HFS Chicago Scholars
HFS Chicago Scholars is a Chicago, Illinois public charity that supports economically disadvantaged, academically motivated Chicago students through partial scholarships, educational programming, and mentoring. Its filing reports that it provided partial high school scholarships to 246 students during fiscal year 2025.
HFS Chicago Scholars at a glance
In short: HFS Chicago Scholars gave $608K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $608,017
- +52.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +17.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,425
- +29.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,300
- Total assets
- $5,351,233
- +15.7% 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.
How to apply to HFS Chicago Scholars
- Review Cycle
- The website’s stated deadline for the high school class of 2030 application was November 15, 2025. This is a past application cycle.
- Deadline
- The website’s stated deadline for the high school class of 2030 application was November 15, 2025.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1074 W Taylor Street Rm/Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60607-4336
Phone: (312) 421-4070
Website: https://hfschicagoscholars.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who HFS Chicago Scholars funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Fenwick High School ($57K). Together the top 10 received $223K.
Organizations only. It also paid 15 individual scholarships ($340,997), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 137 grants of 144 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The listed recipients include schools in Chicago and other Illinois communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How HFS Chicago Scholars gives
- Giving grew 37% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $381K (2019) to $608K (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $608K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 15 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $340,997 |
| Fenwick High School Oak Park, IL | Scholarship | $57,200 |
| Chicago Hope Academy Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $31,000 |
| Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High SC Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $24,900 |
| Francis W Parker School Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $24,800 |
| Nazareth Academy La Grange Park, IL | Scholarship | $21,900 |
| Univ of Chicago Lab School Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $16,900 |
| Loyola Academy Wilmette, IL | Scholarship | $16,200 |
| Marist High School Chicago, IL | Scholarship | $13,920 |
| Willows Academy Des Plaines, IL | Scholarship | $9,300 |
Ready to take the next step with HFS Chicago Scholars?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,351,233 | $1,714,932 | $1,278,816 | $608,017 | 33 | $236,738 |
| 2024 | $4,624,897 | $1,573,514 | $1,012,155 | $399,701 | 28 | $190,594 |
| 2023 | $3,690,922 | $1,238,566 | $1,030,555 | $482,422 | 28 | $118,024 |
| 2022 | $3,204,620 | $1,459,597 | $896,430 | $444,773 | 29 | $52,405 |
| 2021 | $3,193,096 | $1,440,591 | $821,964 | $421,082 | 26 | $117,991 |
| 2020 | $2,163,971 | $1,203,137 | $900,677 | $433,781 | 27 | $40,213 |
| 2019 | $1,719,380 | $1,277,817 | $883,398 | $381,250 | 24 | $28,125 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
HFS states that it was created to support the educational aspirations of economically disadvantaged but academically motivated Chicago inner-city youth. It provides partial scholarships and works with other scholarship funds and recipients’ chosen high schools to address tuition and other school costs. It also provides an active mentor for each recipient.
The organization describes its three program pillars as academic excellence, college readiness, and lifelong mentoring. Its website says academic support includes individualized guidance and enriched curriculum; college readiness includes admissions support and leadership development; and mentoring pairs each scholar with a mentor.
The 2025 grants were for scholarships to schools. Among the recipients, Chicago Hope Academy describes itself as a college- and life-preparatory high school, while Francis W. Parker School says it educates students to be responsible citizens and leaders. Willows Academy describes its work as helping parents form their daughters’ character; Morgan Park Academy operates a preschool-through-grade-12 independent school; Lake Forest Academy emphasizes character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility; and The Latin School of Chicago describes its mission as providing a rigorous, innovative program that embraces diversity.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, HFS reported 33 grants totaling $608,017. Grant amounts ranged from $5,350 to $73,400, with a median of $9,300. The largest awards included an individual recipient Salle Institute ($73,400), an individual recipient High School ($69,198), Fenwick High School ($57,200), an individual recipient ($53,950), and Chicago Hope Academy ($31,000). Each was listed for scholarship purposes.
