Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc
The Foundation for Civic Leadership is a nonprofit dedicated to engaging the next generation in democracy. We work with partners to identify gaps in the field, incubate new scalable projects to help fill them, and support those projects in becoming independent and sustainable.
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc at a glance
In short: Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc gave $155K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,000
- -53.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $51,667
- +85.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $45,000
- Total assets
- $5,356,369
- +6.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Civic Nation ($100K). Together the top 3 received $155K.
Grant Size Distribution
32 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 32 (53%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−15%). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2023) to $1.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $155K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Civic Nation Carol Stream, IL | Civic Engagement Activities | $100,000 |
| Democracy House Inc Cambridge, MA | Assistance with Set up | $45,000 |
| American Associates of Colleges & Universities Washington, DC | Civic Engagement Activities | $10,000 |
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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 | $5,356,369 | $4,406,626 | $2,308,186 | $155,000 | 3 | $10,003 |
| 2024 | $5,029,808 | $2,560,697 | $2,506,295 | $334,789 | 12 | $778 |
| 2023 | $4,069,184 | $2,358,744 | $3,032,091 | $30,000 | 1 | $808 |
| 2022 | $4,389,700 | $754,095 | $1,959,079 | $183,000 | 4 | $314 |
| 2020 | $2,419,879 | $3,718,020 | $3,640,172 | $1,520,083 | 12 | — |
| 2019 | $2,006,465 | $3,096,626 | $3,037,049 | $1,053,862 | 10 | $149 |
About Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc
Based on IRS filings
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $155K. Net investment income was $10K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc is led by Ian Simmons, President on every filing since 2019; 4 of 12 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ian Simmons
President
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Tyler
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sue Heilman
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Green
National Director of Advancement
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2025)
Jason Franklin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Tai
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amber French
Employee of Democracy House
New on the 2025 filing
45 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Sara Polen
Employee of Democracy House
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Zaneeta Daver
Employee of Deocracy House
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2025)
Aaron Bartley
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Tanaka
Clerk
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William Strong
Clerk
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $130K, to Sara Polen (Employee of Democracy House). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc
How much does Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc give each year?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc gave $155K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $335K across 12 grants.
What is Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's typical grant size?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's median grant in 2025 was $45,000, and its average grant was $51,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc give grants?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc gives mostly in Illinois: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (29%) and District of Columbia (6%).
Does Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.4M.
What is Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Cambridge, MA. It holds $5.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's EIN?
Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0020584. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 6, 2024)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Civic Leadership Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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