Edward S Sprague Foundation
Edward S Sprague Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 11 grants totaling $99K. Net investment income was $60K.
Key facts about Edward S Sprague Foundation
In short: Edward S Sprague Foundation gave $99K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $9K), mostly in Illinois. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-6070124
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $99,242
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- Average grant
- $9,022
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,410,924
- Primary geography
- Illinois (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-2.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$99K
+456.1% YoY
Grant Count
11
+120.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+152.8% YoY
Is Edward S Sprague Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2022) to $141K (2021). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $99K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts ($13K). Together the top 10 received $98K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 57 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts Chicago, IL | Education | $13,042 |
| Bounce Children's Foundation Deerfield, IL | Services for Sick Children | $10,000 |
| Foundation for the National Institutes of Health North Bethesda, MD | Public Health | $10,000 |
| Sierra Club Chicago, IL | Environmental | $10,000 |
| Midtown Educational Foundation Chicago, IL | Education | $10,000 |
| Bernies Book Bank Lake Bluff, IL | Literacy | $10,000 |
| Deborah's Place Chicago, IL | Homeless Shelter | $10,000 |
| World Wildlife Fund Washington, DC | Environmental | $10,000 |
| Association House Chicago, IL | Services for the Poor | $10,000 |
| Nourshing Hope Chicago, IL | Food Pantry | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,410,924 | $1,445,244 | $1,441,804 |
| Revenue | $59,516 | $48,551 | $38,807 |
| Expenses | $134,573 | $45,111 | $164,888 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $99,242 | $17,846 | $140,481 |
| Net Investment Income | $59,516 | $48,551 | $38,807 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Edward S Sprague Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jack O'Brien
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennie Sprague O'Brien
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Edward S Sprague Foundation
How much does Edward S Sprague Foundation give each year?
Edward S Sprague Foundation gave $99K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18K across 5 grants.
What is Edward S Sprague Foundation's typical grant size?
Edward S Sprague Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $9,022, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edward S Sprague Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Edward S Sprague Foundation give grants?
Edward S Sprague Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (10%) and District of Columbia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does Edward S Sprague Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Edward S Sprague Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (3 grants).
Who are Edward S Sprague Foundation's largest grantees?
Edward S Sprague Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts ($13,042), Bounce Children's Foundation ($10,000) and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Edward S Sprague Foundation?
Edward S Sprague Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $60K.
What is Edward S Sprague Foundation's EIN?
Edward S Sprague Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6070124. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Edward S Sprague Foundation by hand.
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