First Look for Charity Foundation
First Look for Charity Foundation is a public charity based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Formed in 2004, it sponsors and manages the First Look for Charity event held before the annual Chicago Auto Show and distributes event proceeds to charitable organizations in the Chicago area.
First Look for Charity Foundation at a glance
In short: First Look for Charity Foundation gave $2.2M across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $121K), mostly in Illinois. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,170,989
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $120,611
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $105,469
- Total assets
- $25,981
- -72.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (2 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to First Look for Charity Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 18W200 Butterfield Rd, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181-4810
Phone: (630) 495-2282
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Look for Charity Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Misericordia ($443K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 34 grants of 73 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. In filing year 2025, 98% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 2% went to recipients in Oklahoma.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
Is First Look for Charity Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 18 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $130K. How we count
Medians: $42K first-time, $108K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2022) to $2.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Misericordia Chicago, IL | General Support | $443,286 |
| Franciscan Community Benefit Services Lemont, IL | General Support | $171,461 |
| Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | General Support | $162,220 |
| Habitat for Humanity Chicago, IL | General Support | $155,925 |
| Sertoma Star Services Chicago Heights, IL | General Support | $137,234 |
| Advocate Health Care Downers Grove, IL | General Support | $115,998 |
| Turning Pointe Autism Foundation Naperville, IL | General Support | $115,333 |
| 100 Club of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $109,084 |
| Special Olympics Illinois Lombard, IL | General Support | $107,230 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Support | $103,708 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,981 | $2,175,489 | $2,175,489 | $2,170,989 | 18 | $10 |
| 2024 | $94,133 | $2,400,458 | $2,400,458 | $2,395,011 | 18 | $12 |
| 2023 | $25,202 | $2,365,593 | $2,365,593 | $2,361,093 | 19 | $11 |
| 2022 | $20,984 | $1,505,886 | $1,505,886 | $1,504,637 | 18 | $7 |
| 2021 | $17,065 | $9,097 | $9,097 | — | — | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it is organized for charitable, cultural, and educational purposes and distributes funds raised through its event to charitable organizations in the Chicago area. Its 2025 grants were reported as general support.
The organizations it supported include grantees working in areas such as disability services, health care, housing, first-responder support, and youth development. For example, Misericordia Home describes its mission as supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, training, and employment services. Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity says it raises funds for low-cost housing and distributes them to Habitat for Humanity affiliates to aid home construction. The 100 Club of Illinois describes its work as providing resources and support to first responders and their families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $2,170,989. Grant amounts ranged from $18,325 to $443,286, with a median grant of $105,469. The largest reported grants included:
The foundation’s filing describes its grantmaking as distributing proceeds from the First Look for Charity event to charities in the Chicagoland area.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jason Roberts as chairman, Ryan Kelly as vice chairman, and Steve Phillipos as secretary/treasurer. It lists John C. Phelan III, Dan Marquardt, Richard Wickstrom, Fred Marks, Kelly Webb Roberts, John Crane, and Dan Heller as directors.
First Look for Charity Foundation is led by Jennifer Morand, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 14 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jennifer Morand
President
Co-President → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Roberts
Chairman
Secretary → Vice Chairman, 2024
Vice Chairman → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Heller
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dan Marquardt
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Marks
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John C. Phelan III
Director
Vice Chairman → Show Chairman, 2024
Show Chairman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Crane
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Webb Roberts
Director
Treasurer → Chairwoman, 2024
Chairwoman → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emir Abinion
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Haggerty
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Wickstrom
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Konecki
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Kelly
Vice Chairman
Director → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Vice Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Phillipos
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: David Sloan (2021–2024) — Co-President
- Former: Kevin Keefe (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Bill Haggerty (2021–2023) — Show Chairman
- Former: Scott Muller (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jay Hopkins (2021) — Treasurer
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 First Look for Charity Foundation
How much does First Look for Charity Foundation give each year?
First Look for Charity Foundation gave $2.2M across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 18 grants.
What is First Look for Charity Foundation's typical grant size?
First Look for Charity Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $105,469, and its average grant was $120,611, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from First Look for Charity Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does First Look for Charity Foundation give grants?
First Look for Charity Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (9 grants).
Does First Look for Charity Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of First Look for Charity Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (18 of 18) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are First Look for Charity Foundation's largest grantees?
First Look for Charity Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Misericordia ($443,286), Franciscan Community Benefit Services ($171,461) and Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation ($162,220), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Look for Charity Foundation?
First Look for Charity Foundation reported $26K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.2M.
What does First Look for Charity Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it is organized for charitable, cultural, and educational purposes and distributes funds raised through its event to charitable organizations in the Chicago area. Its 2025 grants were reported as general support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Look for Charity Foundation?
First Look for Charity Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is First Look for Charity Foundation's EIN?
First Look for Charity Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0092209. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 25, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Look for Charity Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Look for Charity Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-look-for-charity-foundation-morg_2ca233ab0f224b13b2240d17dcf66bf2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_260092209_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Look for Charity Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-look-for-charity-foundation-morg_2ca233ab0f224b13b2240d17dcf66bf2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 First Look for Charity Foundation'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.
First Look for Charity Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?