Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois, and the food bank serving Chicago and Cook County. Its work includes distributing food through a network of more than 800 community programs and providing grants to organizations for hunger relief.
Greater Chicago Food Depository at a glance
In short: Greater Chicago Food Depository gave $191.2M across 677 grants in 2025 (avg $282K). 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $191,197,574
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 677
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $282,419
- -5.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $67,610
- Total assets
- $216,023,481
- -2.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (54 of 671, 2025)
- 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 Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Contact
Mailing address: 4100 W Ann Lurie Place, Chicago, IL 60632
Phone: (773) 247-3663
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Greater Chicago Food Depository funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Grace and Peace Church ($8.6M). Together the top 10 received $51.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
3,677 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,708 grants of 3,677 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Food Depository serves Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. Its 2021 Equitable Start grant opportunity identified priority areas in Chicago Lawn/Ashburn, Gage Park/West Elsdon, Hermosa, Woodlawn, Riverdale, and Melrose Park/Stone Park.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Is Greater Chicago Food Depository open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 54 of 671 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $87K; repeat grants $302K. How we count
Medians: $31K first-time, $75K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $138.1M (2022) to $209.9M (2024). In 2025 it made 677 grants totaling $191.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grace and Peace Church | Distribute to the Hungry | $8,643,836 |
| Nourishing Hope | Distribute to the Hungry | $8,469,665 |
| American Association of Single Parents | Distribute to the Hungry | $5,320,002 |
| City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications | Distribute to the Hungry | $5,200,122 |
| Restoration Ministries | Distribute to the Hungry | $4,197,861 |
| Care For Real | Distribute to the Hungry | $4,118,450 |
| New Life Centers of Chicagoland NFP | Distribute to the Hungry | $4,111,111 |
| Willow Creek Community Care Center | Distribute to the Hungry | $4,105,032 |
| Mission of Our Lady of the Angels | Distribute to the Hungry | $3,319,777 |
| Thornton Township | Distribute to the Hungry | $2,425,422 |
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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 | $216,023,481 | $241,580,413 | $243,247,145 | $191,197,574 | 677 | $11,446,413 |
| 2024 | $222,053,390 | $275,870,292 | $261,192,103 | $209,902,654 | 705 | $1,954,306 |
| 2023 | $205,203,000 | $197,032,572 | $200,244,560 | $156,635,642 | 705 | $-2,491,522 |
| 2022 | $197,112,141 | $180,413,430 | $181,434,874 | $138,141,309 | 824 | $3,342,041 |
| 2021 | $217,303,991 | $281,823,952 | $237,651,241 | $201,867,242 | 766 | $3,450,844 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s mission is to end hunger. It says it believes food is a basic human right and works with community-based organizations and individuals to connect people with food and address the root causes of hunger.
Its 2025 itemized grants list “Distribute to the Hungry” as the purpose. Its programs also include emergency food assistance, after-school and summer meals for children, food distributions for older adults and at schools, mobile food programs, and benefits outreach. The organization’s strategic plan includes improving emergency food access and participation in safety-net programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Food Depository reported 119 itemized grants totaling $1,350,413. Grants ranged from $30 to $175,000, with a median of $3,760. The largest listed grants included $175,000 to St Moses the Black Parish, $134,948 to Care For Real, $55,000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank, $50,000 to Chicago CRED, and $45,349 to Respond Now. Each was listed for “Distribute to the Hungry.”
The organization previously offered the Equitable Start New Pantry Grant Program to support start-up costs for new pantries in selected Cook County communities. A 2021 request for proposals listed awards of $75,000–$150,000. This was a time-limited opportunity with a May 24, 2021 proposal deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing include John Jay Shannon, MD, Chair; Jennifer Vachon, Chair-Elect; Marc Paulhus, Immediate Past Chair; and directors Alexandra Sims-Jones, Brian Byrd, Diane Schanzenbach, Gil Quiniones, Kelly Richmond Pope, Lee Rosenberg, and Mark Parrell.
