John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation
The John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2005 and based in Lake Forest, Illinois. The foundation operates under the brand "Schreiber Philanthropy" and is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization. It functions as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic activities across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$32.4M
+154.8% YoY
Grant Count
60
-31.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$541K
+273.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to "inspire hope by supporting the well-being and economic mobility of all people," with particular emphasis on historically marginalized populations, immigrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, first-generation college students, and underinvested individuals.
Core Funding Priorities:
- Early Childhood — Improve and expand healthy development, care, and education for children aged 0–5 in under-resourced communities
- K-Postsecondary Education — Ensure student support systems that lead to improved academic performance, postsecondary retention and completion, and student well-being
- Health — Enhance access to high-quality, culturally-competent physical, mental, and behavioral health care in under-resourced communities
- Housing — Provide transitional shelter and build safe and affordable rental and home-ownership opportunities, particularly for historically underserved populations
- Immigrant Justice — Advance immigrant justice and access to fundamental human rights and economic mobility
- Lake County — Foster inclusive and engaged communities in Lake County
Grantmaking
The foundation has made 356 grants totaling $28.2 million and has supported 186 unique organizations. Recent notable grants include $3,000,000 to The Carter Center, $3,000,000 to Reclaiming Chicago NFP, and $2,500,000 to Lake Forest College for scholarships.
Grant Range
$250 to $1,400,000
Average Grant
$79,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Lake County and Chicago (particularly South and West Sides), Illinois
- New York
- Florida
Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, with particular emphasis on the Chicagoland region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Data (2024):
- Total assets: $185,245,303
- Total revenues: $112,209,247
- Total expenses: $35,384,062
- Total giving: $32,446,087
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $16.3 million in 2011 to $185.2 million in 2024
- Annual giving has grown from $6.6 million in 2020 to $21.7 million in 2022
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Reclaiming Chicago NFP ($3,000,000), Lake Forest College ($2,500,000), National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) ($2,375,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A Safe Place Zion, IL | General Operating | $100,000 |
| A Safe Place Zion, IL | Capital Expenditure | $100,000 |
| Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) Chicago, IL | Program | $470,000 |
| Allendale Association Inc Lake Villa, IL | Program | $25,000 |
| Allies for Community Business Chicago, IL | Program | $975,000 |
| Arden Shore Child and Family Services Waukegan, IL | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Arden Shore Child and Family Services Waukegan, IL | Program | $200,000 |
| Bernie's Book Bank Lake Bluff, IL | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Program | $2,000,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Lake County Waukegan, IL | Capacity Building | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- John G. Schreiber — President and founder
- Kathleen A. Schreiber — Treasurer and co-founder
- Whitney Smith — Secretary and CEO (hired in 2023 as the foundation's first non-family CEO)
- Heather E. Sannes — Director and Treasurer
- Bruce Boyd — Director
The foundation is governed by four officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John G Schreiber | President | 10 | — |
| Heather E Sannes | Treasurer | 2 | — |
| Whitney Smith | Secretary, CEO | 40 | — |
| Bruce Boyd | Director | 2 | — |
| Kathleen A Schreiber | Legal Member | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation rebranded to "Schreiber Philanthropy" in 2024, signaling a transition toward professional management and increased operational capacity. The hiring of Whitney Smith as the first non-family CEO in 2023 marked a significant organizational shift.
Recent major grants include $15 million to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and a $100 million gift to Loyola University Chicago. The foundation has also established a fellowship at Loyola University Chicago's law school focused on immigrant justice.
John and Kathy Schreiber to fund NIJC fellowship for Loyola Law grad: LoyolaSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to "inspire hope by supporting the well-being and economic mobility of all people," with particular emphasis on historically marginalized populations, immigrants, asylum-seekers, refugees, first-generation college students, and underinvested individuals. **Core Funding Priorities:** • **Early Childhood** — Improve and expand healthy development, care, and education for children aged 0–5 in under-resourced communities • **K-Postsecondary Education** — Ensure student s…
How do I apply for a grant from John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $250 to $1,400,000 • Median grant: $25,000–$35,000 • Average grant: $79,000 • Application method: Invitation only • Decision timeline: Approximately 4 months from invitation to decision **Recent Activity:** The foundation has made 356 grants totaling $28.2 million and has supported 186 unique organizations. Recent notable grants include $3,000,000 to The Carter Center, $3,000,000 to Reclaiming Chicago NFP, and $2,500,000 to Lake Forest College for schol…
Where does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Lake County and Chicago (particularly South and West Sides), Illinois • New York • Florida Grantmaking is concentrated in Illinois, with particular emphasis on the Chicagoland region.
What size grants does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation award?
In 2024, John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation awarded 60 grants totaling $32.4M — an average of about $541K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation's EIN?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1684377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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