Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation
The Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation was a private foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. Its 2022 filing reports grants to cultural organizations including museums, music and opera organizations, a ballet company, and a theater.
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation at a glance
In short: Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation gave $1.1M across 89 grants in 2022 (avg $12K), mostly in Illinois. 21% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $1,095,886
- Grants made (2022)
- 89
- Average grant
- $12,313
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (12 of 57, 2022)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (93% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. Covers 13 months (fiscal year-end changed). New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; its filing states that no applications are accepted because the foundation has terminated. Application materials and award restrictions are listed as not applicable.
- Review Cycle
- Not applicable.
- Deadline
- Not applicable.
- Contact
Application contact: Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation
Mailing address: 1372 Sunview Lane, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: (312) 782-1234
Website: https://www.cheneyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Lyric Opera of Chicago ($175K across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $780K.
Grant Size Distribution
413 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 402 grants of 413 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The remaining shares were New York (5%), Michigan (1%), Florida (1%), and California (0%). Listed Illinois recipients include organizations in Chicago and Evanston.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 89 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 12 of 57 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 72% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2022). 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 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $547K (2021) to $1.4M (2020). In 2022 it made 89 grants totaling $1.1M.
*2022: Covers 13 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
*2022: Covers 13 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Textile Department | $100,000 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago, IL | Civic Support 2021-22 | $100,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | $40K Julia Faulkner and $60K Davis Sponsor | $100,000 |
| Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL | Textile Department - Penultimate Grant | $40,000 |
| CSO Civic Chicago, IL | Penultimate Grant - Civic Sponsorship | $40,000 |
| Grant Park Music Festival Chicago, IL | Summer 2022 - Four Concerts | $40,000 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago Chicago, IL | Julia Faulkner Position | $40,000 |
| Nu School of Music Evanston, IL | Penultimate Grant | $40,000 |
| WFMT Chicago, IL | Impromptu and Live from WFMT | $40,000 |
| Joffrey Ballet Chicago, IL | Of Mice and Men Premiere | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022* | — | $2,853 | $1,498,788 | $1,095,886 | 89 | $1,380,273 | $1 | $47,196 |
| 2021 | $1,714,837 | $8,619 | $720,217 | $547,100 | 87 | — | — | $109,268 |
| 2020 | $2,926,592 | $580,767 | $1,574,038 | $1,372,521 | 112 | — | $486,046 | $167,230 |
| 2019 | $3,841,781 | $660,396 | $1,375,774 | $908,242 | 125 | — | $546,943 | $7,294 |
*2022: Covers 13 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K for 2022 — 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 2022 grants show support for arts and cultural organizations. For example, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. Lyric Opera of Chicago says it provides cultural service to the Chicago region and nation and advances opera. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
Among the largest grants were $100,000 each to the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Other substantial awards included $40,000 each to Grant Park Music Festival, Northwestern University’s School of Music, WFMT, and several other arts organizations.
The filing also names organizations designated to receive remaining assets: Window to the World/WFMT, Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Orchestra, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Lawrence L Belles as board chair; Allan R Drebin as president and treasurer; Howard M McCue III as vice chair and secretary; and Elisabeth Geraghty as managing director.
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation is led by Allan R. Drebin, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Allan R. Drebin
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$26K (2019) → $0 (2022)
Lawrence L. Belles
Board Chair
Board Chair & President → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $0 (2022)
Elisabeth Geraghty
Managing Director
On filings since 2019
29 hrs/week
$79K (2019) → $0 (2022)
Howard M. McCue III
Vice Chair & Secretary
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$20K (2019) → $0 (2022)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $85K, to Elisabeth Geraghty (Managing Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation
How much does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation give each year?
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation gave $1.1M across 89 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. The 2022 filing year covers 13 months because its fiscal year-end changed. In 2021 it gave $547K across 87 grants.
What is Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's typical grant size?
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,313, across 89 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation give grants?
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (57 grants), Evanston, IL (14 grants), Fairport, NY (2 grants) and Rochester, NY (2 grants).
Does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 89 grants with a stated purpose on Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Discretionary Grant" (21 grants) and "Matching Grant" (4 grants).
Who are Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's largest grantees?
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Lyric Opera of Chicago ($174,577 across 6 grants), Art Institute of Chicago ($162,077 across 4 grants) and Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($135,027 across 5 grants), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2022 grants show support for arts and cultural organizations. For example, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; its filing states that no applications are accepted because the foundation has terminated. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation reported a distributable amount of $47K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's EIN?
Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3375377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2022.
Does Elizabeth F Cheney 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2022
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