Choose Chicago Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 45-4847768

The Choose Chicago Foundation accelerates the civic, cultural, and economic growth of chicago through travel and tourism initiatives.

Choose Chicago Foundation at a glance

In short: Choose Chicago Foundation reported $16.9M in grants paid in 2024 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Grants paid (2024)
$16,937,073 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
+8487.9% vs 2023
Total assets
$782,051
-90.8% vs 2023
Revenue (2024)
$9,234,883
+14.1% vs 2023
Net investment income (2024)
$175,430
+977.7% vs 2023
Expenses (2024)
$16,964,535
+7989.2% vs 2023
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

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

Who Choose Chicago Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

22 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K6$50–100K6$100–250K5$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 6 grants of 22 (27%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Cities

ChicagoAustinWheeling

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M0 grants2020 15 grants2021 3 grants2022 4 grants2023 Total only2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $71K (2022) to $16.9M (2024). In 2024 it reported $16.9M in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.

Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Development Now for Chicago Chicago, ILGrant to defray costs of hosting 2024 democratic nationsl convention$102,221
Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative Inc Chicago, ILGrant to help beautify outdoor space for the general public$85,000
National Lewis University Wheeling, ILScholarship Funds for Student - Andrea Salazar$5,000
Depaul University Chicago, ILScholarship Funds for Student - Molly McNulty$5,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Choose Chicago Foundation?

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$782,051$9,234,883$16,964,535$16,937,073Total only$175,430
2023$8,510,181$8,093,782$209,719$197,2214$16,278
2022$625,943$7,748$141,552$71,0003—
2021$859,781$2,550,000$2,408,872$2,353,30015—
2020$668,538$75,188$32,417——$188

"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.

About Choose Chicago Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Choose Chicago Foundation is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $782K in total assets. In 2024, it reported $16.9M in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $175K.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Choose Chicago Foundation is led by Lynn Osmond, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Lynn Osmond

    President & CEO

    CEO → President & CEO, 2023

    On filings since 2022

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rich Gamble

    Interim President & CEO

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Juan Leyva

    Board Chair

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Rosilynn Stuttly

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    15 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Al Orendorff

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Hamed Hasmy

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Lacael Palmer

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Sandi Robinson

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    No compensation reported

  • W. James Meyer

    CFO

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (4)
  • Former: David Whitaker (2020–2021) — CEO
  • Former: Marc Anderson (2020–2021) — COO
  • Former: Alpana Singh (2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Glenn Eden (2020) — Chairman

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Choose Chicago Foundation

How much does Choose Chicago Foundation give each year?

Choose Chicago Foundation reported $16.9M in grants paid in 2024 on its 2024 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2023 it gave $197K across 4 grants.

How large is Choose Chicago Foundation?

Choose Chicago Foundation reported $782K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.2M.

What is Choose Chicago Foundation?

Choose Chicago Foundation is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $782K in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Choose Chicago Foundation operate?

Choose Chicago Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois, Texas.

What is Choose Chicago Foundation's EIN?

Choose Chicago Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4847768. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

Data update history

(5)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Choose Chicago Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Similar funders in Illinois

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

Elks National Foundation Inc

Chicago, IL

The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans’ services, and charitable projects through Elks Lodges and state associations across the United States. Its 2026 grants had a median size of $10,000, though awards varied widely; the profile describes application routes for specific Lodge and scholarship programs but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$954.1M

Grants

1,536

Total Given

$36.5M

John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation

Chicago, IL

The MacArthur Foundation funds work advancing a more just, verdant, and peaceful world, including climate solutions, criminal justice, journalism, technology, and Chicago. In 2024, its grants had a median of $160,000, though awards ranged widely; it generally does not accept unsolicited requests, with possible exceptions for specific open calls or proposals that meet program guidelines.

Assets

$9.3B

Grants

1,086

Total Given

$356.1M

Arie and Ida Crown Memorial

Chicago, IL

Arie and Ida Crown Memorial supports education, the environment, health and human services, gun violence prevention, homelessness prevention, and Jewish community and Israel initiatives, with a strong focus on Chicago and giving across the U.S. and internationally. In 2024, its grants ranged from $500 to $3 million, with a median of $55,000. It uses an invitation-only process and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets

$1.4B

Grants

897

Total Given

$115.2M

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Chicago, IL

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago funds human services, Jewish education and community programs, crisis response, and support for Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, primarily through Chicago-area agencies and initiatives. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $20,000, though awards ranged widely; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$1.1B

Grants

896

Total Given

$166.6M

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 Choose Chicago 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.

Choose Chicago Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?