Crossword Cafe
Provide a safe place for teens to hang out, play games and music, obtain free tutoring, free music lessons, and learn about the love of God for them through Christ Jesus.
Crossword Cafe at a glance
In short: Crossword Cafe gave $198K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $198K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $197,737
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $197,737
- +203.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $197,737
- Total assets
- $792,382
- +43.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Crossword Cafe
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Crossword Cafe
Who Crossword Cafe funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Small World Connections Ministry ($198K).
Grant Size Distribution
10 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 10 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Crossword Cafe gives
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $83K (2020) to $198K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $198K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Small World Connections Ministry Chillicothe, IL | Help Missionaries | $197,737 |
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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 | $792,382 | $1,564,725 | $1,456,408 | $197,737 | 1 | $133 |
| 2024 | $551,321 | $1,382,695 | $1,293,249 | $195,504 | 3 | $372 |
| 2023 | $640,725 | $1,299,422 | $1,208,980 | $175,220 | 2 | $366 |
| 2022 | $566,479 | $1,091,685 | $1,023,876 | $154,323 | 1 | $272 |
| 2021 | $476,580 | $824,655 | $768,370 | $143,751 | 3 | $184 |
| 2020 | $434,645 | $637,179 | $556,410 | $82,656 | 1 | $304 |
About Crossword Cafe
Based on IRS filings
Crossword Cafe is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Chillicothe, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $792K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $198K. Net investment income was $133.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Crossword Cafe is led by Eric Riggans, President since 2025 (on filings since 2022); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eric Riggans
President
Trustee → President, 2025
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Krost
Vise President
Trustee → Vise President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Thanepohn
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Repke
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Casey
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Heffron
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$1K (2025)
Lonnie Veldhouse
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: John Heffron (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Josh Wier (2022–2024) — President
- Former: Matt Ashcraft (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Carl Baker-Christophel (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Todd Ransom (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Carol Denzer (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Josh Weir (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $1K, to Chris Heffron (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about Crossword Cafe
How much does Crossword Cafe give each year?
Crossword Cafe gave $198K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $196K across 3 grants.
How large is Crossword Cafe?
Crossword Cafe reported $792K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Crossword Cafe?
Crossword Cafe is a public charity focused on Human Services, based in Chillicothe, IL. It holds $792K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Crossword Cafe operate?
Crossword Cafe has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Crossword Cafe's EIN?
Crossword Cafe's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0088438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 17, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 29, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 25, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Crossword Cafe's focus areas in our free grants database
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