Ideal Industries Foundation
The Ideal Industries Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Sycamore, Illinois, established to formalize the philanthropic commitment of IDEAL Industries, Inc. The foundation invests in philanthropic solutions to issues impacting IDEAL and its stakeholders, with a focus on increasing equity and prosperity for all.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.7M
+25.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$376K
+49.4% YoY
Grant Count
20
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+124.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ideal Industries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $293K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to invest in philanthropic solutions to issues impacting IDEAL and its stakeholders, increasing equity and prosperity for all. This work is built upon a commitment to good corporate citizenship and honors Founder J. Walter Becker's belief in the importance of strong relationships.
Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Child welfare and children and youth services
- Disability services
- Homelessness
- Economic development
- History museums
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily for general operating support to nonprofit organizations.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $51,000 to $125,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on supported DeKalb County nonprofits.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $6,667,850
- Total Revenues: $2,631,446
- Total Expenses: $1,274,392
- Total Giving: $375,597
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $5.32 million
- Revenue: $603,959
- Expenses: $279,923
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,667,850 | $5,315,296 | $4,988,754 |
| Revenue | $2,631,446 | $603,959 | $357,252 |
| Expenses | $1,274,392 | $279,923 | $418,127 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,263,314 | $268,822 | $397,042 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,168,401 | $124,583 | $109,082 |
| Distributable Amount | $292,826 | $259,786 | $260,560 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Philadelphia Youth Basketball Inc ($125,000), Family Service Agency ($68,867), Hope Haven of Dekalb County ($21,200).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adventure Works Dekalb, IL | General Operating Support | $17,155 |
| CASA Sycamore, IL | General Operating Support | $17,155 |
| Cradles to Crayons Newton, MA | General Operating Support | $13,000 |
| Dave Krache Foundation Kennesaw, GA | General Operating Support | $1,000 |
| Dekalb County Community Gardens Dekalb, IL | General Operating Support | $19,155 |
| Dekalb County Nursing Home Foundation Dekalb, IL | General Operating Support | $1,630 |
| Family Service Agency Dekalb, IL | General Operating Support | $68,867 |
| Future Construction Leaders Foundation La Mesa, CA | General Operating Support | $2,500 |
| Habitat For Humanity Dekalb County Sycamore, IL | General Operating Support | $12,000 |
| Hope Haven of Dekalb County Dekalb, IL | General Operating Support | $21,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Ideal Industries Foundation was established in 1985 by former CEO and Board Chairman Dave Juday. The foundation was created to build on Founder J. Walter Becker's philosophy: "Live, let live, and help live," which remains the foundation's guiding principle.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Henn | Chair | 1 | — |
| Pam McMeen | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Nicole Juday Rhoads | Executive Director | 1 | — |
| Jeff Brown | Treausurer | 1 | — |
| Shannon Schmittle | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Carmen Cardillo | Director | 1 | — |
| Jordan Gladden | Director until 5/2024 | 1 | — |
| Kent Wrenn | Director | 1 | — |
| Alan Zantout | Director | 1 | — |
| Sheila Johnsen | Vice President/Treasurer until 5/2024 | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced grants to organizations including the Cassandra Banks Foundation. The foundation continues to support educational and community initiatives aligned with its mission of increasing equity and prosperity for all.
IDEAL INDUSTRIES FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Ideal Industries Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to invest in philanthropic solutions to issues impacting IDEAL and its stakeholders, increasing equity and prosperity for all. This work is built upon a commitment to good corporate citizenship and honors Founder J. Walter Becker's belief in the importance of strong relationships. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Child welfare and children and youth services • Disability services • Homelessn…
How do I apply for a grant from Ideal Industries Foundation?
The foundation makes grants primarily for general operating support to nonprofit organizations. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $51,000 to $125,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 30 grants totaling $375,597. Recent grantees include: • Philadelphia Youth Basketball ($125,000) • Family Service Agency of DeKalb County ($68,867) • Hope Haven of DeKalb County ($21,200) In 2025, the foundation gave over $1.3 million dollars to support educational and community ini…
Where does Ideal Industries Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Texas, and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on supported DeKalb County nonprofits.
What size grants does Ideal Industries Foundation award?
In 2024, Ideal Industries Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $376K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ideal Industries Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ideal Industries Foundation reported a distributable amount of $293K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ideal Industries Foundation's EIN?
Ideal Industries Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3449960. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ideal Industries Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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