Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation
The Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations working in areas including conservation, environmental protection, and local community life.
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation at a glance
In short: Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation gave $14K across 49 grants in 2025 (avg $291.837), top state District of Columbia. 22% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $14,300
- -46.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 49
- -2.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $292
- -45.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100
- Total assets
- $61,310
- -25.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (11 of 49, 2025)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (37% 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 Nels and Liz Leutwiler 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: 141 E Witchwood Ln, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Phone: (847) 778-5091
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was National Parks Conservation Association ($1K). Together the top 10 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 242 grants of 242 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Washington, DC (37%), Illinois (23%), Virginia (22%), Massachusetts (3%), and New York (3%), with the remaining share going to recipients in other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 49 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 49 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $192; repeat grants $321. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $125 repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 41% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 326% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 $14K (2025) to $56K (2020). In 2025 it made 49 grants totaling $14K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Parks Conservation Association Washington, DC | General Operations | $1,200 |
| Environmental Defense Fund Washington, DC | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Friends of the Earth Washington, DC | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Nature Conservancy Merrifield, VA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| NRDC Merrifield, VA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Second City Curling Foundation Northbrook, IL | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation Merrfield, VA | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Yosemite Conservancy Washington, DC | General Operations | $1,000 |
| Lake Bluff Open Lands Lake Bluff, IL | General Operations | $500 |
| Wilderness Society Washington, DC | General Operations | $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 | $61,310 | $8,593 | $18,169 | $14,300 | 49 | $14,300 | $4,724 | $4,383 |
| 2024 | $82,109 | $29,067 | $33,930 | $26,752 | 50 | $26,752 | $21,889 | $5,559 |
| 2023 | $96,972 | $22,349 | $47,470 | $41,999 | 50 | $41,999 | $6,878 | $7,501 |
| 2022 | $122,093 | $12,128 | $29,348 | $24,135 | 43 | $24,135 | — | $8,567 |
| 2021 | $139,313 | $4,431 | $24,597 | $19,580 | 50 | $19,580 | — | $9,709 |
| 2020 | $159,479 | $29,184 | $58,648 | $56,200 | 17 | — | $26,736 | $9,762 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K 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 include support for conservation and environmental organizations, as well as local organizations. For example, the National Parks Conservation Association describes its mission as protecting America’s national parks for present and future generations. Friends of the Earth says it works to defend the environment and human health while advancing social and economic justice. The Lake Bluff History Museum describes its work as researching and preserving local history and sharing knowledge of it.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $14,300. Grants ranged from $20 to $1,200, with a median of $100. Its largest grants included $1,200 to the National Parks Conservation Association; $1,000 each to Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth, Nature Conservancy, NRDC, Second City Curling Foundation, Sierra Club Foundation, and Yosemite Conservancy; and $500 each to Lake Bluff Open Lands, Wilderness Society, and WTTW11.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Nels R. Leutwiler as president, Liz T. Leutwiler as secretary, and Walter Burns as director.
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation is led by Nels R. Leutwiler, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nels R. Leutwiler
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter Burns
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Liz T. Leutwiler
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation
How much does Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation give each year?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation gave $14K across 49 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $27K across 50 grants.
What is Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's typical grant size?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100, and its average grant was $292, across 49 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation that year got $192 on average.
Where does Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation give grants?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (23%) and Virginia (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (10 grants), Lake Bluff, IL (4 grants), Merrifield, VA (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (49 of 49) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's largest grantees?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include National Parks Conservation Association ($1,200), Environmental Defense Fund ($1,000) and Friends of the Earth ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation reported $61K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for conservation and environmental organizations, as well as local organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Nels and Liz Leutwiler 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 Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's EIN?
Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-7247572. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Nels and Liz Leutwiler 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Nels and Liz Leutwiler Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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