Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation
The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Winnetka, Illinois. Established in 1985 by Elizabeth F. Cheney shortly before her death that same year, the foundation was created to support artistic, cultural, and educational organizations. Miss Cheney was a lifelong resident of the Chicago area and maintained a strong commitment to these causes throughout her lifetime.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$211K
-87.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+98.4% YoY
Grant Count
84
-3.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+105.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's principal focus is to support the arts and cultural organizations. Organizations supported include musical performance organizations, theater and dance companies, historical societies, and museums. The overall grantmaking focus emphasizes artistic achievement in presentation or performance rather than education enrichment or outreach.
Grantmaking
The foundation's typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $100,000. According to the most recent available data, the foundation reported total giving of $10,386 in 2022. The foundation has been open to new applicants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its funding efforts in Illinois, with specific focus on Chicago and Evanston. It also has supported organizations in New York and Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of the most recent filings, the foundation reported total assets of $0 and total giving of $10,386. The foundation filed a final return in 2022.
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $211,378 | $1,714,837 | $2,926,592 |
| Revenue | $2,582 | $8,619 | $580,767 |
| Expenses | $1,486,027 | $720,217 | $1,574,038 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,367,782 | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | $486,046 |
| Distributable Amount | $47,103 | $109,268 | $167,230 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2022 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE L BELLES | BOARD CHAIR | 4 | $15,925 |
| ALLAN R DREBIN | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | 4 | $15,925 |
| HOWARD M MCCUE III | VICE CHAIR AND SECRETARY | 4 | $15,925 |
| ELISABETH GERAGHTY | MANAGING DIRECTOR | 29 | $90,589 |
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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