Illinois Science and Technology Coalition
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.
Illinois Science and Technology Coalition at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,269,957
- +862.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- +560.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $68,787
- +45.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $74,974
- Total assets
- $379,335
- -58.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (85% 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 Illinois Science and Technology Coalition
- How to Apply
-
The program directs applicants to submit online through the DCEO/ISTC application system; mailed or emailed applications are not accepted. Applicants identify a higher education research partner, and ISTC says it can arrange a discovery call to help applicants find a university partner if needed. Application materials include a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State, an application template, and a budget template. Eligible applicants must be for-profit businesses based in Illinois, or businesses outside Illinois with at least 100 full-time employees located in the state; the business must remain in Illinois during the research engagement. The partner must be a qualified Illinois-based nonprofit institution of higher education. Vouchers cover up to 75% of research-engagement costs, capped at $75,000. Funds cannot cover items including travel, rent, internal salaries, standard training courses, or third-party subcontractors.
- 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.
- Deadline
- The program website states that there is no deadline, but that 2026 funding is limited and applicants should apply…
- Contact
Mailing address: 20 N Wacker Drive 1200, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 239-0324
Website: https://istcoalition.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Illinois Science and Technology Coalition funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Arete Biosciences Inc ($75K). Together the top 10 received $750K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 33 grants of 38 (87%).
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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $236K (2024) to $2.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arete Biosciences Inc Carlsbad, CA | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Cast21 Inc Chicago, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Dimension Inx Corp Chicago, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Electro Magnetic Applications Lakewood, CO | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Eleuthra Photonics Inc Champaign, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| GenomicMD Inc Chicago, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Grow Nutrition LLC Peoria, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| ShotHawk LLC Peoria, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Thera Vision Inc Chicago, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
| Varchas Biotechnologies Inc Evanston, IL | Illinois Innovation Voucher Program | $75,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $379,335 | $2,623,769 | $2,760,083 | $2,269,957 | 33 | $1,392 |
| 2024 | $903,863 | $460,955 | $824,701 | $235,898 | 5 | $-26,041 |
| 2023 | $585,402 | $381,498 | $427,534 | — | — | $2,428 |
| 2022 | $619,322 | $281,070 | $325,932 | — | — | $8,727 |
| 2021 | $752,588 | $433,986 | $309,812 | — | — | $16,309 |
| 2020 | $630,316 | $194,804 | $265,072 | — | — | $20,037 |
| 2019 | $742,848 | $178,599 | $368,807 | — | — | $9,549 |
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:
These grants were listed with the purpose “Illinois Innovation Voucher Program.”
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.
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.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Illinois Science and Technology Coalition funds
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Illinois Science and Technology Coalition down — hundreds of funders to go?