Ft Cares Foundation
FT Cares Foundation is a public charity based in Wheaton, Illinois. It supports individuals and families with needs including healthcare, shelter, nutrition, and education, and makes grants to exempt organizations that assist them.
Ft Cares Foundation at a glance
In short: Ft Cares Foundation gave $791K across 48 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Illinois. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $791,402
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 48
- +11.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,488
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,250
- Total assets
- $126,244
- +18.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (8 of 48, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Ft Cares Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 120 East Liberty Drive Rm/Ste 400, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: (630) 765-8000
Website: https://ftcaresfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Ft Cares Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was By the Hand Club for Kids ($78K). Together the top 10 received $383K.
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 206 grants of 213 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it works locally, nationally, and globally, and that it has touched all 50 states and 26 countries. It identifies DuPage County and the Chicagoland area, as well as Austin, Texas, and Franklin, Tennessee, as communities where it supports organizations. In 2025, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 12% to Texas, 4% to Tennessee, 3% to Ohio, and 2% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Ft Cares Foundation open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 48 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $13K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $368K (2020) to $791K (2025). In 2025 it made 48 grants totaling $791K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| By the Hand Club for Kids Chicago, IL | General Operations | $77,702 |
| CASA Kane County Geneva, IL | Prog Dev/Gen'l Ops | $55,858 |
| Cal's All-Star Angel Foundation St Charles, IL | Gen Op/Indiv in Need | $38,371 |
| Ronald McDonald House CTX Austin, TX | Gen'l Ops/Prog Dev | $35,730 |
| People's Resource Center Wheaton, IL | Individuals in Need | $34,506 |
| The Outreach House Lombard, IL | Individuals in Need | $33,200 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | General Operations | $28,552 |
| Milton Township Food Pantry Wheaton, IL | Individuals in Need | $28,058 |
| Special Spaces Knoxville, TN | Indiv in Need/Gen Op | $25,680 |
| Opportunity International Chicago, IL | Gen'l Ops/Prog Dev | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Ft Cares Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Amounts below are from the foundation’s filings. Grant figures are grants made by the foundation.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $126,244 | $986,721 | $971,412 | $791,402 | 48 | — |
| 2024 | $106,373 | $872,650 | $892,806 | $735,849 | 43 | — |
| 2023 | $124,630 | $823,132 | $817,310 | $608,529 | 46 | — |
| 2022 | $196,841 | $769,350 | $730,120 | $599,810 | 45 | — |
| 2021 | $145,924 | $655,320 | $662,262 | $532,891 | 31 | $11 |
| 2020 | $149,384 | $487,083 | $505,719 | $367,669 | 28 | $76 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide monetary relief and other assistance to individuals and families with healthcare, shelter, nutrition, education, and similar needs, and to grant funds to other exempt organizations providing such assistance. Its filing says it requires annual reports and narratives on the use and results of funds for individual recipients, and monitors public-disclosure requirements for public-charity grantees.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of services. By the Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program nurturing children’s minds, bodies, and souls. CASA Kane County trains volunteers to represent abused and neglected children in court. Cal’s All-Star Angel Foundation says it grants wishes and funds research for children fighting cancer. The Outreach House focuses on community families’ needs related to food, clothing, diapers, and utility shutoffs; Northern Illinois Food Bank provides food through a network of pantries and programs; and DuPage PADS is committed to ending homelessness in DuPage County.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 48 grants totaling $791,402. Grant amounts ranged from $5,168 to $77,702, with a median of $12,250. Among its largest grants were $77,702 to By the Hand Club for Kids for general operations, $55,858 to CASA Kane County for program development/general operations, and $38,371 to Cal’s All-Star Angel Foundation for general operations and individuals in need. Other large grants included $35,730 to Ronald McDonald House CTX and $34,506 to People’s Resource Center.
The foundation’s website describes ways for First Trust employees to participate, including payroll deductions to become Foundation Partners, a sponsorship of up to $200 for a qualifying employee charity race (one race per year), and a form for employees to suggest charities or initiatives. These are employee participation options; the provided information does not describe a general application process for outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lisa Weier as president; Christina Knierim and Deb Scherbring as vice presidents; Ronda Saeli-Chiappe as secretary; Deborah Delgiudice as treasurer; and Amy Lum as counsel. Directors listed are Jane Doyle, W. Scott Jardine, Kristi Maher, and Andrew Roggensack.
Ft Cares Foundation is led by Lisa Weier, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 10 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Weier
President
Development → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Roggensack
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Doyle
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Maher
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
W. Scott Jardine
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Lum
Counsel
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina Knierim
Vp-Tax & Com
Vice President → Vp-Tax & Com, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Delgiudice
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deb Scherbring
Vp-Ops & Development
On filings since 2023
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronda Saeli-Chiappe
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Patricia Costello (2020–2024) — Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about Ft Cares Foundation
How much does Ft Cares Foundation give each year?
Ft Cares Foundation gave $791K across 48 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $736K across 43 grants.
What is Ft Cares Foundation's typical grant size?
Ft Cares Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,250, and its average grant was $16,488, across 48 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Ft Cares Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Ft Cares Foundation give grants?
Ft Cares Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Texas (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wheaton, IL (6 grants), Austin, TX (6 grants), Chicago, IL (5 grants) and Geneva, IL (5 grants).
Does Ft Cares Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Ft Cares Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 48) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Individuals in Need" (13 grants), "Gen Ops/Prog Dev" (4 grants) and "Prog Dev/Gen'l Ops" (3 grants).
Who are Ft Cares Foundation's largest grantees?
Ft Cares Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include By the Hand Club for Kids ($77,702), CASA Kane County ($55,858) and Cal's All-Star Angel Foundation ($38,371), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ft Cares Foundation?
Ft Cares Foundation reported $126K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $987K.
What does Ft Cares Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide monetary relief and other assistance to individuals and families with healthcare, shelter, nutrition, education, and similar needs, and to grant funds to other exempt organizations providing such assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Ft Cares Foundation?
Ft Cares Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check ftcaresfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Ft Cares Foundation's EIN?
Ft Cares Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4006107. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
Live grants for the work Ft Cares Foundation funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Ft Cares Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Ft Cares Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/ft-cares-foundation-morg_5f681c371e8640369d27a5fec9da0b75
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_454006107_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Ft Cares Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/ft-cares-foundation-morg_5f681c371e8640369d27a5fec9da0b75},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Ft Cares 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.
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