $6,000 to about $2.63 million, supporting organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$125.8M

Grants

198

Total Given

$19.8M

GenYOUTH Incorporated

Rosemont, IL

GENYOUth funds school nutrition and physical-activity programs, including meal-service equipment and school-based activity initiatives, with a national focus. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,000 to $218,899, with a median of $8,707. It directs eligible schools and organizations to apply through specific program opportunities; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$12.0M

Grants

176

Total Given

$2.5M

New York Life Foundation

New York, NY

Assets

$146.2M

Grants

621

Total Given

$27.3M

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds eligible nonprofits working to narrow the wealth gap and meet urgent needs, with priorities including economic mobility, education, jobs, homeownership, and community development in metropolitan Chicago and Cook County. Its 2025 grants had a median of $26,500, though amounts varied widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$7.1B

Grants

4,316

Total Given

$1.2B

The Allstate Foundation

Northbrook, IL

The Allstate Foundation funds youth empowerment, efforts to prevent and address relationship abuse, nonprofit leadership, and related economic opportunity and equity work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $2 million, with a median of $1,000, and awards must support work in the United States. It accepts proposals from organizations beyond a preselected list; proposals are reviewed as received.

Assets

$89.3M

Grants

2,010

Total Given

$38.0M

More similar funders

More Funders in Illinois

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Chicago Public Education Fund'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 Public Education Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?