Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations across multiple states, including support for environmental, cultural, civil-liberties, and human-services organizations.
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne at a glance
In short: Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne gave $6.7M across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $142K), top state Illinois. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,664,500
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $141,798
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $85,000
- Total assets
- $164,363,063
- +34.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (5 of 46, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (15% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 225 W Wacker Drive 2150, Chicago, IL 60606-1224
Phone: (312) 621-0590
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Field Museum of Natural History ($500K). Together the top 10 received $3.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
126 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 37 grants of 126 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois (15%), Massachusetts (14%), New York (13%), Washington, DC (13%), and Pennsylvania (12%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 46 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $305K; repeat grants $125K. How we count
Medians: $400K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 70% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.1M (2023) to $8.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $6.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, IL | Project Support | $500,000 |
| Land Trust Alliance Incorporated Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $500,000 |
| Snowchange Cooperative (Lumimuutos Osuuskunta) | Project Support | $500,000 |
| American Cancer Society Atlanta, GA | Research | $400,000 |
| Fidelity Charitable (DAF) Boston, MA | For Further Granting | $400,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | Project Support | $400,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $350,000 |
| Western Resource Advocates Boulder, CO | General Operating Support | $350,000 |
| Environmental Law & Policy Center of the Midwest Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Inc Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $164,363,063 | $50,853,926 | $8,370,340 | $6,664,500 | 47 | $9,868,402 | $49,559,484 | $9,282,260 |
| 2023 | $122,591,768 | $17,217,145 | $9,046,059 | $6,142,000 | 47 | $6,306,106 | $16,283,677 | $10,397,229 |
| 2022 | $112,754,909 | $5,178,669 | $9,358,832 | $8,909,200 | 32 | $8,960,674 | $4,841,910 | $4,011,916 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne reported a distributable amount of $9.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including environmental conservation, arts and culture, cancer research, civil liberties, housing, and human services.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. The Field Museum says it connects collections, research, and public learning to promote understanding of the natural world and cultures. The American Cancer Society says it works through advocacy, research, and patient support to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families. Environmental grantees include Western Resource Advocates, which describes its work as advancing clean energy and protecting air, land, water, and wildlife, and the Southern Environmental Law Center, which says it works to protect clean air, clean water, a livable climate, and the region’s natural resources. Women’s Lunch Place describes services for women experiencing hunger, homelessness, and poverty; Urban Peak describes support for youth experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $6,664,500. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $500,000, with a median of $85,000. The largest grants included $500,000 each to the Field Museum of Natural History for project support and Land Trust Alliance Incorporated for general operating support; $500,000 to Snowchange Cooperative for project support; and $400,000 each to the American Cancer Society for research, Fidelity Charitable for further granting, and the Natural Resources Defense Council for project support.
Other notable 2024 grants included $350,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation for general operating support and $350,000 to Western Resource Advocates for general operating support. The foundation also gave $300,000 to the Environmental Law & Policy Center of the Midwest for general operating support, $200,000 each to Conservation Law Foundation and the Southern Environmental Law Center for general operating support, and $180,000 to The Conservation Fund for project support. It reported a $150,000 grant to Women’s Lunch Place and a $150,000 grant to Urban Peak Denver.
The 2024 filing also describes loans to Opportunity Communities Housing Accelerator Fund LLC, RCI Village Properties, and Mercy Housing Mountain Plains for their charitable purposes, as well as program-related investments including a recoverable grant to The Conservation Fund for Fones Cliff, Virginia, and a PRI for Opportunity Communities Housing Accelerator Fund LLC.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Lauren MacDonald as president, executive director, and secretary; Michael McQuinn as treasurer; and L Scott, A Greene, T Scott, and M Cumings as vice presidents and directors.
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne is led by Lauren Macdonald, President, Executive Director & Secretary on every filing since 2021; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lauren Macdonald
President, Executive Director & Secretary
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
L. Scott
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$16K (2023) → $19K (2024)
M. Cumings
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2023) → $10K (2024)
T. Scott
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$16K (2023) → $18K (2024)
A. Greene
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$21K (2023) → $14K (2024)
Michael McQuinn
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: A. Green (2021–2022) — Vice President & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $19K, to L Scott (Vice President/Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne
How much does Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne give each year?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne gave $6.7M across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.1M across 47 grants.
What is Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's typical grant size?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's median grant in 2024 was $85,000, and its average grant was $141,798, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne that year got $305K on average.
Where does Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne give grants?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's top state is Illinois, with 15% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (14%) and New York (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Allentown, PA (9 grants), Chicago, IL (5 grants), Boston, MA (5 grants) and New York, NY (4 grants).
Does Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne give general operating support?
Yes: 81% of Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (38 of 47) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project Support" (7 grants).
Who are Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's largest grantees?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's largest 2024 grantees include Field Museum of Natural History ($500,000), Land Trust Alliance Incorporated ($500,000) and Snowchange Cooperative (Lumimuutos Osuuskunta) ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne reported $164.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in areas including environmental conservation, arts and culture, cancer research, civil liberties, housing, and human services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's EIN?
Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1526433. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/frank-e-payne-and-seba-b-payne-morg_36824c36ed2a46ba815bea710e9d50f4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_871526433_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/frank-e-payne-and-seba-b-payne-morg_36824c36ed2a46ba815bea710e9d50f4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Frank E Payne and Seba B Payne'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.
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