What does Make It Better Foundation fund?

**Mission:** Identify, support and promote the most impactful nonprofits in their sector, thereby accelerating efforts to make life, and the world, better. **Core Values:** • **Effectiveness:** Measured by the number of people served and lives made better, program outcomes, development of self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of dependency • **Efficiency:** Emphasized by collaboration and cost effectiveness • **Leadership:** Focusing on full board participation, diversity, fulfillment of miss…

How do I apply for a grant from Make It Better Foundation?

**Grant Range:** $1,000 to $125,000 **Median Grant Amount:** Approximately $5,100–$13,932 **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Association of American Red Cross Retirees: $125,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Donation) • The National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First (NFP): $100,000 (Unrestricted Charitable Donation) • After School Matters: Grant amount not specified **Total Giving:** $988,150–$1,814,253 (2024) **Number of Grants:** 73–114 grants awarded **Application Proce…

Where does Make It Better Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • Illinois • California • District of Columbia • Additional states including Texas and Florida

Make It Better Foundation

WILMETTE, IL EIN: 27-0773475 Website

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Make It Better Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmette, Illinois, established in 2010. The organization identifies, supports, and promotes impactful nonprofits across the United States while building a network of committed philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and media partners. The foundation accomplishes its work through nonprofit vetting, grant awards, storytelling initiatives, digital collaborations, and creating pathways for donors to support worthy organizations.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$81K

-80.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$988K

+287.5% YoY

Grant Count

+563.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$14K

-41.6% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: Identify, support and promote the most impactful nonprofits in their sector, thereby accelerating efforts to make life, and the world, better.

Core Values:

Effectiveness: Measured by the number of people served and lives made better, program outcomes, development of self-sufficiency and breaking the cycle of dependency
Efficiency: Emphasized by collaboration and cost effectiveness
Leadership: Focusing on full board participation, diversity, fulfillment of mission statement, using calculated risks to overcome challenges and improve outcomes
Scalability: Prioritizing the ability to increase funds independent of government funding proportionate to increased programs and services, with the potential to replicate in another regional area
Excellence: Committing to best possible services delivered with integrity and transparency

Primary Program: Warming Hearts & Hands program

Funding Focus Areas: Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services

Grantmaking

Grant Range

** $1,000 to $125,000

Grant Types

** Unrestricted Charitable Donations and General Support grants are primary award categories

How to Apply

** Nominations for Philanthropy Awards are accepted during specified periods, typically in the month of [month not specified in sources]. The foundation reviews requests for support against its stated mission.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations primarily in:

Illinois
California
District of Columbia
Additional states including Texas and Florida

Grant Distribution by State

Illinois $895K (57%)

Colorado $201K (13%)

California $169K (11%)

District of Columbia $166K (11%)

Delaware $70K (4%)

Massachusetts $50K (3%)

Indiana $10K (1%)

Ohio $4K (0%)

+5 more states

States

California Colorado District of Columbia Delaware Illinois Indiana Massachusetts Maryland New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Wisconsin

Cities

BerkeleyBeverlyhillsBostonBoydsCambridgeChicagoClaymontClevelandDenverDixmoorEnglewoodEvanstonGlencoeIndianapolisLos AngelesMetamoraMillbraeNew YorkNorthfieldOakland

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $80,726
Total Revenue: $3,015,762
Total Expenses: $1,826,253
Total Giving: $988,150–$1,814,253
Expense Ratio: 67.3%

Staff: 4–11 employees

IRS Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation; tax-exempt since June 2010

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$80,726	$413,795	$112,482
Revenue	$3,015,762	$920,131	$613,129
Expenses	$1,826,253	$618,818	$511,059
Qualifying Distributions	$1,814,253	$618,818	$511,059
Net Investment Income	$935,902	—	$2
Distributable Amount	—	$8,059	$2,162

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

109 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Melinda Fauntleroy – President (1 hour/week, unpaid)
Sharon P. Krone – COO/Secretary/Treasurer (40 hours/week, $75,000 annual compensation)
Brooke Geiger – Editor in Chief (40 hours/week, $85,000 annual compensation)
Michelle Walby – Executive/Personal Assistant (40 hours/week, $90,000 annual compensation)
Jennifer Woolford – Senior Director, Major Partnerships (40 hours/week, $68,000 annual compensation)
Kathy Roeser – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
Sandra Tsuchida – Director (1 hour/week, unpaid)
Susan Noyes – Director and Founder (1 hour/week, unpaid)