Lost Pond Foundation
Lost Pond Foundation is a private foundation based in Hinsdale, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports 29 grants totaling $2,003,350, with recipients in Illinois and several other states.
Lost Pond Foundation at a glance
In short: Lost Pond Foundation gave $2.0M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), mostly in Illinois. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,003,350
- +19.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +31.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $69,081
- -9.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $35,636,023
- +5.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (10 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lost Pond 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: 135 South Elm Street, Hinsdale, IL 60521
Phone: (312) 332-5440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lost Pond Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Indiana University Foundation ($255K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
94 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 94 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Illinois organizations received 59% of grant dollars, followed by New York (14%), Indiana (13%), Michigan (7%), and Missouri (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lost Pond Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 29 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $73K; repeat grants $67K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 837% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% 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 (2022–2025). 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $214K (2022) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana University Foundation Bloomington, IN | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $255,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy Chicago, IL | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $200,000 |
| Breakthrough T1D (FKA JDRF) New York, NY | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $175,000 |
| Catholic Charities - Diocese of Joliet Crest Hill, IL | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $155,000 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $150,000 |
| By the Hand Club for Kids Chicago, IL | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $150,000 |
| Doctors without Borders New York, NY | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $100,000 |
| Donald Danforth Plant Science Center St. Louis, MO | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $100,000 |
| Brilliant Cities To Support Expansion Into Chicago Detroit, MI | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $100,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | To Support Operational and Program Expenses. | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lost Pond Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,636,023 | $5,033,277 | $2,247,012 | $2,003,350 | 29 | $2,028,938 | $3,736,775 | $2,216,100 |
| 2024 | $33,638,799 | $2,891,251 | $1,840,653 | $1,676,661 | 22 | $1,684,978 | $2,022,965 | $2,004,022 |
| 2023 | $32,493,769 | $1,631,193 | $1,657,523 | $1,509,477 | 22 | $1,519,065 | $1,045,299 | $1,673,468 |
| 2022 | $31,992,652 | $1,941,290 | $251,887 | $213,750 | 21 | $223,082 | $1,412,485 | $1,616,895 |
| 2021 | $30,303,249 | $34,995,874 | — | — | — | — | — | $89,560 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lost Pond Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.2M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, By the Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program supporting children’s minds, bodies, and souls. Northern Illinois Food Bank says it provides meals and access to nutritious food through a network of pantries and programs. Chikaming Open Lands describes its work as preserving open space and the natural character of Berrien County.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 29 grants totaling $2,003,350. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $255,000, with a median award of $50,000. Its largest grants included $255,000 to Indiana University Foundation, $200,000 to The Nature Conservancy in Chicago, $175,000 to Breakthrough T1D, and $155,000 to Catholic Charities – Diocese of Joliet. The filing lists these grants as supporting operational and program expenses.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists SUSAN WILSON as president, GREGORY W WILSON as treasurer, and AMANDA W WILSON as secretary.
Lost Pond Foundation is led by Susan Wilson, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Susan Wilson
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda W. Wilson
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory W. Wilson
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Lost Pond Foundation
How much does Lost Pond Foundation give each year?
Lost Pond Foundation gave $2.0M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 22 grants.
What is Lost Pond Foundation's typical grant size?
Lost Pond Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $69,081, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lost Pond Foundation that year got $73K on average.
Where does Lost Pond Foundation give grants?
Lost Pond Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (14%) and Indiana (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (12 grants), Hinsdale, IL (5 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Sawyer, MI (2 grants).
Does Lost Pond Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lost Pond Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (29 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lost Pond Foundation's largest grantees?
Lost Pond Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Indiana University Foundation ($255,000), The Nature Conservancy ($200,000) and Breakthrough T1D (FKA JDRF) ($175,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lost Pond Foundation?
Lost Pond Foundation reported $35.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.2M (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 Lost Pond Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in varied areas. For example, By the Hand Club for Kids describes itself as a faith-based after-school program supporting children’s minds, bodies, and souls. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lost Pond 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 Lost Pond Foundation's EIN?
Lost Pond Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3736370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Lost Pond 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lost Pond Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lost Pond Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lost-pond-foundation-morg_e90144ae99c644baa30dc291deb9eac3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873736370_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lost Pond Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lost-pond-foundation-morg_e90144ae99c644baa30dc291deb9eac3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Lost Pond 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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