Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation
The Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Evanston, Illinois. Its 2025 filing lists grants to organizations including schools and education-related groups, youth and community organizations, a university, media, and arts and cultural organizations.
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation gave $3.1M across 66 grants in 2025 (avg $47K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,081,834
- +97.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 66
- +32.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,694
- +49.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $6,378,077
- +23.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2735 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60201-1727
Phone: (847) 864-9615
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Eths Foundation ($1.1M). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 157 grants of 196 (80%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 3% to Massachusetts, and 1% to Washington, DC. The filing also lists 0% shares for Iowa and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation gives
- 41% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 298% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 846% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $228K (2021) to $3.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 66 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Eths Foundation Evanston, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $1,121,991 |
| Chicago Public Mediawbez Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $250,000 |
| A Better Chicago Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $200,000 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $176,000 |
| First Repair Evanston, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $175,000 |
| McGaw YMCA Evanston, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $150,500 |
| Braven Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $150,000 |
| Teach for America Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $100,000 |
| You Evanston, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $100,000 |
| American Red Cross Chicago, IL | In Support of Organization's Mission | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation?
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 | $6,378,077 | $4,474,243 | $3,256,237 | $3,081,834 | 66 | $3,245,502 | $324,243 | $383,496 |
| 2024 | $5,160,071 | $2,067,933 | $1,702,266 | $1,561,393 | 50 | $1,695,262 | $267,933 | $280,370 |
| 2023 | $4,794,404 | $161,964 | $1,181,931 | $1,057,525 | 50 | $1,178,305 | $161,964 | $266,370 |
| 2022 | $5,814,371 | $905,434 | $893,481 | $773,586 | 27 | $890,758 | $38,184 | $280,182 |
| 2021 | $5,802,418 | $2,520,513 | $352,920 | $227,500 | 3 | $313,874 | $513 | $173,145 |
| 2020 | $3,634,825 | $1,952,004 | $676,824 | $665,000 | 16 | — | $1,952,004 | $166,126 |
| 2019 | $2,359,645 | $111,887 | $1,672,360 | $1,653,186 | 49 | — | $94,024 | $267,903 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $383K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose own missions describe work in education, youth opportunity, and community services. For example, Evanston Scholars says it improves college access and success for first-generation and low-income Evanston students; Books and Breakfast says it supports elementary students from low-income backgrounds; and A Better Chicago says it invests in ideas to create opportunity for Chicago youth. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association describes its mission as enriching, inspiring, and transforming lives through music, community engagement, and education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 66 grants totaling $3,081,834. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,121,991, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants included $1,121,991 to ETHS Foundation, $250,000 to Chicago Public Media/WBEZ, $200,000 to A Better Chicago, $176,000 to the University of Chicago, and $175,000 to First Repair. Other notable grants included $150,500 to McGaw YMCA, $150,000 to BRAVEN, and $100,000 each to Teach for America and YOU.
Other 2025 recipients included Evanston Scholars ($50,000), Books and Breakfast ($30,000), Evanston Community Foundation ($10,000), and Chicago Symphony Orchestra ($10,000). These amounts are grants given by the foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathryn Lewis Varela as president, Lisa S Carreras as secretary, Peter C Lewis as treasurer, Charles A Lewis as chairman, and Penny Bender Sebring as vice chairman.
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation is led by Kathryn Lewis Varela, President since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kathryn Lewis Varela
President
Secretary & Director → Vice President, 2020
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $151K (2025)
Charles A. Lewis
Chairman
Chairman & Director → Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa S. Carreras
Secretary
Vice President & Director → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Penny Bender Sebring
Vice Chairman
President & Director → Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter C. Lewis
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $151K, to Kathryn Lewis Varela (President).
Frequently asked questions about Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation
How much does Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation give each year?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation gave $3.1M across 66 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 50 grants.
What is Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $46,694, across 66 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation give grants?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (26 grants), Evanston, IL (20 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Springfield, MA (2 grants).
Does Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 66 grants with a stated purpose on Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "In Support of Organization's Mission" (66 grants).
Who are Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Eths Foundation ($1,121,991), Chicago Public Mediawbez ($250,000) and A Better Chicago ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $383K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose own missions describe work in education, youth opportunity, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's EIN?
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4120411. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation 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.
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 June 19, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 4, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lewis-sebring-family-foundation-morg_cc0966de216e4a84bab6d76360b84a64
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364120411_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lewis-sebring-family-foundation-morg_cc0966de216e4a84bab6d76360b84a64},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-04. 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 Lewis-Sebring Family 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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