Faith in Place
Faith in Place is a Chicago, Illinois-based public charity that works with faith communities and other people motivated by spirituality or justice to advance environmental justice through connection, education, and advocacy. Its stated work spans sustainable energy, healthy communities, and people-powered futures, with partners across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
Faith in Place at a glance
In short: Faith in Place gave $1.1M across 47 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,059,151
- +245.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 47
- +370.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,535
- -26.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $26,175
- Total assets
- $5,612,737
- +21.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Faith in Place
- How to Apply
-
The described grant applications use Faith in Place’s online grant portal. For the Native Garden & Tree Grant, applicants were asked to have a W-9 and 501(c)(3) designation letter ready. The Tree Canopy & Workforce Community Grant required applicants to meet geographic and other eligibility requirements; its 2026 application period is closed.
- Review Cycle
- The Native Garden & Tree Grant deadline was April 30, 2026. The Tree Canopy & Workforce Community Grant deadline was May 14, 2026; that application period is closed.
- Deadline
- The Native Garden & Tree Grant deadline was April 30, 2026.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5416 S Cornell Avenue 4Th Floor, Chicago, IL 60615
Phone: (312) 733-4640
Website: https://faithinplace.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from Faith in Place
Chicago Region Food System Fund - Emergency Food Relief Grant
Faith in Place
Amount
$100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Community Incubator Kitchen Project
Faith in Place
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
WI - Empowering Faith Communities
Faith in Place
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Faith in Place funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Faith in Place Action Fund ($60K). Together the top 10 received $352K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 104 grants of 113 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Faith in Place says it partners with communities of faith across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. In 2025, 56% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 26% to Indiana, 15% to Wisconsin, and 3% to California. Its Tree Canopy & Workforce Community Grant was limited to projects in Illinois, Indiana, or Wisconsin; the Native Garden & Tree Grant was for eligible communities in Lake County, Illinois, and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
Cities
How Faith in Place gives
- Giving grew 213% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $115K (2020) to $1.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 47 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Faith in Place Action Fund Chicago, IL | General Operations | $60,000 |
| Cub Consumer Education & Research Fund Chicago, IL | Clean Heat Subaward | $40,000 |
| A Just Harvest Chicago, IL | Clean Heat Campaign | $36,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Oakland, CA | Clean Heat | $36,000 |
| Englewood Christian Church Indianapolis, IN | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,999 |
| Groundwork Indy Indianapolis, IN | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,999 |
| Greater Wabash Food Council Bridgeport, IL | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,998 |
| Landmark Columbus Foundation Columbus, IN | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,998 |
| Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary Elkhart, IN | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,996 |
| Jacksonville Park Foundation Jacksonville, IL | US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient | $29,986 |
Ready to take the next step with Faith in Place?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,612,737 | $5,428,253 | $4,917,581 | $1,059,151 | 47 | $89,085 |
| 2024 | $4,623,962 | $4,107,921 | $3,575,111 | $306,812 | 10 | $108,066 |
| 2023 | $3,998,073 | $4,295,446 | $3,268,229 | $355,000 | 13 | $48,892 |
| 2022 | $2,845,582 | $2,515,319 | $2,734,845 | $338,626 | 35 | $150 |
| 2021 | $2,934,051 | $2,861,204 | $1,832,383 | $135,775 | 8 | $276 |
| 2020 | $2,054,974 | $2,457,795 | $1,753,643 | $115,000 | 10 | $2,270 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Faith in Place’s mission is to cultivate a powerful multifaith movement working for environmental justice through connection, education, and advocacy. Its 2025 filing describes three program areas: sustainable energy, healthy communities, and people-powered futures. These include work with faith partners on clean energy access, clean air and water, nourishing food, environmental policy, economic opportunities, and the transition to a green economy.
