Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Chicago, IL EIN: 36-3990756

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $545K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $100K. Net investment income was $85K.

Key facts about Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation

In short: Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation gave $100K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-3990756
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$99,500
Grants made (2025)
6
Average grant
$16,583
Median grant
$14,500
Total assets
$544,551
Primary geography
Illinois (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$545K

-3.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$100K

-7.9% YoY

Grant Count

6

-14.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

+7.5% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $134K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+10%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of all 6 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoAlexandriaMt ProspectLa GrangeTraverse CityDobbs FerryDumfriesFrankfortLaguna BeachLake ForestOak BrookOmena

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K6 grants20199 grants20208 grants20219 grants20228 grants20237 grants20246 grants2025

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2025

WTTW: $30KWTTW$30KLatin School of Chicago: $30KLatin School of Chicago$30KGreater Chicago Food Dep: $15KGreater Chicago Food Dep$15KFriends of 2ND Pres Church: $14KFriends of 2ND Pres Church$14KThe Womans Board of Northwestern Me: $10KThe Womans Board ofNorthwestern Me$10KOmena Historical Society: $500Omena Historical Society$500

Grant Size Distribution

38 grants across all recorded years

38<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
WTTW Chicago, ILGENERAL ORG PURPOSES$30,000
Latin School of Chicago Chicago, ILGENERAL ORG PURPOSES$30,000
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEP Chicago, ILGENERAL PURPOSES$15,000
FRIENDS OF 2ND PRES CHURCH Chicago, ILGENERAL PURPOSES$14,000
The Womans Board of Northwestern Me Chicago, ILGENERAL PURPOSES$10,000
Omena Historical Society Omena, MIGENERAL ORG PURPOSES$500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$544,551$561,565$557,465
Revenue$87,358$113,532$99,697
Expenses$104,372$109,427$104,086
Qualifying Distributions$99,500$108,000$101,500
Net Investment Income$85,249$113,513$97,932
Distributable Amount$133,567$116,588$90,224

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
  2. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 16, 2021)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation is led by Elizabeth S. Murphy, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Elizabeth S. Murphy

    President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Margaret E. Murphy

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Suzanne E. Murphy Heath

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

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 Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation

How much does Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation give each year?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation gave $100K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $108K across 7 grants.

What is Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's typical grant size?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,500, and its average grant was $16,583, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation give grants?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants).

Does Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's largest grantees?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include WTTW ($30,000), Latin School of Chicago ($30,000) and Greater Chicago Food Dep ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation reported $545K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $100K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $134K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $545K in total assets as of 2025.

What is Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's EIN?

Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3990756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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