HFS’s website invites eighth-grade students to apply for a scholarship to attend a tuition-charging private high school. The stated application criteria include a GPA of 3.0 or above, average-to-above-average standardized test scores, leadership potential, a positive academic work ethic, and demonstrated financial need; family income must be below $55,000 to apply, with extenuating circumstances to be noted. The application materials listed include four handwritten essays, income verification, and a separately completed recommendation form. The website also says selected scholars must agree to the Scholarship Agreement for Success, which includes maintaining a B average, participating in HFS programming, maintaining an active mentor relationship, completing at least 40 documented community-service hours annually, and meeting other academic and participation commitments.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael J. Kennelly as board chair; James Allegretti, Heather Albright, Dean Bekas, Kevin Callahan, Joseph Dimberio, Brian Gallagher, and Mark Gertzof as directors; Kathy L. Clolinger as treasurer; and Desiree Pepper-Venzant as executive director. The organization’s website also lists Matthew Suss as senior managing director of operations and Nadia Flores as director of college advancement.
HFS Chicago Scholars is led by Michael J. Kennelly, Board Chairman on every filing since 2019; 1 of 76 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael J. Kennelly
Board Chairman
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Agran
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Weil
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Garcia
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Gallagher
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Zygmunt
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chris Varones
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Petrini-Poli
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Raub
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Claudia Saran
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kucera
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Tracy
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dean Bekas
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Crowley
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donovan Pepper
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward Keller
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Petito
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George N. Panagakis
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Teegen
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Albright
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Allegretti
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Jones
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Sheehan
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason White
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Prassas
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Convery
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Lentz
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Kavanaugh
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Keller
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John McLaughlin
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Sikora
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Curnes
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Dimberio
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joy Walton
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kara Goodwin
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kerri Lin
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Blitz
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Callahan
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin McCarty
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Van Peenan
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Gertzof
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark McCarville
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Kennelly
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Scolaro
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Peterman
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Meyer
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Scott Williams
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sean Meehan
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Grimes
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Martinez
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Yoon
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Meyer
Director
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Cinefro
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Driscoll
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Karen Quirk
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Sharkey
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanja Babich
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Johannesen
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yi Wei
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carmen Ontiveros
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Pollock
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sameer Ghaznavi
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hilger
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Grommes
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vernis Barrier-Likes
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Quintana
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Tiemann
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerald Molidor
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Dejonker
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Sullivan
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rona Borre
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Desiree Pepper-Venzant
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$85K (2019) → $112K (2025)
Christian Cooley
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chairman, 2021
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. James O'Malley
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chairman, 2021
Vice Chairman → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathy L. Clolinger
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raymond Whearley
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Joshua E. Benjamin (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Dave Hilger (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jen Clune (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Shay Bahramirad (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Vernis Likes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Alison Miller (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Thomas Jordan Curnes II (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Vee Likes (2021) — Director
- Former: Carmen Onitveros (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Joe Orlando (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Vernis Barrier (2020) — Director
- Former: Ernest Fiorante (2019) — Director
- Former: Jason Lovelace (2019) — Director
- Former: Joanne Campanile (2019) — Director
- Former: Jon Hinard (2019) — Director
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 $112K, to Desiree Pepper-Venzant (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about HFS Chicago Scholars
How much does HFS Chicago Scholars give each year?
HFS Chicago Scholars gave $608K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $400K across 28 grants.
What is HFS Chicago Scholars's typical grant size?
HFS Chicago Scholars's median grant in 2025 was $9,300, and its average grant was $18,425, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does HFS Chicago Scholars give grants?
HFS Chicago Scholars gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (10 grants) and Lake Forest, IL (2 grants).
Does HFS Chicago Scholars give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on HFS Chicago Scholars's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (32 grants).
Who are HFS Chicago Scholars's largest grantees?
HFS Chicago Scholars's largest 2025 grantees include Fenwick High School ($57,200), Chicago Hope Academy ($31,000) and Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High SC ($24,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 15 individual scholarships ($340,997), which are not listed by name. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is HFS Chicago Scholars?
HFS Chicago Scholars reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.7M.
What does HFS Chicago Scholars fund?
HFS states that it was created to support the educational aspirations of economically disadvantaged but academically motivated Chicago inner-city youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from HFS Chicago Scholars?
HFS Chicago Scholars has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check hfschicagoscholars.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is HFS Chicago Scholars's EIN?
HFS Chicago Scholars's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3922345. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 1, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 20, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 27, 2022)
Live grants for the work HFS Chicago Scholars funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). HFS Chicago Scholars funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hfs-chicago-scholars-morg_28003e1fbc7047fb9bd0b07686aa37ce
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363922345_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{HFS Chicago Scholars funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hfs-chicago-scholars-morg_28003e1fbc7047fb9bd0b07686aa37ce},
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 HFS Chicago Scholars'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.
HFS Chicago Scholars down — hundreds of funders to go?