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
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.
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
Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest include Art Institute of Chicago ($100,000), Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($100,000), Lyric Opera of Chicago ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CHICAGO, IL | DISCRETIONARY GRANT | $5,000 |
| AMELIA ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL FERNANDINA BEACH, FL | MATCHING SPRING 2023 FESTIVAL | $5,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | TEXTILE DEPARTMENT - PENULTIMATE GRANT | $40,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | TEXTILE DEPARTMENT | $100,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | MATCHING BLACK DOG FUND $10K, $10K | $20,000 |
| AUDITORIUM THEATRE CHICAGO, IL | EIFMANN CHANGED TO BALLET HISPANICO | $15,000 |
| BACH WEEK EVANSTON, IL | DISCRETIONARY IN HONOR OF MARY MUMBRUE | $3,000 |
| BELLA VOCE EVANSTON, IL | I HEARD A VOICE | $1,000 |
| CEDILLE CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | MATCHING GRANT | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO CHORALE CHICAGO, IL | 2022-23 SEASON | $5,000 |
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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation fund?
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.
How do I apply for a grant from Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation?
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.
Where does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation make 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.
What size grants does Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation award?
In 2022, Elizabeth F Cheney Foundation awarded 84 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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