Lucy's Children's Fund
Lucy's Children's Fund is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, that makes grants to organizations assisting children who lack opportunities and resources. The fund describes itself as a family foundation organized in 2002 to support children and foster a culture of giving within the family.
Lucy's Children's Fund at a glance
In short: Lucy's Children's Fund gave $9K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $900), top state Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $9,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $900
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $99,119
- +0.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (44% 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 Lucy's Children's Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 4203 N Kilpatrick Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641-1625
Phone: (262) 661-4094
Website: https://www.lucyschildrensfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lucy's Children's Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Snow City Arts ($3K). Together the top 10 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 44 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest reported shares were Illinois (44%), New York (17%), and Colorado (11%); Washington and Tennessee each received 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Lucy's Children's Fund gives
- 20% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 140% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2023) to $11K (2022). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $9K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Snow City Arts Chicago, IL | Educates and inspireshospitalized childrenthrough the arts | $2,500 |
| UNICEF New York, NY | Humanitarian anddevelopmental aidto children worldwide | $1,500 |
| Erie Neighborhood House Chicago, IL | Support services for immigrant and low incomefamilies in Chicago | $1,000 |
| Special Kids Special Families Colorado Springs, CO | Provides support and services to children withdisabilities and special needs | $1,000 |
| Westside Baby Seattle, WA | Distributes diapers andbaby supplies forfamilies in need | $500 |
| TechLitAfrica Shabbona, IL | Providing digital skills for rural African schools tounlock economic opportunities | $500 |
| OUT Memphis Memphis, TN | Support and servicesto the LGBTQ+community | $500 |
| KIND-Kids in Need of Defense Washington, DC | Provides legal defensefor children inimmigration court | $500 |
| SAFE Haven Racine, WI | Provides emergency shelterand services to runaway and homeless youth | $500 |
| EcoRise Austin, TX | Mobilizes a new generationto design helthy, thrivingcommunities for all | $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 | $99,119 | $9,266 | $9,091 | $9,000 | 10 | $9,051 | $3,866 | $6,486 |
| 2024 | $98,944 | $6,520 | $9,184 | $9,000 | 6 | $9,145 | $2,770 | $6,278 |
| 2023 | $101,609 | $8,069 | $3,384 | $3,000 | 1 | $3,334 | $2,119 | $5,341 |
| 2022 | $96,923 | $6,758 | $11,148 | $11,000 | 17 | $11,124 | $1,778 | $5,671 |
| 2021 | $101,312 | $5,480 | $5,644 | $5,500 | 10 | $5,542 | $1,731 | $5,938 |
| 2020 | $101,476 | $6,847 | $9,072 | $9,000 | 10 | — | $7,315 | $5,656 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lucy's Children's Fund reported a distributable amount of $6K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial grants to organizations that help children who lack opportunities and resources grow and develop into healthy and happy young people and adults.
Its 2025 grants included organizations working in arts education for hospitalized children, humanitarian and developmental aid to children, support for immigrant and low-income families, services for children with disabilities, and supplies for children in need. Erie Neighborhood House describes its mission as empowering immigrant and other Chicago families through education, critical services, and advocacy. WestSide Baby says it provides essential items to local children in need by collecting and distributing diapers, clothing, and equipment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $9,000 through 10 grants. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,500, with a median grant of $500.
The largest grants included $2,500 to Snow City Arts in Chicago, which educates and inspires hospitalized children through the arts; $1,500 to UNICEF for humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide; and $1,000 each to Erie Neighborhood House and Special Kids Special Families. Other 2025 recipients included WestSide Baby, TechLitAfrica, OUT Memphis, KIND-Kids in Need of Defense, SAFE Haven, and EcoRise, each receiving $500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert Beezat as president, Frank H Bieszczat as treasurer, and Alice Beezat as secretary. It also lists Gwen Bieszczat, Steve Bieszczat, Samantha Bieszczat, Katie Buzenius, Erin Hershey, Paul Lorsbach, and Robert Lorsbach as directors. Erin Hershey is additionally listed as social media coordinator.
Lucy's Children's Fund is led by Robert Beezat, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 13 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert Beezat
President
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erin Hershey
Director & Social Media Coordinator
Directorsocial Media Coordinator → Director & Social Media Coordinator, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gwen Bieszczat
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jordan Taren
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Taren
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katie Buzenius
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Lorsbach
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Lorsbach
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Bieszczat
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mariel Taren
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Bieszczat
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice Beezat
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank H Bieszczat
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Lucy's Children's Fund
How much does Lucy's Children's Fund give each year?
Lucy's Children's Fund gave $9K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $9K across 6 grants.
What is Lucy's Children's Fund's typical grant size?
Lucy's Children's Fund's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $900, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lucy's Children's Fund give grants?
Lucy's Children's Fund's top state is Illinois, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (17%) and Colorado (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does Lucy's Children's Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Lucy's Children's Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Lucy's Children's Fund's largest grantees?
Lucy's Children's Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Snow City Arts ($2,500), UNICEF ($1,500) and Erie Neighborhood House ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 56% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lucy's Children's Fund?
Lucy's Children's Fund reported $99K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $9K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lucy's Children's Fund fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial grants to organizations that help children who lack opportunities and resources grow and develop into healthy and happy young people and adults. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lucy's Children's Fund?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lucy's Children's Fund's EIN?
Lucy's Children's Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-0092692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lucy's Children's Fund 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work Lucy's Children's Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Lucy's Children's Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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