Greater Chicago Food Depository is led by Katherine Maehr, Executive Director & CEO on every filing since 2021; 11 of 28 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Katherine Maehr
Executive Director & CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$337K (2021) → $415K (2025)
John Jay Shannon MD
Chair
Director → Chair-Elect, 2024
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Richmond Pope
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Rosenberg
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark J. Parrell
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monica Brown Moss
Director
Chair of the Board → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
Immediate Past Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Koch
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Sims-Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Nandi
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Waldo Johnson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nasrin Thierer
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ricardo Crumble
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Byrd
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gil Quiniones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sol Flores
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Laboy
Vice President Programs & Community Partnership
Senior Director of Programs → Vice President Programs & Community Partnerships, 2022
Vice President Programs & Community Partnerships → Vice President Programs & Community Partnership, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$128K (2021) → $232K (2025)
Jill Rahman
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$191K (2021) → $342K (2025)
Jill Zimmerman
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Vice President of Development → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2022
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$257K (2021) → $300K (2025)
Joseph Rodriguez
Vice President of Transportation & Warehousing An
Vice President of Transportation, Warehousing & Facilities M → Vice President of Transportation, Warehousing & Facilities, 2024
Vice President of Transportation, Warehousing & Facilities → Vice President of Transportation & Warehousing An, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$151K (2021) → $233K (2025)
Mary Pelican
Vice President of Finance
Vice President of Finance Beginning → Vice President of Finance, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$126K (2022) → $285K (2025)
Sheila Creghin
Vice President of Operations
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$246K (2021) → $291K (2025)
Sophie Milam
Senior Policy Advisor
Senior Director of Public Policy → Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Engagement, 2023
Vice President of Policy, Advocacy & Engagement → Senior Policy Advisor, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$128K (2021) → $206K (2025)
Joni Duncan
Vice President of People & Culture
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $285K (2025)
Michael Seikel
Head of Technology & Transformation
Head of Technology Transformation → Head of Technology & Transformation, 2025
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$146K (2022) → $207K (2025)
Salma Nassar
Vice President of Research Evaluation & Business Analytics
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$206K (2025)
Jennifer Vachon
Chair-Elect
Director → Chair-Elect, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc Paulhus
Immediate Past Chair
Chair Elect → Chair, 2023
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Andrew Lutsey (2021–2024) — Director of Business Analytics
- Former: Carlos San Jose (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Manny Dorantes (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Monica E. Peek (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Chris Happ (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Leon Walker (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael J. Locascio (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Thompson (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Roberto Uchoa (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Scott Davis (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Dennis James (2021–2022) — CFO
- Former: Joan Chow (2021–2022) — Chief Marketing Officer
- Former: John H. Idler (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mariah Digrino (2021–2022) — Director & General Counsel
- Former: Nicole Robinson (2021–2022) — Chief Partnership & Programs Officer
- Former: Valerie Toney Parker (2021–2022) — Cpo
- Former: Jay Shannon (2022) — Director
- Former: Anand Varghese (2021) — Senior Director of Individual Giving
- Former: Patrick M. Mulhern (2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Mulvey (2021) — Director of Accounting
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $415K, to Katherine Maehr (Executive Director and CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Greater Chicago Food Depository
How much does Greater Chicago Food Depository give each year?
Greater Chicago Food Depository gave $191.2M across 677 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $209.9M across 705 grants.
What is Greater Chicago Food Depository's typical grant size?
Greater Chicago Food Depository's median grant in 2025 was $67,610, and its average grant was $282,419, across 677 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Greater Chicago Food Depository that year got $87K on average.
Does Greater Chicago Food Depository give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 677 grants with a stated purpose on Greater Chicago Food Depository's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Distribute to the Hungry" (677 grants).
Who are Greater Chicago Food Depository's largest grantees?
Greater Chicago Food Depository's largest 2025 grantees include Grace and Peace Church ($8,643,836), Nourishing Hope ($8,469,665) and American Association of Single Parents ($5,320,002), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Chicago Food Depository?
Greater Chicago Food Depository reported $216.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $241.6M.
What does Greater Chicago Food Depository fund?
The organization’s mission is to end hunger. It says it believes food is a basic human right and works with community-based organizations and individuals to connect people with food and address the root causes of hunger. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Chicago Food Depository?
Greater Chicago Food Depository has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Greater Chicago Food Depository make grants?
The Food Depository serves Chicago and Cook County, Illinois. Its 2021 Equitable Start grant opportunity identified priority areas in Chicago Lawn/Ashburn, Gage Park/West Elsdon, Hermosa, Woodlawn, Riverdale, and Melrose Park/Stone Park.
What is Greater Chicago Food Depository's EIN?
Greater Chicago Food Depository's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2971864. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 19, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Greater Chicago Food Depository's focus areas in our free grants database
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Greater Chicago Food Depository down — hundreds of funders to go?