Its grants support a range of organizations, including faith communities and nonprofits. In grantee-provided descriptions, A Just Harvest says it fights poverty and hunger in Chicago through meals and community and economic development, while Wood Street Collective describes work on public urban green spaces, food access, urban canopies, and clean rivers and lakes. Groundwork Indy describes community-based environmental partnerships, and the CUB Consumer Education and Research Fund says it educates Illinois utility consumers and promotes alternative energy technologies.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Faith in Place reported 47 grants totaling $1,059,151. Grants ranged from $5,200 to $60,000, with a median of $26,175. The largest grant was $60,000 to Faith in Place Action Fund for general operations. Other notable grants included $40,000 to CUB Consumer Education & Research Fund for a clean heat subaward, $36,000 to A Just Harvest for a clean heat campaign, and $36,000 to Sierra Club Foundation for clean heat. Multiple grants of approximately $30,000 were identified as U.S. Forest Service tree subawards.
The organization’s 2025 filing says its board reviews and approves grants, recipient organizations sign agreements before funds are released, and recipients submit reports at the end of the reporting period.
Faith in Place’s website describes a Tree Canopy & Workforce Community Grant that regrants funds to nonprofits and houses of worship in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Its second round offered $466,000 for 16–20 projects, with awards up to $30,000; that application cycle closed in 2026. The website also describes Native Garden & Tree Grants of up to $1,000 for nonprofits and houses of worship in environmental justice communities in Lake County, Illinois, and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The listed application deadline of April 30, 2026, has passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rev. Brian Sauder as president and CEO. The listed officers and directors also include Rev. Eileen Shanley-Roberts, chair; Radwa Wahba, vice-chair; Rev. Reshorna Fitzpatrick, secretary; Corey Coscioni, treasurer; and directors Joe Bowling, Annette Johnson, Jerry R. ZabronSky, PhD, Rev. Dr. John E. Jackson, and Fizza Razvi.
Faith in Place is led by Brian Sauder, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 15 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Brian Sauder
President & CEO
President & Executive Director → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $157K (2025)
Eileen Shanley-Roberts
Chair
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Annette Johnson
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry R. Zabronsky PhD
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Bowling
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Fizza Razvi
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John E. Jackson
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jake Barnett
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Kranowitz
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marguerite Griffin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Utphall
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Tull
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Corey Coscioni
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Reshorna Fitzpatrick
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Radwa Wahba
Vice Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: David Johnson (2020–2024) — Director & Former Chai
- Former: Gwendolyn Webb (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Nicholas Utphall (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Charmaine Rickette (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Karen J. Lewis (2020–2023) — Director & Former Vice Chai
- Former: Sodiqa Williams (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rabbi Alan Cook (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Caroline Williams (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Avijit Ghosh (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jalees Rehman (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rabbi Michael Zedek (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lorena Lopez (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $157K, to Rev Brian Sauder (President & CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Faith in Place
How much does Faith in Place give each year?
Faith in Place gave $1.1M across 47 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $307K across 10 grants.
What is Faith in Place's typical grant size?
Faith in Place's median grant in 2025 was $26,175, and its average grant was $22,535, across 47 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Faith in Place give grants?
Faith in Place gives mostly in Illinois: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (26%) and Wisconsin (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (16 grants), Milwaukee, WI (6 grants) and Indianapolis, IN (5 grants).
Does Faith in Place give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Faith in Place's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 47) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "US Forest Service Tree Subaward Recipient" (41 grants).
Who are Faith in Place's largest grantees?
Faith in Place's largest 2025 grantees include Faith in Place Action Fund ($60,000), Cub Consumer Education & Research Fund ($40,000) and A Just Harvest ($36,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Faith in Place?
Faith in Place reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.
What does Faith in Place fund?
Faith in Place’s mission is to cultivate a powerful multifaith movement working for environmental justice through connection, education, and advocacy. Its 2025 filing describes three program areas: sustainable energy, healthy communities, and people-powered futures. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Faith in Place?
The described grant applications use Faith in Place’s online grant portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Faith in Place's EIN?
Faith in Place's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4540756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 31, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Faith in Place funds
Religion Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Faith in Place's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Faith in Place funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/faith-in-place-morg_341417abe0aa47a695379ea8b6faba84
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364540756_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Faith in Place funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/faith-in-place-morg_341417abe0aa47a695379ea8b6faba84},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Faith in Place'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.
Faith in Place down — hundreds of funders to go?