John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy
The John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois. It does business as Schreiber Philanthropy, a brand that brings together the foundation’s grantmaking, donor-advised fund giving, and John and Kathleen Schreiber’s personal giving.
Key facts about John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy
In short: John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy gave $32.4M across 60 grants in 2024 (avg $541K), mostly in Illinois. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 42-1684377
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $32,446,087
- Grants made (2024)
- 60
- Average grant
- $540,768
- Median grant
- $262,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (18 of 53, 2024)
- Total assets
- $185,245,303
- Primary geography
- Illinois (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; its application process is invitation-only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$185.2M
+58.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$32.4M
+154.8% YoY
Grant Count
60
-31.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$541K
+273.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy reported a distributable amount of $16.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 53 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $796K; repeat grants $518K. How we count
Medians: $400K first-time, $300K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 273% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 202% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Schreiber Philanthropy’s mission is to “inspire hope by supporting the well-being and economic mobility of all people.” Its stated funding areas are early childhood; K-postsecondary education; health; housing; immigrant justice; and Lake County.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports. Reclaiming Chicago NFP says it supports partner organizations working to build or rehabilitate affordable homes for low- and moderate-income families on Chicago’s South and West Sides. Lake Forest College provides postsecondary education leading to a baccalaureate degree, and Big Shoulders Fund supports underserved schools providing values-based education for Chicago children. Erie Family Health Foundation supports the provision of affordable health care, while The Josselyn Center provides mental health care.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 60 grants totaling $32,446,087 in 2024. Grants ranged from $15,000 to $3,000,000, with a median of $262,500. Its largest 2024 grants included $3,000,000 each to Reclaiming Chicago NFP and The Carter Center; $2,500,000 to Lake Forest College; $2,375,000 to the National Immigrant Justice Center; and $2,000,000 to Big Shoulders Fund.
Review Cycle
are quarterly, with four months from an application’s open date to decision announcements. Applicants may be asked for organizational and grant-request information, financial information, a narrative describing goals and use of funds, and documents such as a board list, audited financial statements, program budget, and grant history. The foundation does not fund lobbying activities, though it may support certain forms of public policy advocacy, including nonpartisan research and educational advocacy.
Invitation Only
as invitation-only and says it identifies potential grantees through relationships with partner organizations, institutions, community leaders, peer funders, and stakeholders. It says grant cycles are quarterly, with four months from an application’s open date to decision announcements. Applicants may be asked for organizational and grant-request information, financial information, a narrative describing goals and use of funds, and documents such as a board list, audited financial statements, program budget, and grant history. The foundation does not fund lobbying activities, though it may support certain forms of public policy advocacy, including nonpartisan research and educational advocacy.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it is primarily focused on Lake County and Chicago, with special attention to Chicago’s South and West Sides. In its 2024 grantmaking, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois and 9% to recipients in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 60 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.6M (2020) to $32.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 60 grants totaling $32.4M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Reclaiming Chicago NFP ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $18.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
522 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 335 grants of 522 (64%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Reclaiming Chicago NFP Chicago, IL | Program | $3,000,000 |
| The Carter Center Inc Atlanta, GA | Program | $3,000,000 |
| Lake Forest College Lake Forest, IL | Scholarships | $2,500,000 |
| National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Chicago, IL | Program | $2,375,000 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Program | $2,000,000 |
| Erie Family Health Foundation Inc Chicago, IL | Program | $1,500,000 |
| The Josselyn Center NFP Northfield, IL | Program | $1,326,087 |
| Allies for Community Business Chicago, IL | Program | $975,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | Program | $860,000 |
| North Chicago Community Partners NFP Lake Bluff, IL | Capacity Building | $855,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants reported | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,446,087 | 60 |
| 2023 | $12,732,763 | 88 |
| 2022 | $10,835,180 | 103 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $185,245,303 | $116,921,405 | $89,769,101 |
| Revenue | $112,209,247 | $59,578,292 | $52,845,197 |
| Expenses | $35,384,062 | $15,030,958 | $12,918,504 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $32,473,381 | $12,912,106 | $11,099,167 |
| Net Investment Income | $90,109,831 | $40,619,406 | $10,202,727 |
| Distributable Amount | $16,073,312 | $12,637,197 | $11,567,954 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John G. Schreiber as President, Heather E. Sannes as Treasurer, Whitney Smith as Secretary and CEO, Bruce Boyd as Director, and Kathleen A. Schreiber as Legal Member. The foundation’s website says it hired its first non-family CEO in 2023.
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy is led by Whitney Smith, Secretary & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2023); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Whitney Smith
Secretary & CEO
CEO → Secretary & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John G Schreiber
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Boyd
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather E Sannes
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$203K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Kathleen A Schreiber
Legal Member
Treasurer → Legal Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $25K, to Heather E Sannes (Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 682 North Bank Lane 200, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Phone: (224) 552-5201
Website: https://schreiberphilanthropy.org
Frequently asked questions about John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy
How much does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy give each year?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy gave $32.4M across 60 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12.7M across 88 grants.
What is John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's typical grant size?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's median grant in 2024 was $262,500, and its average grant was $540,768, across 60 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy that year got $796K on average.
Where does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy give grants?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy gives mostly in Illinois: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (30 grants), Waukegan, IL (6 grants), North Chicago, IL (3 grants) and Lake Forest, IL (2 grants).
Does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 60) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program" (29 grants), "Capacity Building" (7 grants) and "Capital Expenditure" (6 grants).
Who are John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's largest grantees?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's largest 2024 grantees include Reclaiming Chicago NFP ($3,000,000), The Carter Center Inc ($3,000,000) and National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) ($2,625,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy reported $185.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $32.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $16.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy fund?
Schreiber Philanthropy’s mission is to “inspire hope by supporting the well-being and economic mobility of all people.” Its stated funding areas are early childhood; K-postsecondary education; health; housing; immigrant justice; and Lake County. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; its application process is invitation-only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's EIN?
John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-1684377. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation D/B/A Schreiber Philanthropy accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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