Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation
The Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. In its 2025 filing, it reported 17 grants totaling $296,880, and stated that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation at a glance
In short: Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation gave $297K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Illinois. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $296,880
- +46.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- +6.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $17,464
- +37.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,632,513
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its filing lists Susan J Schwartz as the contact.
- Contact
Application contact: Susan J Schwartz
Mailing address: 865 Country Club Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 835-3558
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ravinia Festival ($263K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $296K.
Grant Size Distribution
115 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 111 grants of 115 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 8% to recipients in Minnesota. The filing reports 1% for Virginia and 0% each for California and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $583; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $875 repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 795% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2022) to $297K (2025). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $297K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL | Charity | $258,182 |
| Macalester College Saint Paul, MN | Charity | $25,000 |
| Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL | Charity | $5,000 |
| Partners to Progress Wauconda, IL | Charity | $2,500 |
| National Right to Work Foundation Springfield, VA | Charity | $2,000 |
| Heritage Foundation Chicago, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| The Cradle Evanston, IL | Charity | $1,000 |
| Leadership Institute Arlington, VA | Charitable | $750 |
| Latham Cares Costa Mesa, CA | Charity | $500 |
| Food Bank for Larimer County Loveland, CO | Charity | $250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,632,513 | $104,227 | $314,025 | $296,880 | 17 | $296,880 | $89,131 | $213,893 |
| 2024 | $1,587,547 | $145,246 | $208,532 | $202,933 | 16 | $202,933 | $139,647 | $203,231 |
| 2023 | $1,493,928 | $85,068 | $150,037 | $142,353 | 22 | $142,368 | $77,414 | $191,228 |
| 2022 | $1,519,197 | $178,895 | $33,792 | $33,161 | 21 | $33,176 | $178,279 | $180,359 |
| 2021 | $1,374,094 | $60,529 | $145,073 | $140,375 | 39 | $140,375 | $55,831 | $194,493 |
| 2020 | $1,458,656 | $127,799 | $137,325 | $129,065 | 28 | — | $59,954 | $140,092 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $214K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Macalester College describes its work as liberal arts education emphasizing scholarship, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. The Chicago Furniture Bank says it provides furnishings to Chicagoans moving into supportive housing. Habitat for Humanity–North Central Georgia describes its work as partnering with community sponsors and volunteers to build homes with low-income families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $296,880 through 17 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $60 to $258,182, with a median grant of $500. Notable grants included $258,182 to Ravinia Festival, $25,000 to Macalester College, and $5,000 to Ravinia Festival. Other 2025 grants included $2,500 to Partners to Progress, $2,000 to National Right to Work Foundation, and $1,000 each to Heritage Foundation and The Cradle.
Additional 2025 grantees included Leadership Institute ($750), Habitat for Humanity ($113), Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation ($100), Chicago Furniture Bank ($100), and White House Historical Association ($75).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald L Schwartz and Susan J Schwartz as trustees.
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Donald L. Schwartz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan J. Schwartz
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation
How much does Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation give each year?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation gave $297K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $203K across 16 grants.
What is Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's typical grant size?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $17,464, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation that year got $583 on average.
Where does Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation give grants?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants), Highland Park, IL (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charity" (15 grants).
Who are Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's largest grantees?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Ravinia Festival ($263,182 across 2 grants), Macalester College ($25,000) and Partners to Progress ($2,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $297K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $214K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grantees include organizations with varied missions. Macalester College describes its work as liberal arts education emphasizing scholarship, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's EIN?
Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-3686414. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Donald L & Susan J Schwartz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/donald-l-and-susan-j-schwartz-foundation-morg_76318ac417e744d48c2ace9f7468b08c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_203686414_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Donald L \& Susan J Schwartz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/donald-l-and-susan-j-schwartz-foundation-morg_76318ac417e744d48c2ace9f7468b08c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Donald L & Susan J Schwartz 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.
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