John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation
JOHN E & JEANNE T HUGHES CHARITABLE is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its stated funding areas include education, particularly entrepreneurship education, cancer care, and community medical and social services.
Key facts about John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation
In short: John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation gave $413K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Illinois. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 36-3798525
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $412,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- Average grant
- $17,188
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (6 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $5,516,461
- Primary geography
- Illinois (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The 2024 filing names Jonathan Hennessy, Executive Director, as the contact for applications. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- July 31.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; 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 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
+52.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$413K
+27.5% YoY
Grant Count
24
+50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-15.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $446K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 24 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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
The foundation’s filing identifies education—with a focus on entrepreneurship education—cancer care, and community medical and social services as its program areas. It also makes limited community grants for projects outside those areas.
Its grantees work across a range of activities. For example, Future Founders Foundation says it is building an inclusive community of young entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-minded leaders, while Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization describes its work as supporting college students pursuing entrepreneurship. Imerman Angels says it connects people affected by cancer with someone who has been through a similar experience. Chicago Furniture Bank describes its mission as furnishing homes for Chicagoans moving into supportive housing.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 24 grants totaling $412,500 in 2025, compared with 16 grants totaling $323,500 in 2024 and 23 grants totaling $331,000 in 2023. In 2025, grants ranged from $1,000 to $133,000, with a median of $10,000.
The largest 2025 grant was $133,000 to an individual recipient FBO ILLINOIS PROGRAMS for general operating support. Other notable grants included $30,000 to SAFE HAVEN - FBO WOMEN'S JUSTICE INITIATIVE for general operating support; $25,000 to the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for program support; and $20,000 each to Chicago Furniture Bank, Children’s Oncology Network, Illinois Prison Project, and Imerman Angels for general operating support. The foundation also awarded $12,500 to North Central College FBO Self Employment Arts Program for program support.
Review Cycle
July 31.
How to Apply
The 2024 filing names Jonathan Hennessy, Executive Director, as the contact for applications. The requested materials are the organization’s official name and EIN, a statement of need, project goals, proposed budget, evaluation method, current nonprofit determination letter, most recent audited financial statement (or a current financial statement), a list of other donors and support, and a list of the board of directors. Grants are not made to individuals, for direct scholarships, for tickets or ad books, or to religious or political organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 65% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 32% to recipients in California, and 2% to recipients in Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $240K (2021) to $413K (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $413K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Safe Haven - FBO Women's Justice Initiative ($30K). Together the top 10 received $178K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($133,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
101 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 101 (97%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $133,000 |
| Safe Haven - FBO Women's Justice Initiative Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Robert R McCormick Foundation Chicago, IL | Program Support | $25,000 |
| Chicago Furniture Bank Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Children's Oncology Network Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Illinois Prison Project Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Imerman Angels Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| North Central College FBO Self Employment Arts Program Naperville, IL | Program Support | $12,500 |
| Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization Tampa, FL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Depaul University FBO Coleman Entrepreneurship Center Chicago, IL | Program Support | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grant total | Number of grants |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $412,500 | 24 |
| 2024 | $323,500 | 16 |
| 2023 | $331,000 | 23 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,516,461 | $3,617,853 | $2,782,120 |
| Revenue | $2,371,390 | $1,194,190 | $157,985 |
| Expenses | $472,549 | $358,473 | $365,845 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $434,996 | $349,742 | $351,677 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,356,510 | $1,185,623 | $147,308 |
| Distributable Amount | $446,378 | $393,844 | $342,820 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael W Hennessy as Treasurer and Director, Carole J Hennessy as Secretary and Director, Matthew H Hennessy as Director, and Jonathan M Hennessy as Executive Director.
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation is led by Jonathan M. Hennessy, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jonathan M. Hennessy
Executive Director
Executive Director & Director → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
$13K (2019) → $20K (2025)
Carole J. Hennessy
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$2K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Matthew H. Hennessy
Director
Assistant Program Officer & D → Assistant Program Officer, 2022
Assistant Program Officer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $2K (2025)
Michael W. Hennessy
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
$2K (2019) → $130 (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jeanne T. Hughes (2019–2022) — Founder & Vice President
- Former: John E. Hughes (2019–2022) — Founder & President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $20K, to Jonathan M Hennessy (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Application contact: Jonathan Hennessy Executive Directo
Mailing address: 1057 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL 60607
Phone: (312) 492-9858
Frequently asked questions about John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation
How much does John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation give each year?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation gave $413K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $324K across 16 grants.
What is John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $17,188, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation give grants?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (20 grants).
Does John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (5 grants).
Who are John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Safe Haven - FBO Women's Justice Initiative ($30,000), Robert R McCormick Foundation ($25,000) and Chicago Furniture Bank ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($133,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation reported $5.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $435K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $446K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing identifies education—with a focus on entrepreneurship education—cancer care, and community medical and social services as its program areas. It also makes limited community grants for projects outside those areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation?
The 2024 filing names Jonathan Hennessy, Executive Director, as the contact for applications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's EIN?
John E & Jeanne T Hughes Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3798525. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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