IFF
IFF is a Chicago-based public charity that strengthens nonprofits and the communities they serve through leadership, capital, and real estate solutions. Its work includes lending, community development expertise, and real estate services, with programs addressing needs such as education, housing, health care, child care, healthy food access, and job training.
IFF at a glance
In short: IFF gave $4.3M across 89 grants in 2025 (avg $48K), mostly in Illinois. 91% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,255,168
- -75.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 89
- -67.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $47,811
- -24.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $828,286,048
- +6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 91% first-time grantees (81 of 89, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (71% 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 IFF
- Contact
Mailing address: 333 S Wabash Ave Ste 2800, Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 629-0060
Website: https://iff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who IFF funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Refugee Education Center ($297K). Together the top 10 received $940K.
Grant Size Distribution
1,058 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 582 grants of 1,058 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
IFF’s programs address community needs across the Midwest. In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Illinois (71%), Michigan (12%), Kansas (7%), Missouri (6%), and Wisconsin (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 89 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is IFF open to new grantees?
91%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 81 of 89 grantees (91%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $47K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $63K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.3M (2025) to $41.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 89 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Refugee Education Center Kentwood, MI | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $297,441 |
| Oakdale Early Learning Center LLC Grand Rapids, MI | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $99,400 |
| Wolverine Building Group Grand Rapids, MI | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $89,387 |
| American Indian Center Chicago, IL | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $75,000 |
| BD Meats Inc Yonder Meats Yoder, KS | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $75,000 |
| B's Hometown Market La Crosse, KS | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $71,000 |
| Technical Assistance Corporation St. Louis, MO | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $70,028 |
| Paula Lampley Four Seasons Early Learn Milwaukee, WI | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $55,917 |
| Prairieland Market Inc Salina, KS | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $55,100 |
| Black Girls Dance Chicago, IL | Costs for acquiring equipment and/or facilites rehab costs as part of the grant | $52,000 |
Ready to take the next step with IFF?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Grant counts were 89 in 2025, 270 in 2024, and 600 in 2023.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $828,286,048 | $62,525,991 | $61,504,665 | $4,255,168 | 89 | $5,494,005 |
| 2024 | $779,493,171 | $134,604,883 | $73,001,008 | $16,988,432 | 270 | $2,899,585 |
| 2023 | $689,365,712 | $102,836,770 | $96,465,275 | $41,158,446 | 600 | $3,002,766 |
| 2022 | $568,632,430 | $64,193,835 | $60,208,929 | $23,250,194 | 24 | $388,417 |
| 2021 | $571,089,169 | $81,768,477 | $60,965,605 | $24,250,228 | 75 | $426,379 |
| 2020 | $515,692,324 | $66,930,783 | $48,794,353 | $8,497,952 | 38 | $302,069 |
| 2019 | $492,576,736 | $42,753,567 | $40,041,254 | $6,575,653 | 44 | $713,497 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
IFF’s Capital Solutions program makes affordable loans to nonprofit agencies. The organization reports that, since 1990, it has closed 2,485 loans totaling more than $1.96 billion, which leveraged over $6.98 billion in capital. Its Real Estate Solutions program advises nonprofits on facility needs, with services that include feasibility and facility assessments, strategic facility plans, site search and due diligence, and owner’s representative services.
IFF also works with governments, nonprofits, foundations, and community groups on community development planning, and its Social Impact Accelerator initiatives address early childhood services and schools. In 2025, the filing’s listed grants were described as supporting equipment purchases and facility rehabilitation.
Examples of supported organizations include the American Indian Center, whose mission is to promote fellowship among American Indians in metropolitan Chicago and advance their general welfare; Technical Assistance Corporation, which says it works to redevelop and strengthen communities through housing development services, capacity-building, and financing in the St. Louis metropolitan area; and Prairieland Market, which says it encourages healthy food choices and access to local, organic, and craft foods. Chicago grantees Black Girls Dance and Definition Theatre describe missions centered on, respectively, opportunities for dancers of color and stories created with, inspired by, and intended for people and communities of color.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, IFF reported 89 grants totaling $4,255,168. Grant amounts ranged from $6,114 to $297,441, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed grant was $297,441 to Refugee Education Center in Kentwood, Michigan. Other large grants included $99,400 to Oakdale Early Learning Center LLC and $89,387 to Wolverine Building Group, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan; $75,000 to the American Indian Center in Chicago; and $75,000 to BD Meats Inc Yonder Meats in Yoder, Kansas.
Additional listed recipients included Technical Assistance Corporation in St. Louis, which received $70,028; Black Girls Dance in Chicago, which received $52,000; and Era Footwork Foundation, Definition Theatre Company, Chinatown Museum Foundation, and Free Street Theater, each of which received $50,000. The filing describes the listed grants as covering equipment acquisition and/or facility rehabilitation costs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joe Neri as CEO; Sakura Takano as Board Chair; Monique Jones as Vice Chair; and John Sassaris as Treasurer/Secretary. It also lists George Burciaga, Hamilton Chang, James Due, Derrick Johnson, Debby Kasemeyer, and Jason Mercer as board members. James Due’s board service is listed as ending July 31, 2025.
