League of Chicago Theatres Foundation
The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. Its stated purpose is to support the work of the League of Chicago Theatres through grantmaking and fundraising; its 2025 filing reports 18 grants totaling $4,060,871, including $3,861,511 to League Chicago Foundation for grant support.
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation at a glance
In short: League of Chicago Theatres Foundation gave $4.1M across 18 grants in 2025 (avg $226K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,060,871
- +1920.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 18
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $225,604
- +1695.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,337,878
- -70.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to League of Chicago Theatres Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: 17 N Wabash 520, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: (312) 554-9800
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who League of Chicago Theatres Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was League Chicago Foundation ($3.9M). Together the top 10 received $4.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 73 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
Cities
How League of Chicago Theatres Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2023) to $4.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 18 grants totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| League Chicago Foundation Chicago, IL | Grant Support | $3,861,511 |
| Chicago Sinfonietta Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $25,000 |
| Goodman Theatre Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $25,000 |
| Steppenwolf Theatre Co Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $25,000 |
| Chicago Dance Crash Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
| Crossing Borders Music Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
| Elastic Arts Foundation Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
| Free Street Theater Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
| Full Spectrum Features Chicago, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
| Oil Lamp Theater Glenview, IL | Powering the Arts Program | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,337,878 | $1,009,955 | $4,147,632 | $4,060,871 | 18 | $629 |
| 2024 | $4,469,554 | $803,569 | $344,536 | $201,000 | 16 | $2,999 |
| 2023 | $4,010,521 | $441,334 | $155,098 | $7,500 | 1 | $2,116 |
| 2022 | $3,728,649 | $813,254 | $552,342 | $299,897 | 26 | $241 |
| 2021 | $3,467,737 | $615,967 | $443,641 | $112,500 | 12 | $461 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the work of the League of Chicago Theatres through grantmaking and fundraising. Its 2023 filing describes its program purpose as increasing public awareness of, interest in, and appreciation for theatre arts in Chicago.
In 2025, the listed grants were for the Powering the Arts Program. Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported: Chicago Sinfonietta describes itself as a professional orchestra promoting diversity, inclusion, and racial and cultural equity in the arts; Free Street Theater says it creates inclusive theatre in Chicago communities and uses the arts to challenge racial and economic segregation; and Elastic Arts Foundation says it presents creative and independent music, art, and performance events in its Chicago neighborhood. Theatre Y describes its work as creating connections among diverse artists through collaboration, while The Firehouse Dream says it provides a safe space for BIPOC youth.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 18 grants totaling $4,060,871. The largest, $3,861,511, went to League Chicago Foundation for grant support; the remaining grants ranged from $5,360 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. The listed awards included $25,000 each to Chicago Sinfonietta, Goodman Theatre, and Steppenwolf Theatre Co.; $10,000 each to Chicago Dance Crash, Crossing Borders Music, Elastic Arts Foundation, Free Street Theater, Full Spectrum Features, Oil Lamp Theater, The Firehouse Dream Inc, and Theatre Y; and $9,000 to Batavia Foundation Education. The stated purpose for these awards was the Powering the Arts Program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Heidi Thompson Saunders as chair; Doreen Sayegh as vice chair; Ivan Vega as secretary; Paige Farestveit as treasurer; and John Collins, Eileen LaCario, Kate Lipuma, and Roche Schulfer as directors.
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is led by Heidi Thompson Saunders, Chair since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heidi Thompson Saunders
Chair
Treasurer → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eileen LaCario
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Collins
Director
President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Lipuma
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roche Schulfer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doreen Sayegh
Vice Chair
Vice President → Vice Chair, 2022
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ivan Vega
Secretary
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paige Farestveit
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (29)
- Former: Rachel Kraft (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Alice de Cunha (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Ashlee Harris (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Elaine Cohen Rubin (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Emily Jelsomeno (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Jen Hoyt (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Kamille Dawkins (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Kirsten Fitzgerald (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Marcela Muoz (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Mica Cole (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Paige Whitson-Martini (2023–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Susan Padveen (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Tina El Gamal (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Tyrone Phillips (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Brooke Flanagan (2024) — Director
- Former: Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel (2024) — Director
- Former: Ilesa Duncan (2024) — Director
- Former: Mara Mihlfried (2024) — Director
- Former: Marissa Lynn Jones (2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Parisa Jalili (2024) — Director
- Former: Charlique C Rolle (2022–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Christina Casano (2023) — Director
- Former: Jorge Valdivia (2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Cardarelli (2023) — Director
- Former: Marcus Robinson (2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Patrick Thornton (2023) — Director
- Former: Rachel Fink (2023) — Director
- Former: Stan Brown (2023) — Director
- Former: Kate Piatt-Eckert (2021–2022) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 League of Chicago Theatres Foundation
How much does League of Chicago Theatres Foundation give each year?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation gave $4.1M across 18 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $201K across 16 grants.
What is League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's typical grant size?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $225,604, across 18 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does League of Chicago Theatres Foundation give grants?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (13 grants).
Does League of Chicago Theatres Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Powering the Arts Program" (16 grants).
Who are League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's largest grantees?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include League Chicago Foundation ($3,861,511), Chicago Sinfonietta ($25,000) and Goodman Theatre ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is League of Chicago Theatres Foundation?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.0M.
What does League of Chicago Theatres Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support the work of the League of Chicago Theatres through grantmaking and fundraising. Its 2023 filing describes its program purpose as increasing public awareness of, interest in, and appreciation for theatre arts in Chicago. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from League of Chicago Theatres Foundation?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's EIN?
League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3031980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 5, 2026)
Live grants for the work League of Chicago Theatres Foundation funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). League of Chicago Theatres Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/league-of-chicago-theatres-foundation-morg_2e2d2b3e4e504c1ab1f40d30c9179199
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363031980_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{League of Chicago Theatres Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/league-of-chicago-theatres-foundation-morg_2e2d2b3e4e504c1ab1f40d30c9179199},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from League of Chicago Theatres Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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