Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation (CLEF), based in Bensenville, Illinois, is a public charity that funds scholarships, programs, resources, and consultative services for a network of Chicago-area Christian schools. Its work supports Lutheran education from preschool through high school, with a focus on schools serving Chicago residents.
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation gave $2.0M across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $120K). 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,041,520
- -13.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $120,089
- -8.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $80,306
- Total assets
- $6,106,718
- +5.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- 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 Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation
- How to Apply
-
CLEF describes funding its network schools and says its Grants Committee evaluates their needs; the website does not specify how schools apply for grants.
- Contact
Mailing address: 861 S Church Rd, Bensenville, IL 60106
Phone: (630) 595-9310
Website: https://clefchicago.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Walther Christian Academy ($259K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 32 grants of 92 (35%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CLEF says it supports 20 Christian schools in diverse neighborhoods across Chicagoland, with a focus on schools serving Chicago residents. Its website says supported schools serve students from every Chicago neighborhood.
Is Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 17 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2025) to $2.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Misc Schools-Paid Indirectly | — | $502,147 |
| Walther Christian Academy | — | $258,742 |
| St Paul Lutheran SCHOOL(DORCHESTER) | — | $225,572 |
| Grace Christian Academy | — | $186,284 |
| St John Lutheran School | — | $163,100 |
| Holy Family Ministries | — | $132,691 |
| Bethesda International Academy | — | $125,607 |
| St Philip Lutheran School | — | $103,417 |
| St James Lutheran School | — | $80,306 |
| Good Shepherd Christian Academy | — | $62,649 |
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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 | $6,106,718 | $4,866,014 | $4,605,320 | $2,041,520 | 17 | $157,102 |
| 2024 | $5,797,910 | $5,026,954 | $5,022,890 | $2,363,047 | 18 | $150,522 |
| 2023 | $5,428,366 | $4,708,065 | $4,768,620 | $2,381,531 | 19 | $53,884 |
| 2022 | $5,278,143 | $4,186,376 | $4,403,247 | $2,145,757 | 19 | $49,021 |
| 2021 | $5,762,621 | $5,074,453 | $4,642,791 | $2,337,554 | 19 | $119,294 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CLEF’s mission is to empower urban Lutheran schools to deliver innovative, quality education in a Christian environment. It supports Lutheran schools of all denominations, from preschool through high school, and says students do not need to be Lutheran to attend.
Funding and services include student scholarships, curriculum and technology, health and wellness, special education, building security and improvements, marketing, professional development, and leadership training for principals. CLEF’s 2023 filing also describes grants for school facilities, teacher salary support, and teacher professional development, as well as educational consulting. It says its Lutheran Urban Kingdom Expansion initiative works to revitalize existing Chicago-area church congregations and create new missional ministries.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CLEF reported 17 grants totaling $2,041,520. Grant amounts ranged from $12,000 to $502,147, with a median of $80,306. The largest reported grants included:
CLEF says its Grants Committee evaluates school needs and designates how funds are used. The organization also says it monitors grant use and requires documentation of applicable expenses. Its website does not describe an application process for school grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include Janet Klotz (Executive Di), Jeffrey L. Blackman (Director), Jay Christopher (Chairman), Carl Hibben (Treasurer), Eunice Mattes (Director), Terry E. Pfortmiller (Vice Preside), Ann Rundio (Director), Marilyn Schawk (Director), Richard Schubkegel (Director), and Paul D. Soderholm (Secretary).
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation is led by Michael Welch, President on every filing since 2021; 1 of 12 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Welch
President
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jay Christopher
Chairman
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann Rundio
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eunice Mattes
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey L. Blackman
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marilyn Schawk
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Schubkegel
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Wild
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Klotz
Executive Di
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$178K (2021) → $252K (2025)
Paul D. Soderholm
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry E. Pfortmiller
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carl Hibben
Treasurer
Treasurer El → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Al Steinhaus (2021–2023) — Director Emeritus
- Former: Kevin Preloger (2021–2023) — Past Treasurer
- Former: Richard Vie (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Brenna Woodley (2021) — Director
- Former: Monica Wetak (2021) — Finance Mana
- Former: Roland Filippi (2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $252K, to Janet Klotz (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation
How much does Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation give each year?
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation gave $2.0M across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 18 grants.
What is Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $80,306, and its average grant was $120,089, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's largest grantees?
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Walther Christian Academy ($258,742), St Paul Lutheran SCHOOL(DORCHESTER) ($225,572) and Grace Christian Academy ($186,284), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation?
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.9M.
What does Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation fund?
CLEF’s mission is to empower urban Lutheran schools to deliver innovative, quality education in a Christian environment. It supports Lutheran schools of all denominations, from preschool through high school, and says students do not need to be Lutheran to attend. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation?
CLEF describes funding its network schools and says its Grants Committee evaluates their needs; the website does not specify how schools apply for grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation make grants?
CLEF says it supports 20 Christian schools in diverse neighborhoods across Chicagoland, with a focus on schools serving Chicago residents. Its website says supported schools serve students from every Chicago neighborhood.
What is Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's EIN?
Chicagoland Lutheran Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3922804. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 26, 2026)
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