Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation
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.
Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $99,500
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,583
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,500
- Total assets
- $544,551
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WTTW ($30K). Together the top 6 received $100K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 38 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2019) to $108K (2024). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $100K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WTTW Chicago, IL | General Org Purposes | $30,000 |
| Latin School of Chicago Chicago, IL | General Org Purposes | $30,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food DEP Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $15,000 |
| Friends of 2ND Pres Church Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $14,000 |
| The Womans Board of Northwestern Me Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Omena Historical Society Omena, MI | General Org Purposes | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $544,551 | $87,358 | $104,372 | $99,500 | 6 | $99,500 | $85,249 | $133,567 |
| 2024 | $561,565 | $113,532 | $109,427 | $108,000 | 7 | $108,000 | $113,513 | $116,588 |
| 2023 | $557,465 | $99,697 | $104,086 | $101,500 | 8 | $101,500 | $97,932 | $90,224 |
| 2022 | $135,766 | $60,857 | $92,290 | $90,500 | 9 | $90,500 | $59,067 | $86,877 |
| 2021 | $167,199 | $55,461 | $82,175 | $80,500 | 8 | $80,500 | $53,786 | — |
| 2020 | $193,913 | $88,151 | $82,665 | $80,000 | 9 | — | $85,486 | $69,052 |
| 2019 | $188,427 | $104,066 | $64,155 | $62,000 | 6 | — | $101,911 | $69,959 |
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.
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). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
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.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 26, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 16, 2021)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Law-Ware-Shedd-Murphy Foundation funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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