Mary Lou Downs Foundation
The Mary Lou Downs Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, established in March 1992. It operates as a Section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust treated as a private foundation. The foundation uses capital gains from investment of its portfolio assets to make contributions to qualified 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$225K
+18.4% YoY
Grant Count
44
+4.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
+13.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is to invest portfolio assets and use resulting capital gains to support exclusively charitable organizations. The foundation maintains a broad charitable focus, making grants to organizations across various sectors including children's health research, senior living, domestic violence services, and disability-focused programs.
Grantmaking
The Mary Lou Downs Foundation is an active grantmaker. In 2024, the foundation made 43 grants totaling approximately $150,500 in documented grants. Recent grantees include:
Ready to take the next step with Mary Lou Downs Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Chicago, Illinois and has made grants to organizations located in Illinois and beyond, including national organizations such as St Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,972,550
- Total Revenues: $94,310
- Total Expenses: $255,653
- Number of Employees: 0
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $1,960,000
- Total Revenues: $96,100
- Total Expenses: $221,000
The foundation maintains modest annual revenues relative to its asset base, reflecting its reliance on investment income and capital gains from portfolio management rather than external contributions.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
211 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
Paul F Gerbosi serves as the contact person for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL F GERBOSI | SOLE TRUSTEE | 15 | $30,000 |
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Green and Blue Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
—
Grants
3
Total Given
$51K
Above and Beyond Daycare Center
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, IL
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Primo Center for Women & Children
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Rose Lafferty Educational Fund Xxxxx9006
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
1
Total Given
$228K
The John Crerar Foundation
CHICAGO, IL
Assets
$991K
Grants
1
Total Given
$35K
Fostering Success
WAYNE, IL
Assets
$38K
Grants
1
Total Given
$2K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Mary Lou Downs Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities