Morrison-Shearer Foundation
Morrison-Shearer Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $74K. Net investment income was $620K.
Morrison-Shearer Foundation at a glance
In short: Morrison-Shearer Foundation gave $74K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $74,000
- +45.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,571
- -17.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,251,344
- +10.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Morrison-Shearer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Danceusa ($20K). Together the top 7 received $74K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 22 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Morrison-Shearer Foundation gives
- Giving grew 68% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 65% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2021) to $511K (2023). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $74K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Danceusa Washington DC, DC | General Purposes | $20,000 |
| South Chicago Dance Theatre Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $15,000 |
| Chicago Film Archives Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $15,000 |
| Chicago Dancemakers Forum Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| Ragdale Foundation Lake Forest, IL | General Purposes | $10,000 |
| See Chicago Dance Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $3,000 |
| Hedwig Dances Chicago, IL | General Purposes | $1,000 |
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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 | $5,251,344 | $686,868 | $217,965 | $74,000 | 7 | $154,461 | $620,027 | $236,430 |
| 2024 | $4,757,359 | $445,871 | $187,156 | $51,030 | 4 | $159,061 | $413,833 | $225,848 |
| 2023 | $4,513,012 | $-499,893 | $694,933 | $511,050 | 5 | $613,748 | $121,389 | — |
| 2022 | $6,318,874 | $225,996 | $233,331 | $44,000 | 3 | $159,921 | $143,087 | — |
| 2021 | $7,463,772 | $384,897 | $1,199,762 | $17,200 | 3 | $1,182,654 | $365,999 | — |
| 2020 | $6,987,611 | $75,518 | $696,640 | $24,300 | 3 | — | $78,227 | — |
| 2019 | $7,249,284 | $144,861 | $229,970 | $28,000 | 4 | — | $129,925 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Morrison-Shearer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $236K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Morrison-Shearer Foundation is led by Scott Lundius, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Scott Lundius
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
$29K (2021) → $84K (2025)
Alida Szabo
President
Trustee - Part Time → President, 2020
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Christopher Rutt
Trustee - Part Time
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sarah Rigdon
Trustee - Part Time
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Susan Bodine Bolea
Trustee - Part Time
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Tain Balfour
Trustee - Part Time
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Toby Nicholson
Trustee - Part Time
Director - Part Time → Trustee - Part Time, 2022
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Lizzie Leopold
Trustee - Part Time
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Brian M. Schaeffer
Treasurer - Part Time
Trustee - Part Time → Treasurer - Part Time, 2020
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Mary Sue Wheeler
Secretary - Part Time
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Shayne Bullen
Vice President- Part Time
Trustee - Part Time → Vice President- Part Time, 2020
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Liz Kidera (2019–2024) — Trustee - Part Time
- Former: Carol Doty (2019) — Chair - Part Time
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 $84K, to Scott Lundius (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Morrison-Shearer Foundation
How much does Morrison-Shearer Foundation give each year?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation gave $74K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $51K across 4 grants.
What is Morrison-Shearer Foundation's typical grant size?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,571, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Morrison-Shearer Foundation give grants?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants).
Does Morrison-Shearer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Morrison-Shearer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Morrison-Shearer Foundation's largest grantees?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Danceusa ($20,000), South Chicago Dance Theatre ($15,000) and Chicago Film Archives ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Morrison-Shearer Foundation?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation reported $5.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $154K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $236K (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 is Morrison-Shearer Foundation?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Chicago, IL. It holds $5.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Morrison-Shearer Foundation's EIN?
Morrison-Shearer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3783438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 23, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 27, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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