Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, that serves as a bridge between state government and community legal aid organizations. Founded in 1999 and established as a tax-exempt organization in 1986, IEJF distributes state appropriations to effective nonprofit legal aid organizations throughout Illinois. The organization operates with a small staff of 4-7 employees and functions as a strategic grantmaker dedicated to expanding access to civil legal services for low-income residents.
Key facts about Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
- EIN
- 37-1188469
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $13,892,634
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- Average grant
- $257,271
- Median grant
- $49,705
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (6 of 54, 2025)
- Total assets
- $11,284,574
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Illinois Equal Justice Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Illinois Equal Justice Foundation's 54 itemized 2025 grants were Illinois (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (42 grants). None of its 54 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
Is Illinois Equal Justice Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 54 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $40K; repeat grants $284K. How we count
Medians: $34K first-time, $63K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.3M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$13.9M
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
54
+10.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$257K
-5.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation funds civil legal aid in Illinois to champion the rights of those burdened by barriers to justice, with a vision of equitable access to and navigation of the Illinois civil legal system.
Primary Focus Areas:
IEJF supports innovative, cost-effective civil legal aid programs that help people in crisis address life-changing problems. The foundation funds programs offering:
- Legal representation to people who cannot afford a lawyer
- Easy-to-understand legal forms and information
- Access to legal aid hotlines
- Legal self-help centers that help people understand their rights
- Mediation services that help people resolve conflicts and avoid court
To maximize impact, IEJF funds both large organizations that provide a breadth of legal aid services and community-based groups that bring legal assistance to where people live. The foundation currently manages three state appropriations for civil legal aid, in addition to two state contracts for housing legal services.
Populations Served: Low-income families, victims of domestic violence, veterans, seniors, and those impacted by cannabis-related convictions.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $4,068,346.
Review Cycle
in 2000, IEJF has awarded more than $95 million in state grants to support struggling families, seniors, veterans, and those impacted by cannabis-related convictions.
Ready to take the next step with Illinois Equal Justice Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Illinois, with particular emphasis on serving residents throughout the state through both statewide organizations and community-based groups.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 54 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $14,626,159
- Total Expenses: $14,305,194
- Total Assets: $10,634,259
- Total Liabilities: $3,130,000
Historical Context: The organization has maintained consistent financial operations, with revenues and expenses remaining relatively stable in recent years.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,284,574 | $10,634,259 | $10,852,879 |
| Revenue | $15,525,459 | $14,626,159 | $14,304,848 |
| Expenses | $14,966,757 | $14,305,194 | $13,089,609 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $86,987 | $102,536 | $46,813 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
215 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Civil Legal Aid Grants
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Amount
Varies by organization
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Domestic Violence Legal Services: Legal Information for the Public
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Domestic Violence Legal Services: Self-Help Legal Assistance Projects Grant
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Amount
US $1,380,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Land of Lincoln Legal Aid ($4,068,346), Prairie State Legal Services ($3,295,960), Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services ($1,026,020).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LAND OF LINCOLN LEGAL AID St Louis, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN 65 SOUTHERN/CENTRAL COUNTIES INCLUDING VETERANS, PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS AND THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. | $4,068,346 |
| PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES Rockford, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN 36 NORTHERN/CENTRAL COUNTIES INCLUDING VETERANS, PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS AND THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. | $3,295,960 |
| COORDINATED ADVICE & REFERRAL PROGRAM FOR LEGAL SERVICES Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE COORDINATED LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REFERRALS TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IN COOK COUNTY AND TO VETERANS AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINALIZATION OF CANNABIS STATEWIDE. TO PROVIDE TECH EXPERTISE ON LEGAL AID NETWORKS PROGRAMS. | $1,026,020 |
| LEGAL AID CHICAGO Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, VETERANS AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINIALIZATION OF CANNABIS AND FORECLOSURE IN COOK COUNTY. | $743,289 |
| DISPUTE RESOLUTION INSTITUTE Carbondale, IL | TO PROVIDE MEDIATION SERVICES FOR FAMILIIES IN THE 1ST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT AND TO TENANTS, LANDLORDS AND HOMEOWNERS IN HOUSING DISPUTES DUE TO THE PANDEMIC IN THE 1ST, 6TH AND 20TH JUDICIAL CIRCUITS. | $579,013 |
| METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICESLEGAL AID SOCIETY Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINIALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN COOK COUNTY. | $347,968 |
| IL LEGAL AID ONLINE Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC STATEWIDE VIA A WEBSITE; TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED LEGAL INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINLIZATION OF CANNABIS AS WELL AS HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. | $327,500 |
| CHICAGO VOLUNTEER LEGAL SERVICES Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND VETERANS IN COOK COUNTY. | $269,284 |
| GREATER CHICAGO LEGAL CLINIC Chicago, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO LOW-INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE CRIMINIALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN COOK COUNTY. | $264,946 |
| NORTH SUBURBAN LEGAL AID CLINIC Highland Park, IL | TO PROVIDE LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HOUSING INSTABILITY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. | $237,522 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Principal Officer: Leslie Corbett Chenoweth
Board Structure: The foundation is governed by a twelve-member board appointed by the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, reflecting a model of cooperation between the two bar associations.