IFF is led by Joe Neri, CEO on every filing since 2019; 10 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joe Neri
CEO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$300K (2019) → $906K (2025)
Chris Uhl
Executive Director - Eastern Regiom
Executive Director - Eastern Region → Executive Director - Eastern Regiom, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$179K (2019) → $213K (2025)
Kirby Burkholder
President & Core Business Solutions
President & Social Impact Accelerator → President & Core Business Solutions, 2022
On filings since 2019
39 hrs/week
$249K (2019) → $359K (2025)
Tara Townsend
President & Social Impact Accelerator
Vice President Research & Evaluation Manager → Vice President Research & Evaluation, 2021
Vice President Research & Evaluation → President & Social Impact Accelerator, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$140K (2019) → $272K (2025)
Victoria Lakes-Battle
Executive Director - Chicago Region
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$158K (2019) → $234K (2025)
Sakura Takano
Board Chair
Board Memeber → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dana Lieberman
Senior Vice President Cap. Sol. & Chief Lending Officer
Senior Vice President Capital Solutions → Senior Vice President Cap. Sol. & Chief Lending Officer, 2020
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$170K (2019) → $248K (2025)
Jose Cerda III
Chief of Staff
Vice President External Affairs → Chief of Staff, 2023
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$188K (2019) → $251K (2025)
Michael Goldberg
Senior Vice President Real Estate Solutions
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$184K (2022) → $216K (2025)
Rodrigo Vela
CFO & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$160K (2024) → $448K (2025)
Casey Rooney
Interim CFO & Assistant Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
39 hrs/week
$207K (2025)
John Sassaris
Treasurer & Secretary
Board Chair → Board Member, 2020
Board Member → Treasurer & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela Reyes
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Burciaga
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hamilton Chang
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emmet Pierson
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Due
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Monique Jones
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Robinson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Mercer
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Seybert
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derrick Johnson
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debby Kasemeyer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Wood
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (36)
- Former: Cheryl Wilson (2019–2024) — Board Chair
- Former: Sidney Dillard (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Suza Leao-Reuter (2019–2024) — CFO & Assistant Secretary
- Former: Evelyn Diaz (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Rodney Jones-Tyson (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Lloyd Shields Acting CFO (2024) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Terrence Young (2024) — Chief Credit Officer & Senior Vice President Cap. Sol.
- Former: Robbyn Wahby (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tiffany Hamel-Johnson (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Sheffler (2019–2022) — Controller
- Former: Jennifer Kraemer (2019–2022) — Vice President Talent Management
- Former: John Kuhnen (2019–2022) — Vice President Asset Manager
- Former: Charlie Biggam (2020–2022) — Chief Legal Counsel
- Former: Denise Smith (2020–2022) — Implementation Director Hope Starts Here
- Former: George Mui (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen Westbrooks (2021–2022) — Executive Director - Southern Region
- Former: Matt Roth President Core (2022) — Business Solutions
- Former: Stephanie Socall (2022) — Manag. Director & Affordable Housing
- Former: Terry Young (2022) — Senior Vice President Cap. Sol. & Chief Credit Officer
- Former: Alicia Berg (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Andy Waters (2019–2021) — Manag. Director & Portfolio Management
- Former: Deborah Kasemeyer (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Guadalupe Preston (2019–2021) — Board Chair
- Former: MarySue Barrett (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Roth (2019–2021) — President & Core Business Solutions
- Former: Oscar Johnson Jr. (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Terry Long (2021) — Senior Vice President Cap. Sol. & Chief Credit Officer
- Former: George Surgeon (2019–2020) — Board Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Joseph Gomez (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Richard Klawiter (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Rodney Tyson Jones (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Terri Haymaker (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President Real Estate Solutions
- Former: David Desai-Ramirez (2019) — Executive Director - Southern Region
- Former: Debra Walker-Johnson (2019) — Vice President Strat. Partner. & Resource Development
- Former: Gina Metrakas (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Lloyd Shields (2019) — Assistant Secretary & CFO
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 $906K, to Joe Neri (CEO). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about IFF
How much does IFF give each year?
IFF gave $4.3M across 89 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $17.0M across 270 grants.
What is IFF's typical grant size?
IFF's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $47,811, across 89 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from IFF that year got $47K on average.
Where does IFF give grants?
IFF gives mostly in Illinois: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (12%) and Kansas (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (57 grants), Indianapolis, IN (8 grants), St. Louis, MO (4 grants) and St. Louis, MO (3 grants).
Does IFF give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 89 grants with a stated purpose on IFF's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are IFF's largest grantees?
IFF's largest 2025 grantees include Refugee Education Center ($297,441), Oakdale Early Learning Center LLC ($99,400) and Wolverine Building Group ($89,387), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is IFF?
IFF reported $828.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $62.5M.
What does IFF fund?
IFF’s Capital Solutions program makes affordable loans to nonprofit agencies. The organization reports that, since 1990, it has closed 2,485 loans totaling more than $1.96 billion, which leveraged over $6.98 billion in capital. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from IFF?
IFF has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check iff.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is IFF's EIN?
IFF's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3656836. 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 18, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 16, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 19, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 21, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in IFF's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). IFF funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/iff-morg_1c879868d2e14792ae98718892f37895
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363656836_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{IFF funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/iff-morg_1c879868d2e14792ae98718892f37895},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 IFF'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.
IFF down — hundreds of funders to go?