Friends of Payton Association
The Friends of Payton Association is an all-volunteer organization of parents and guardians who work together to preserve and enrich the student experience at walter payton college preparatory high school. The association volunteers at school events, hosts get-togethers, and raises money for essential expenses not covered by chicago public schools funding.
Friends of Payton Association at a glance
In short: Friends of Payton Association gave $1.2M across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $1.2M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,177,370
- +694.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,177,370
- +694.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,177,370
- Total assets
- $1,819,477
- -22.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Friends of Payton Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
6 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 6 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Friends of Payton Association gives
- Giving grew 99% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $13K (2021) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,177,370 |
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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 | $1,819,477 | $884,987 | $1,409,602 | $1,177,370 | 1 | $58,370 |
| 2024 | $2,341,312 | $786,112 | $293,025 | $148,200 | 1 | $5,511 |
| 2023 | $1,849,888 | $850,571 | $422,220 | $267,589 | 1 | $1,628 |
| 2022 | $1,430,990 | $787,498 | $749,769 | $590,893 | 1 | $472 |
| 2021 | $1,393,990 | $670,650 | $67,424 | $12,865 | 2 | $561 |
About Friends of Payton Association
Based on IRS filings
Friends of Payton Association is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.8M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.2M. Net investment income was $58K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Friends of Payton Association is led by Beth Bentley, President since 2025 (on filings since 2024); none of the 14 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Beth Bentley
President
Co-Chair → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Stratton
Director
Spring Bash Co-Chair → Co-Chair, 2024
Co-Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cara Verigan
Director
Co-Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Courtney Peters
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Danielle Cherian
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Gillman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Souter
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Truong
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pam Kallos
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cira Conley
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Chan
Vice President
Secretary → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Macek
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denisa Warden
Assistant Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greta Suss
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Chris Cote (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Chris McGowan (2021–2024) — President
- Former: Heather Bennett (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Ellen Zickmann (2022–2024) — President
- Former: Eric Lara (2023–2024) — Co-Director
- Former: Lara Field (2023–2024) — Co-Chair
- Former: Lori Leib (2023–2024) — Member
- Former: Ruben Lara (2023–2024) — Co-Director
- Former: Ramya Vijay (2024) — Director
- Former: Riddhi Jani (2024) — Director
- Former: Shikha Joshi (2024) — Director
- Former: Kim Froning (2021–2023) — Assistant Director of Committee
- Former: Ning Du (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Eric Mest (2021–2022) — Annual Appeal Co-Chair
- Former: Jennifer Jankowski (2021–2022) — Assistant Director of Communications
- Former: Laura Symons (2021–2022) — Co-Director of Volunteerin
- Former: Lillian Hsu (2021–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Mark Verschuur (2021–2022) — Annual Appeal Co-Chair
- Former: Stephanie Woo (2021–2022) — Co-Director of Volunteerin
- Former: Michele Legacy-Gugino (2022) — Chair - Gala Committee
- Former: Amie Gruszka (2021) — Gala Co-Chair
- Former: Felicia Winiecki (2021) — Vice President
- Former: Kim Strauss (2021) — Gala Co-Chair
- Former: Robert Conforti (2021) — Assistant 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 Friends of Payton Association
How much does Friends of Payton Association give each year?
Friends of Payton Association gave $1.2M across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $148K across 1 grant.
How large is Friends of Payton Association?
Friends of Payton Association reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $885K.
What is Friends of Payton Association?
Friends of Payton Association is a public charity focused on Education, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $1.8M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Friends of Payton Association operate?
Friends of Payton Association has awarded grants in Illinois.
What is Friends of Payton Association's EIN?
Friends of Payton Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4409659. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 11, 2025)
Live grants for the work Friends of Payton Association funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Payton Association's focus areas in our free grants database
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Friends of Payton Association down — hundreds of funders to go?