Key Staff: Allison Zidek (Finance Director)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith E Emmons | President | 2 | — |
| Tobin Taylor | Vice President | 2 | — |
| Karim Basaria | Director | 2 | — |
| Hon Patti Bellock | Director | 1 | — |
| Suheily Natal Davis | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Shanin Farmer | Director | 1 | — |
| Lydia Bueschel | Director | 1 | — |
| Lauren Meachum | Director | 1 | — |
| Nannette Fosen | Director | 1 | — |
| Nathan B Hinch | Director | 1 | — |
| Kenneth M Kirkwood | Director | 1 | — |
| Sook Lee | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Hon Viviana Martinez | Director | 1 | — |
| Gray Mateo-Harris | Director | 1 | — |
| Faiq Mihlar | Director | 1 | — |
| Lisbeth Leanos | Director | 1 | — |
| William S Meckes | Director | 1 | — |
| Hon Jeffrey Schoenberg | Director | 1 | — |
| Michael Ruiz | Director | 1 | — |
| Tyrone Thomas | Director | 1 | — |
| Leslie Corbett Chenoweth | Executive Director | 40 | $142,620 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation has continued to expand its grantmaking reach and impact. Recent grant announcements include awards to organizations supporting civil legal aid, domestic violence legal services, eviction prevention, veterans' legal assistance, and cannabis-related conviction relief through the New Leaf Illinois Network.
Civil Legal Aid Grants | Illinois Equal Justice FoundationThe foundation's work is grounded in the Illinois Equal Justice Act (30 ILCS 765/1 et. seq.), passed in 1999 with overwhelming legislative support. The Act affirmed that "equal justice is a basic right that is fundamental to democracy in this state, and the integrity of this state's justice system depends on protecting and enforcing the rights of all people."
Civil Legal Aid Grants | Illinois Equal Justice FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Illinois Equal Justice Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation funds civil legal aid in Illinois to champion the rights of those burdened by barriers to justice, with a vision of equitable access to and navigation of the Illinois civil legal system. **Primary Focus Areas:** IEJF supports innovative, cost-effective civil legal aid programs that help people in crisis address life-changing problems. The foundation funds programs offering: • Legal representation to people who cannot afford a lawyer • Easy-to-u…
How do I apply for a grant from Illinois Equal Justice Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $10,000 to $4,068,346. **Active Grant Programs:** • Civil Legal Aid Grants • Domestic Violence Legal Services: Self-Help Legal Assistance Projects • Eviction Help Illinois Grants • Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network Grant • New Leaf Illinois Network Grant **Grant History:** Since its first grant cycle in 2000, IEJF has awarded more than $95 million in state grants to support struggling families, seniors, veterans, and those impacted by cannabis-re…
Where does Illinois Equal Justice Foundation make grants?
Illinois, with particular emphasis on serving residents throughout the state through both statewide organizations and community-based groups.
What size grants does Illinois Equal Justice Foundation award?
In 2025, Illinois Equal Justice Foundation awarded 54 grants totaling $13.9M — an average of about $257K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Illinois Equal Justice Foundation's EIN?
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1188469. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Illinois Equal Justice Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.