Illinois Science and Technology Coalition logo

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition

501(c)(6) organization Chicago, IL EIN: 35-2334171 Website

Illinois Science and Technology is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. The organization’s 2024 filing states that it was formed in 2008 and describes its work as research and development outreach, advocacy, and strategic planning.

Key facts about Illinois Science and Technology Coalition

In short: Illinois Science and Technology Coalition gave $2.3M across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
35-2334171
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$2,269,957
Grants made (2025)
33
Average grant
$68,787
Median grant
$74,974
Total assets
$379,335
Primary geography
Illinois (85% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The program directs applicants to submit online through the DCEO/ISTC application system; mailed or emailed applications are not accepted. Full details ↓
Deadline
The program website states that there is no deadline, but that 2026 funding is limited and applicants should apply…

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$379K

-58.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.3M

+862.3% YoY

Grant Count

33

+560.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$69K

+45.8% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s 2024 filing states its mission is “to enhance awareness and increase resources for Illinois based research and development.” ISTC describes its mission as measuring, connecting, and enriching the Illinois innovation economy.

The Illinois Innovation Voucher Program funds research engagements between small and medium-sized businesses and qualifying Illinois higher education institutions. Vouchers can support activities such as product or process development, prototyping, testing, and commercialization.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the organization reported 33 grants totaling $2,269,957. Grants ranged from $20,000 to $75,000, with a median of $74,974. The largest listed grants were:

Review Cycle

The program website states that there is no deadline, but that 2026 funding is limited and applicants should apply before funds are committed.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The program requires eligible businesses to be based in Illinois or, if based elsewhere, to employ at least 100 full-time employees in Illinois. The research partner must be a qualified Illinois-based nonprofit institution of higher education. In 2025, 85% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois; the remaining listed shares were California, Colorado, Oregon, and New York, each at 3%.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.

Cities

ChicagoChampaignEvanstonPeoriaAmherstCarbondaleCarlsbadHoustonLakewoodLebanonLombardMahometNew YorkPortlandRantoulRoscoeSpringfieldTamaroaWestern SpringsWestmont

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M0 grants2019 0 grants2020 0 grants2021 0 grants2022 0 grants2023 5 grants2024 33 grants2025

From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $236K (2024) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $2.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Arete Biosciences Inc: $75KArete Biosciences Inc$75KCast21 Inc: $75KCast21 Inc$75KDimension Inx Corp: $75KDimension Inx Corp$75KElectro Magnetic Applications: $75KElectro Magnetic Applications$75KEleuthra Photonics Inc: $75KEleuthra Photonics Inc$75KGenomicMD Inc: $75KGenomicMD Inc$75KGrow Nutrition LLC: $75KGrow Nutrition LLC$75KShotHawk LLC: $75KShotHawk LLC$75KThera Vision Inc: $75KThera Vision Inc$75KVarchas Biotechnologies Inc: $75KVarchas Biotechnologies Inc$75K

The largest 2025 recipient was Arete Biosciences Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $750K.

Grant Size Distribution

38 grants across all recorded years

5<$50K33$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 33 grants of 38 (87%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Arete Biosciences Inc Carlsbad, CAIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Cast21 Inc Chicago, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Dimension Inx Corp Chicago, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Electro Magnetic Applications Lakewood, COIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Eleuthra Photonics Inc Champaign, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
GenomicMD Inc Chicago, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Grow Nutrition LLC Peoria, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
ShotHawk LLC Peoria, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Thera Vision Inc Chicago, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000
Varchas Biotechnologies Inc Evanston, ILIllinois Innovation Voucher Program$75,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $379,335 $2,623,769 $2,760,083 $2,269,957; 33 grants
2024 $903,863 $460,955 $824,701 $235,898; 5 grants
2023 $585,402 $381,498 $427,534 0 grants reported
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M$4M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$379,335$903,863$585,402
Revenue$2,623,769$460,955$381,498
Expenses$2,760,083$824,701$427,534
Net Investment Income$1,392$-26,041$2,428

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  2. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 2, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Robert Patino as board chair. Directors listed are Laura Appenzeller, Jim Bray, Joe Cassidy, Jess Goode, Bob Greenlee, Larry Kuhn, Jose Leboreiro, Vivek Mehta, and Colleen Egan.

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition is led by Robert Patino, Board Chair since 2025 (on filings since 2021); none of the 16 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Robert Patino

    Board Chair

    Director → Board Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larry Kuhn

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bob Greenlee

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Bray

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bill Payne

    Director

    Director → Board Chair, 2023

    Board Chair → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jess Goode

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jose Leboreiro

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kumar Natesaiyer

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Appenzeller

    Director

    Board Chair → Director, 2025

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colleen Wright

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Somali Tomczak

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vivek Mehta

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Colleen Egan

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deepali Palta

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • EJ Reedy

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Cassidy

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (23)
  • Former: Jerry Blazey (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Laura Frerichs (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: TJ Augustine (2020–2024) — Director
  • Former: Temitope Sadiku (2021–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Azurii Collier PhD (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Holly Copeland (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Nicole Presperin (2023–2024) — Director
  • Former: Jose Leboreiro Hernandez (2023) — Director
  • Former: Rob Patino (2023) — Director
  • Former: Tope Sadiku (2023) — Secretary
  • Former: Yvonne Harris (2023) — Director
  • Former: James Gillespie (2021–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Geoff Curtis (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Cathy Vorwald (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Emad Isaac (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Paul Bloom (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Srinivas Veeramasuneni (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Fred Hickernell (2020) — Director
  • Former: Matthew Bragg (2020) — Secretary
  • Former: Alicia Loffler (2019) — Director
  • Former: Bala Srinivasan (2019) — Director
  • Former: Daaron Dohler (2019) — Director
  • Former: Rob Fleming (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.

Contact

Mailing address: 20 N Wacker Drive 1200, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 239-0324
Website: https://istcoalition.org

Frequently asked questions about Illinois Science and Technology Coalition

How much does Illinois Science and Technology Coalition give each year?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition gave $2.3M across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $236K across 5 grants.

What is Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's typical grant size?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's median grant in 2025 was $74,974, and its average grant was $68,787, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Illinois Science and Technology Coalition give grants?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition gives mostly in Illinois: 85% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (11 grants), Evanston, IL (3 grants), Peoria, IL (2 grants) and Champaign, IL (2 grants).

Does Illinois Science and Technology Coalition give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Illinois Innovation Voucher Program" (33 grants).

Who are Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's largest grantees?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's largest 2025 grantees include Arete Biosciences Inc ($75,000), Cast21 Inc ($75,000) and Dimension Inx Corp ($75,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Illinois Science and Technology Coalition?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition reported $379K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.

What does Illinois Science and Technology Coalition fund?

The organization’s 2024 filing states its mission is “to enhance awareness and increase resources for Illinois based research and development.” ISTC describes its mission as measuring, connecting, and enriching the Illinois innovation economy. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Illinois Science and Technology Coalition?

The program directs applicants to submit online through the DCEO/ISTC application system; mailed or emailed applications are not accepted. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's EIN?

Illinois Science and Technology Coalition's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2334171. 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.

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